How do you avoid and treat mould?
In rooms without proper ventilation, black spots can appear on the walls. Corners behind cupboards and damp rooms are particularly prone to mould stains, as the moisture cannot escape as quickly there. Mould not only causes problems in your home, but is also bad for your health. Therefore, we will explain how you can treat mould in your home and also prevent it in the future.
What is the main cause of mould?
Mould in your bathroom, bedroom or kitchen is caused by excess moisture. Mould can only develop in damp conditions. You can remove mould (or have it removed), but if you don't tackle the root of the moisture problem, before you know it you will have mould patches again. That is why we list the three most common causes of mould below:
1. Penetrating damp
If the moisture on the external walls does not dry out properly, it can seep through to the internal walls. The result is damp walls and, consequently, mould. Penetrating damp is often a problem in homes with cracks or damaged pointing. In such cases, it is best to impregnate the façade. This ensures that the moisture can no longer penetrate the façade. You can impregnate your facade perfectly with Sigma Siloxan Hydrophob and Sikkens Alpha Aqua Si.
2. Condensation
When warm air cools, condensation is formed. The warm air settles against the walls, ceiling and windows. If you don't open windows or heat the room enough, the condensation has a chance to develop further into mould on the ceiling or wall. Condensation can be caused by showering, bathing or hot steam during cooking, among other things.
3. Rising damp
Older houses often suffer from rising damp. This can cause walls to become locally very damp. Soil moisture also contains bacteria and salts, which can cause mould and also salt deposits on walls. Nitric acid causes a white mould, which is mainly visible on brick walls.
Preventing mould
Prevention is better than cure. As you read above, it is very important to adequately ventilate humid rooms, and certainly also bedrooms. We therefore advise you to open the window for a while after taking a bath or shower.
In addition, you can also heat your bathroom to reduce condensation on the walls. Always put your cooker hood on in the kitchen when you are cooking. This way, the fumes from the cooking pots can be properly extracted and do not stick around.
Impregnating your facade with a damp-proofing agent will create a protective layer against moisture and dirt. This makes your facade water-repellent and also prevents rising damp, among other things.
Treating mould
Do you still suffer from mould in your bathroom, kitchen or bedroom? Then it's important to remove those stains as soon as possible. Don't panic, we will explain to you right away how to make the black stains a head shorter!
Clean the place where there is (black) mould well with diluted bleach: half bleach, half water. Let everything dry well, sand it gently and treat it with a primer.
After the primer has dried well, repaint the place with a suitable paint such as Sigmaresist Fungi. This is a hygienic mould-resistant water-based wall and ceiling paint for indoors. Because it is a water-based paint, it is also very suitable for places like bathrooms.
Matt hygienic fungus-resistant water-based wall and ceiling paint for interior use.
Matt hygienic fungus-resistant water-based wall and ceiling paint for interior use.
Do you still have questions or doubts after reading this blog post, or would like some personal advice? Then post a comment below or contact our experts. They will be happy to help you!
