I live in Ireland, where the damp air - especially bad in winter - is a huge problem in old buildings. Any gas heating appliance produces warm, moist air, which will condense on a cold surface, and help mould and powdery mildew growth. There are several types of insulating plaster - including lime-based - which are a good, permanent solution in some areas, such as those very thin walls under the windows. These plasters also help with heat retention, and I am hoping to use them . Just covering cold walls will result in condensation and hidden mould build up. Open fires (!), wood burners, and dehumidifiers are all good in old buildings. Love Teddy. Good luck !
Happy New Year marc and Teddy , Hope you are Both well and keeping warm , Great video and enjoyable to watch , your Home looks really Nice , All very interesting , so Thank you for sharing , Keep up your Great work , Take care Marc and Teddy , 🐈⬛👍👍
Drying your washing indoors could be adding to the problem of moisture/damp. Use that inner hall for that purpose. For the thin wall under the windows. Could you cover with insulation material and then wood panelling? Or build a brick wall about 6 inches from the original and make a wider inside window sill? And for the outside wall in the sitting room, hang a large thick decorative rug. I have a log burner, but there's condensation on my windows in the mornings when it's cold outside. However, not in the kitchen, cos there's a window open 1/2 inch at the top continually.Like you say, there needs to be air movement. You're an intelligent resourceful chap, so sure you'll overcome the challenges! Happy New Year!
Marc the answer to your damp problems is open up your fireplace, you have trees on your land or you can buy wood I should imagine at a reasonable cost. Your Calor gas fire is the worst thing you can have they create damp. I would put a small wood burner freestanding type with a place on the top for boiling a kettle or heating food in a pan. I would put this on the outside wall in your lounge and have another small one inserted into the fireplace in your bedroom open all your interior doors let the warm air circulate and live in a warm cosy house. I watch these programs all the time and other ex pats pick second hand wood burners up cheaply from second hand shops. Good luck.
hi. Mold is caused by humidity. So ultimately, you need a dehumidifier to remove the excess moisture. when you can, you need to frame the rooms, at minimum all exterior walls, then insulate, put up vapour barrier and then drywall.. Then the kitchen and bath should have ventilation fabs to run when cooking or showering, you need to heat the house either wood or electric to dry all the surfaces. if you suffer allergies this is imperative.
I see comments suggesting a wood stove and would agree. I had a house up in the mountains of northern Tuscany and discovered mould. I was advised to have a small circular window fan cut into the glass (fan works on air flow only) and to ensure that affected rooms had one at each end AND heat the place properly. Some fans were added, a woodburner installed and Eureka.
Do they have mold inhibitors to add to paint? That could help. Use vinegar to clean it up. But keeping the temps up around 20 and a humidifer might be the only way.
Here in the states we have something called damp rid that you hang in your rooms closets Etc and it collects moisture and then when it is full you just dump the water... also here in Florida we get a lot of damp we just put out bowls of baking soda which not only absorbs moisture but absorbs odors. It's a cheap inexpensive way to absorb moisture in your house!
Happy new year marc, Most likely the gas heater they are prone to makeing condensation, we live in a old house and mould is a bit of a problem but we keep on top of it with a dehumidifier and mould killer but it is a pain in the winter, we need to fit extractor fans too. Air flow also helps. Great video again marc.
The cold air in the storage room will create condensation and lead to mould on porous items like wooden spoons etc. I found that we got some mould during very cold weather but it cleans off easily and the main thing is to locate where it appears and keep it cleaned off regularly. Black mould is the worse but it’s rare in climates that have good weather for much of the year. The air flow is really important. Looks like you’re doing a great job.
We live in an old stone longére up here in Brittany and no matter how much we air the house, we have two de humidifires and cleaned with a variety of anti mould products.......it comes back! Constant battle. These old stone houses were not built on proper foundations, no damp proofing - nothing! Good luck!!
A tip . . . if you can, leave drawers and cupboards with clothes open during the day to allow air to circulate. Our older style townhouse has cavity brick walls and gets very cold in Winter. Our neighbour was away for a few months and returned to find everything in his bedroom cupboard covered in powdery mildew. His suits were ruined and all his shoes had to be thrown out.
I worked for twenty years in commercial and apartment property management where all our leases required heat and air conditioning used constantly to avoid mold. Prior to this job I sold real estate for ten years. I witnessed what happened to structures where hvac was not used correctly. The building that is your home will have many problems that occur without proper heat. All the best to you, Teddy, and your home stay warm. Thanks!
Try lining the area of wall behind your kitchen units with polystyrene. You could get a nice woodburner and it would heat and dry the entire place.. You have a few odd trees. Dry the wood for two years and there will be no smoke from the chimney. Beech isn't too expensive.
I used to just heat one room in the winter, the rest of the house got black mould. Now I keep my whole house 17 degrees or above and I'm mould free! :)
We live in an old building with big thick walls ( its a flat in the building). All rooms get chilly in winter, and the bedroom can get a lot of condensation, sometimes with high humidity. We can't have a log burner although it would be a godsend. We open the bedroom windows every morning for a couple hours now, and it has improved everything. It was the reason I was very pro you getting a log burner on the go, to push moisture back out the walls. But there we go. Ventilation of one sort or another to solve your issue Marc. I wonder if an air con unit can help, but also using much more electric.
Mold creeps me out. Thankfully, we rarely have issues. Regardless, lots of ventilation and air movement helps. I have fans set on timers, running year round, wherever I have concerns. It really helps.
Mold is extremely dangerous I inadvertently while working in a crappy office swallowed a mold Spore I was down for 9 months felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest okay now though terrible thing
I live in Scandinavia, and we are taught not to paint indoors in fall or winther, because the humidity from the paint is bad for the indoor climate and can create problems with mould. We are also told to keep the temperature in all rooms above 18 degrees celsius night and day and air out our homes two times 5 minutes every day. I can’t afford to heat all the rooms in my old house myself, so I also struggle with mold. It is disturbing.
You are so right ! When I was young I had a lovely girlfriend living next door. She was immaculate in herself but not in house care. Her children’s bedroom had -don’t faint - black mould all over the ceiling. Her youngest beautiful daughter died aged 3 of cancer. You can’t be too careful. Like you I like a spotless house. I love your bathroom. You are so clever with woodwork. That is a beautiful box you built under your window. You could make a lot of money making bespoke furniture. ❤
Hey Marc! Get an architect to help you in how to utilise your home better. I’m sure there’s someone in your comments that’ll be able to offer advice, otherwise I fear you’ll be forever changing it xxx Happy new year to you and Teddy :-)
@@GoingSolo-sfsHahaha… true true! In that case sir, I retract my comment and you keep doing what you’re doing! I really look forward to what you’re going to do next! Also, I love the grey… it’s a really nice shade! xxx
Hi Marc, We are in a council property and have black mould on the wall that is In between the back hallway and bathroom, the council have dealt with it once and are going to be dealing with it again now Christmas is over. The time before they stripped it back to brickwork found a leak on the back hallway radiator and fixed the radiator, then even loaned us a dehumidifier for a week, they also checked everywhere for more leaks but found none. A surveyor and an inspector came just before Christmas to access the situation, they admitted to being baffled but will send the appropriate people after the holidays to deal with it. I did tell them I'm asthmatic so black mould is bad news. They are going to deal with it ASAP. We did have green mould in most of the house as my last fella built cupboards in most of the rooms and didn't leave air space, we have since taken all the cupboards out and took them to the tip, they were rotten on the backs anyway. I have had to buy furniture but at least it's not mouldy, wet and rotten. There is no furniture near the wall in the back hallway. Happy New Year to you and Teddy ❤❤ xx
I have a friend that had black mold in his house and didn't know. He walked around barefoot and the mold got into the cracks on his heels and through his toenails. He was in the hospital for almost a year, he walks with a cane, and is mentally challenged now. The state condemned his home and plowed it down.
Your problem is airflow, I had similar problems, a lager property with two wood stoves, I will come back to that. I solved the damp and condensation problem by establishing airflows in and out of the property. In the kitchen under the window you need to get two plastic or metal airflow covers, make sure you get those with the mesh on the back it keeps out the nasties, then place one under the window quite low down and draw around it. Remove the cover and you are left with your square or oblong. Get your drill and with a large drill bit drill into the space filling it with holes to the out side. Screw and glue the cover then go outside clean up the debris and glue and screw your outside metal cover on. As long as you have your kitchen door open you will be creating an airflow. Your mould and condensation shouldn’t reappear. Follow same around the house. It’s a very cheap inexpensive and effective solution. On the wood stoves, only recently has dawned on me that when leaving the property for a while to leave them both wide open, they have glass doors. This allows them to do the excellent job you pointed out in the beginning of your video. They both have glass doors so when closed they a pretty well airtight and no help with airflow. A very happy New Year to you and keep up the videos.
I remember asking my doctor many years ago when i lived in a mouldy house in Wales what dose the mould do to your health and she said you dont want to know , but i moved house after that 😊
I think you will never resolve the damp issues Marc , I have the same problem with my house and being granite and having a cellar mine will never be resolved , You are doing well to make sure that your house is always air is being ventilated through your house Marc Happy New year to you too
He needs to heat the house at 20-22 first with electric baseboards(220V). Then, if not enough, a deshumidifier. But i have a feeling that he will try some complicated , economical, inneficient stuffs first.
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I live in Ireland, where the damp air - especially bad in winter - is a huge problem in old buildings. Any gas heating appliance produces warm, moist air, which will condense on a cold surface, and help mould and powdery mildew growth. There are several types of insulating plaster - including lime-based - which are a good, permanent solution in some areas, such as those very thin walls under the windows. These plasters also help with heat retention, and I am hoping to use them . Just covering cold walls will result in condensation and hidden mould build up. Open fires (!), wood burners, and dehumidifiers are all good in old buildings. Love Teddy. Good luck !
Happy New Year marc and Teddy , Hope you are Both well and keeping warm , Great video and enjoyable to watch , your Home looks really Nice , All very interesting , so Thank you for sharing , Keep up your Great work , Take care Marc and Teddy , 🐈⬛👍👍
Drying your washing indoors could be adding to the problem of moisture/damp. Use that inner hall for that purpose. For the thin wall under the windows. Could you cover with insulation material and then wood panelling? Or build a brick wall about 6 inches from the original and make a wider inside window sill? And for the outside wall in the sitting room, hang a large thick decorative rug. I have a log burner, but there's condensation on my windows in the mornings when it's cold outside. However, not in the kitchen, cos there's a window open 1/2 inch at the top continually.Like you say, there needs to be air movement. You're an intelligent resourceful chap, so sure you'll overcome the challenges! Happy New Year!
Marc the answer to your damp problems is open up your fireplace, you have trees on your land or you can buy wood I should imagine at a reasonable cost. Your Calor gas fire is the worst thing you can have they create damp. I would put a small wood burner freestanding type with a place on the top for boiling a kettle or heating food in a pan. I would put this on the outside wall in your lounge and have another small one inserted into the fireplace in your bedroom open all your interior doors let the warm air circulate and live in a warm cosy house.
I watch these programs all the time and other ex pats pick second hand wood burners up cheaply from second hand shops. Good luck.
Really excellent advice. Thank you!
hi. Mold is caused by humidity. So ultimately, you need a dehumidifier to remove the excess moisture. when you can, you need to frame the rooms, at minimum all exterior walls, then insulate, put up vapour barrier and then drywall.. Then the kitchen and bath should have ventilation fabs to run when cooking or showering, you need to heat the house either wood or electric to dry all the surfaces. if you suffer allergies this is imperative.
Condensation the culprit.
Condensation battling for years four outside external walls , cannot afford to move.....heating and lots of ventolation.
We have a similar problem. You need a dehumidifier.
Happy new year to you too 😀
I see comments suggesting a wood stove and would agree. I had a house up in the mountains of northern Tuscany and discovered mould. I was advised to have a small circular window fan cut into the glass (fan works on air flow only) and to ensure that affected rooms had one at each end AND heat the place properly. Some fans were added, a woodburner installed and Eureka.
Just a thought Mark - have you checked the back of your ‘Mondrian’ painting for mould?
Your gas heater is crearing condensation as it ia liquid. Open up your chimney and install a small woodburner which is a dry heat
Do they have mold inhibitors to add to paint? That could help. Use vinegar to clean it up. But keeping the temps up around 20 and a humidifer might be the only way.
Here in the states we have something called damp rid that you hang in your rooms closets Etc and it collects moisture and then when it is full you just dump the water... also here in Florida we get a lot of damp we just put out bowls of baking soda which not only absorbs moisture but absorbs odors. It's a cheap inexpensive way to absorb moisture in your house!
I use damp rid hanging bags and I use these bags with cedar chips or this other stuff that just sucks up the damp
Happy new year marc, Most likely the gas heater they are prone to makeing condensation, we live in a old house and mould is a bit of a problem but we keep on top of it with a dehumidifier and mould killer but it is a pain in the winter, we need to fit extractor fans too. Air flow also helps. Great video again marc.
Mould forms with moisture and dust. You need a woodburner or wood stove to dry the house out properly, plus regularly cleaning.
Maybe change that window in the kitchen…open the kitchen up by taking down the wall between the living room to create better air flow.
I think that thin wall was once a door space. Not a window but a door. Maybe after treating the mould. Insulate that part of the wall.
If you are drying laundry indoors using a Dehumidifier will reduce damp and provide local heat source at minimal power consumption.
The cold air in the storage room will create condensation and lead to mould on porous items like wooden spoons etc. I found that we got some mould during very cold weather but it cleans off easily and the main thing is to locate where it appears and keep it cleaned off regularly. Black mould is the worse but it’s rare in climates that have good weather for much of the year. The air flow is really important. Looks like you’re doing a great job.
Great video Marc. Your research helps people like me understand the maintenance issues associated with running a home. Many thanks.
We live in an old stone longére up here in Brittany and no matter how much we air the house, we have two de humidifires and cleaned with a variety of anti mould products.......it comes back! Constant battle. These old stone houses were not built on proper foundations, no damp proofing - nothing! Good luck!!
A tip . . . if you can, leave drawers and cupboards with clothes open during the day to allow air to circulate. Our older style townhouse has cavity brick walls and gets very cold in Winter. Our neighbour was away for a few months and returned to find everything in his bedroom cupboard covered in powdery mildew. His suits were ruined and all his shoes had to be thrown out.
I love the older window in the kitchen but could it be leaking colder air in? 👍🏻
I worked for twenty years in commercial and apartment property management where all our leases required heat and air conditioning used constantly to avoid mold. Prior to this job I sold real estate for ten years. I witnessed what happened to structures where hvac was not used correctly. The building that is your home will have many problems that occur without proper heat. All the best to you, Teddy, and your home stay warm. Thanks!
Try lining the area of wall behind your kitchen units with polystyrene.
You could get a nice woodburner and it would heat and dry the entire place.. You have a few odd trees. Dry the wood for two years and there will be no smoke from the chimney. Beech isn't too expensive.
I used to just heat one room in the winter, the rest of the house got black mould. Now I keep my whole house 17 degrees or above and I'm mould free! :)
We live in an old building with big thick walls ( its a flat in the building). All rooms get chilly in winter, and the bedroom can get a lot of condensation, sometimes with high humidity. We can't have a log burner although it would be a godsend. We open the bedroom windows every morning for a couple hours now, and it has improved everything. It was the reason I was very pro you getting a log burner on the go, to push moisture back out the walls. But there we go. Ventilation of one sort or another to solve your issue Marc. I wonder if an air con unit can help, but also using much more electric.
Mold creeps me out. Thankfully, we rarely have issues. Regardless, lots of ventilation and air movement helps. I have fans set on timers, running year round, wherever I have concerns. It really helps.
Mold is extremely dangerous I inadvertently while working in a crappy office swallowed a mold Spore I was down for 9 months felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest okay now though terrible thing
I live in Scandinavia, and we are taught not to paint indoors in fall or winther, because the humidity from the paint is bad for the indoor climate and can create problems with mould. We are also told to keep the temperature in all rooms above 18 degrees celsius night and day and air out our homes two times 5 minutes every day. I can’t afford to heat all the rooms in my old house myself, so I also struggle with mold. It is disturbing.
You are so right ! When I was young I had a lovely girlfriend living next door. She was immaculate in herself but not in house care. Her children’s bedroom had -don’t faint - black mould all over the ceiling. Her youngest beautiful daughter died aged 3 of cancer. You can’t be too careful. Like you I like a spotless house. I love your bathroom. You are so clever with woodwork. That is a beautiful box you built under your window. You could make a lot of money making bespoke furniture. ❤
Hey Marc! Get an architect to help you in how to utilise your home better. I’m sure there’s someone in your comments that’ll be able to offer advice, otherwise I fear you’ll be forever changing it xxx
Happy new year to you and Teddy :-)
Forever changing to keep my daft mind occupied 🙂
@@GoingSolo-sfsHahaha… true true! In that case sir, I retract my comment and you keep doing what you’re doing! I
really look forward to what you’re going to do next! Also, I love the grey… it’s a really nice shade! xxx
Hi Marc, We are in a council property and have black mould on the wall that is In between the back hallway and bathroom, the council have dealt with it once and are going to be dealing with it again now Christmas is over. The time before they stripped it back to brickwork found a leak on the back hallway radiator and fixed the radiator, then even loaned us a dehumidifier for a week, they also checked everywhere for more leaks but found none. A surveyor and an inspector came just before Christmas to access the situation, they admitted to being baffled but will send the appropriate people after the holidays to deal with it. I did tell them I'm asthmatic so black mould is bad news. They are going to deal with it ASAP. We did have green mould in most of the house as my last fella built cupboards in most of the rooms and didn't leave air space, we have since taken all the cupboards out and took them to the tip, they were rotten on the backs anyway. I have had to buy furniture but at least it's not mouldy, wet and rotten. There is no furniture near the wall in the back hallway. Happy New Year to you and Teddy ❤❤ xx
Thank you for taking the time write Yvonne, I hope everything works out for you :-)
I have a friend that had black mold in his house and didn't know. He walked around barefoot and the mold got into the cracks on his heels and through his toenails. He was in the hospital for almost a year, he walks with a cane, and is mentally challenged now. The state condemned his home and plowed it down.
Your problem is airflow, I had similar problems, a lager property with two wood stoves, I will come back to that. I solved the damp and condensation problem by establishing airflows in and out of the property. In the kitchen under the window you need to get two plastic or metal airflow covers, make sure you get those with the mesh on the back it keeps out the nasties, then place one under the window quite low down and draw around it. Remove the cover and you are left with your square or oblong. Get your drill and with a large drill bit drill into the space filling it with holes to the out side. Screw and glue the cover then go outside clean up the debris and glue and screw your outside metal cover on. As long as you have your kitchen door open you will be creating an airflow. Your mould and condensation shouldn’t reappear. Follow same around the house. It’s a very cheap inexpensive and effective solution. On the wood stoves, only recently has dawned on me that when leaving the property for a while to leave them both wide open, they have glass doors. This allows them to do the excellent job you pointed out in the beginning of your video. They both have glass doors so when closed they a pretty well airtight and no help with airflow. A very happy New Year to you and keep up the videos.
Thank you for taking the time to write David, Thanks for the ideas. happy new year to you too :-)
I remember asking my doctor many years ago when i lived in a mouldy house in Wales what dose the mould do to your health and she said you dont want to know , but i moved house after that 😊
Greetings from a very chilly Derbyshire
Loving your channel
All the best for 2025!
I think you will never resolve the damp issues Marc , I have the same problem with my house and being granite and having a cellar mine will never be resolved , You are doing well to make sure that your house is always air is being ventilated through your house Marc
Happy New year to you too
You need to open all windows every day for about 10 minutes. Let the air circulate them close them. It’s a German trick.
The only mold problem we've ever had was due to a leaky roof so I don't know much about your situation. I hope you find the solution soon.
Buy a dehumidifier.
He needs to heat the house at 20-22 first with electric baseboards(220V). Then, if not enough, a deshumidifier. But i have a feeling that he will try some complicated , economical, inneficient stuffs first.
❤❤🖤