To get really down about the state of my house sometimes?

[FuckaDucky]

And ask you for any tips about making it a nicer place to be?

Moved in 2 years ago with a view to giving it new carpets and a lick of paint. However since we moved it it’s become clear that’s not going to cut it...

There is damp everywhere, making plaster fall off the walls in the living room, covering every room in mould. It’s in my kids toy storage. The wallpaper is literally falling off the walls.

One of the dc’s windows doesn’t close because it’s broken. The kitchen door fell off the top hinge last week so now it doesn’t close (and the bastarding fire alarm goes off every time I use the grill).

Curtain rails in 3 rooms are broken and hang down at one end.
The carpets are stained and the Lino in the kitchen is falling to bits.

There isn’t enough storage so there is clutter EVERYWHERE. DH is resisting buying any more furniture as we are hoping to have the money to do it up next year and ‘we’ve managed up until now’

I’m at home with 2dc all week and sometimes the state of the place really gets me down

Damp is coming in everywhere - partly ventilation (no fans anywhere - not even an extractor hood in the kitchen!) , coming in through the walls around the windows and coming in down the gable wall from the roof we think.

Hence really needing to do it up properly - not just a quick fix! When we do, we’ll move out and gut the place, new roof, damp proof course, baton and insulate the walls, new windows - don’t think it’s going to be sorted without but just don’t have the money yet

@icecreamandcandyfloss we pretty much are - DH works all week plus bank hols and I work weekends - we barely see each other! Window is too high for dc to reach thankfully. We tried to tackle the mould in worse dcs room but it came straight back!

DH could do the little jobs like curtain rails but doesn’t see the point if it’s all going in a few months. But he’s not the one here, day in, day out, with the dc!

Windows are all open a crack now

That's not enough to dry out the house though.

So you do it. Or ask someone else.

The mould on the wall at the top is most probably caused by condensation. If you dry clothes indoors or the steam from cooking will cause it. The steam hits the cold wall, condenses to water and the mould thrives. Also ventilate and close kitchen and bathroom doors when in use.

As pp said, check gutters and air bricks are clear and clean and if you have a chimney breast boarded up it also needs a vent. Check that your damp proof course hasn’t failed. Also is your house insulated?

The plaster on the walls looks like it has had a good few coats, which would suggest this is an old ongoing problem. Take off any loose plaster and let the walls breathe for a while before re plastering.

Curtain poles are cheap and easy to replace, just measure up and replace. Get rid of the carpet and lino and buy a few cheap rugs until you can replace.

I wouldn't worry about redecorating until the damp issue is solved as you would have to re do it in a year or so anyway.

Do you dry clothes indoors? If you do then this will be contributing to the damp problem. Do you open the window in the bathroom when bathing or showering? You need to leave it open for a bit afterwards to let steam escape. Also when cooking, window or door open and left open for a short while afterwards. At this time of year I have all my windows open for at least 30 mins each day when it is dry. Also try a dehumidifier to get the worst of the water out.

The other things sound fairly simple, a new curtain track or just a couple of screws to hold the one you have up. A new hinge for the door.

It may be condensation rather than damp. Check out Environvent. It's expensive but worth it. X

We live in a similar house. I bought a dehumidifier on credit from argos and paid it paid in installments. Have it on every time we cook plus the window open and extractor fan on (until it broke).

Top tip is to put socks and a jumper on and have windows open as much as physically possible. The patio doors are open here from April to October. Window in bedroom is open a crack all night and then opened in the morning to air it out.

The air feels cold but much nicer as a result.

@donkeyhohtay the windows are all open a crack with the bathroom window open all the way unless it’s raining, and the kitchen/back door open all day too. The damp has really crept in during the winter and now it’s hard to get rid of - house takes a long time to dry out!

Had an environment in a previous rented house - it was AMAZING. Made such a difference. I’ll talk to DH about it - don’t know why it hadn’t occurred to me before

No air bricks/vents of any sort and it’s a north facing house - no south facing walls at all

Go for the dangerous things first. Make a list and decide what to prioritise each month.

Do Konmarie for clutter.

Is it that between you you genuinely dont have the money to tackle these things one at a time? Or is it that he controls the money and won't let you have equal say on how you spend it?

If the latter you have a husband problem rather than a house problem. You are both adults and should both make equal decisions about the important things. He will know as well as anyone else that a broken window and mould are dangerous. A decent husband father would prioritise the safety of the family.

It is not good for your health to live with so much damp. Can you afford to get the work done earlier.

We used a dehumidifier in our old flat every day for months and months after we moved in. We only ever paid £60 per month for gas and electric and got £50credit back when we moved to our house. My point Is our electric was about the same with or without it on so they cant cost much to run. Get one! Make your life complete. The whole place needs replastering and everything cleaned up or replaced outside such as guttering etc and windows. Itll feel like a new house. For now though all you need is the dehumidifier and Cif mould cleaner - it's new and I cannot stress enough how good it is!

This is the stuff

A dehumidifier shouldn't cost £5 per day:
choosedehumidifier.co.uk/guides/running-costs/
You need to sort out the damp before you can do anything to your house anyway.

Can you replace windows now, rather than wait? That's one of the first jobs in any renovation, and (aside from already being broken) they sound like they are part of the damp issue. At least then you feel like you are making progress not just living with a rotten house!

DH isn’t controlling with money - as I’m at home doing the weekly shop etc I tend to look after the domestic finances.

We sunk most of our savings and a significant loan into our business which has been slow to pay off. In the meantime we’re living off the remaining savings and my salary (£40p/w) which comes to around £1000 per month so not much in the way of small change to start renovations now.

Shit I’ve been dripfeeding Business is in the building trade - waiting for a first project of dh’s client to be finished and then we’re going to go to town on the house. Window openings will be changing so we can’t really do new windows now or they’ll have to be changed again.

Btw the frame on dc’s window is broken so it won’t close, not the glass itself, and it’s high up so not really dangerous in itself but blows wide open when it’s windy which is obviously not ideal.

I worry that the kitchen door is dangerous though - maybe the best thing is to take it off altogether?!

@famalamaringwrong yes I need some of that!

Do you have a problem with your drainpipes and drainage of water away from your property?
Keep your windows open for a proper airing now the weather is warmer.
Does your house have a damp course?
Is your roof water tight?

Drainpipe from the gutter stops halfway down the wall and just pours water down the side of the house. Not sure about a damp course. Suspect the roof is a bit leaky from damp patches on the gable end

I think the problem with the drainpipe and roof are causing some of the problem. I think houses built after a certain age do have damp courses. These are worth saving up to get repaired as it will damage your house and cost even more to repair. I remember having to remortgage because we didn't have enough money to replace the boiler when it broke. It was really frustrating as I'd rather have had a new kitchen!

Well surely it's worth getting the drainpipe fixed?? Why hasn't that been done??
Mould is very bad and you'd have the summer for the house to dry out!!