CAUSES OF MOULD

​

Mould can be a  major headache for thousands of households throughout the country, it is unsightly, has an unpleasant odour and will contaminate clothes, furniture, furnishings, and leather goods.

​

Mould growth is generally not nice, Mould can cause building decay if undiscovered resulting in costly remediation and decontamination. Mould may affect your health, it can make you conscious to have friends or family visit because of the Offensive appearance. Mould can also cause allergic reactions and it may effect your physical and mental well being.

​

Many people think that it is caused through dampness. However, there are 14 different types of dampness according to the Building Research Establishment ranging through from rising damp, penetrating damp, bursts, leaks, floods, spillage, seepage, built in water, etc.

Condensation is also a major factor in household damp and mould growth, condensation is most prevalent at certain times of the year although with the right conditions, can occur at any time of the year. October through until April is when it is quite common to see condensation on windows. 

​

The air within your home contains water vapour – the amount depends on the temperature in your home.

​

Older properties, particularly solid wall – solid brick, solid stone, solid concrete are much more prone to condensation and mould problems because the walls are much colder than modern properties with cavity walls and good insulation.

Fifty years ago most houses had high natural ventilation with sash windows and open fireplaces and the level of insulation was low.  

Homes have now become sealed boxes and created the perfect condition for condensation and mould to occur.

​

It is estimated that a mould affected home may contain between 3-7000 spores per cubic metre/1000 litres. There are several species of mould that may occur in domestic dwellings, however, the most common are usually black, green or white and are known as Aspergillus Niger, Penicillium spp and Cladosporium spp respectively.

​

​

Mould is classified as a statutory nuisance under Section 82 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Under the Health and Housing Safety Rating Scheme 2006 (HHSRS) issued by DCLG, mould is a Category 1 hazard.