Mouldy corners on Bay

[Lovescourgettes]

I would really appreciate some advice from any others with experience of1930's bay windows. I am due to redecorate our master bedroom but want to sort out an issue with black mould growth on the corners of the bay window before I put my lovely new paper up. I am currently bleaching the corners of the bay when This happens but the new paper isn't going to tolerate this heavy handed treatment. The mould is extremely minor and is only a problem for about one month in the year and IMO is due entirely to condensation we have no trickle vents on the inherited double glazing but have a dehumidifier on 24/7 and never dry clothes inside and all the usual precautions . Do you think putting insulated plasterboard up might sort the problem out or would we be better to put a radiator in the bay Any other suggestions? Would an airbrick be an expensive option?

Airbricks aren't expensive, but they are cold! You could do a floor vent in the bay, which is very diy-able but I would personally go for a radiator. We have them in our 1930s bay windows and we've never had a problem with mould, which we have in the bathroom (filled with airbricks and still mouldy).

I'm not sure what the answer is but had a damp specialist out yesterday and he said to be careful with bleach as while it does a brilliant job of removing the mould, it is also corrosive and damages the surface making it more susceptible to mould the next time!

We get it in our utility room and he suggested an extractor with built in humidity detector - so it automatically switches itself on when the humidity reaches a certain level. Not sure that's very suitable for a bedroom though! He also said he can give me some mould inhibitor stuff to mix in with the paint when we decorate. I wonder if there is a similar product to treat wallpaper?

This advice was all part of a free quote - might be worth a chat with someone professional?

Would a layer of polystyrene veneer on the wall help? Then you could paper over it. The polystyrene is very thin and is supposed to help prevent surface condensation.

www.wickes.co.uk/white-polystyrene-veneer-10m-x-05m/invt/105968/?source=123_74&tmcampid=104&tmad=c&tmplaceref=PPC_ggl_0006635&tmcustom=mkwid|W5fPyZGt_dc|pcrid|7531858372|match||plid|&gclid=CJ_3_P-6lLwCFWfLtAodaWoASg

stick a piece of clear plastic tightly to the wall. Does condensation form? Or is under the plastic, probably rain getting round the window frame or poor condition little roof over the bay.

How thick is the wall, and what is it made of?

Hi Piglet I don't think it is coming through the wall the roof is pretty new and there is no separate roof for the bay it's all one structure. I can see the condensation on the windows in the morning and the bay feels very cold due to the lack of a radiator. I like the sound of the tiles but I will try the sheet of plastic as recommended piglet

I have seems veneer roll at Homebase which looks worth a try. Piglet John do you know what product I would use to put it up would you recommend normal wallpaper paste or can you get glue with mould retardant in it?

How thick is the wall, and what is it made of?

The whole wall with the problem is a pebble dashed squared off bay. I don't know what it is made from sorry although it is hollow and I saw the smaller one next door and it had no insulation inside at all and the whole of the wall from inside to outside is about 20cm

if it is 8" thick and hollow, is it blocks on the outside and plasterboard on the inside? Or is it a timber frame with cement board on the outside and plaster on the inside?

If so, ripping off the plasterboard and insulating the void would make a big improvement.

how old is this house?

Hi DrugsWorkABitToWell any idea roughly how much retrofitting the vents works out at ? Piglet John the bay is 1930's yes I think from memory it is probably cement and pebbledash to the front with the back timber and plaster . We ripped the window ledge off the smaller bay when it started to rot and found no insulation at all save for some toilet paper! Thank you all for your responses and help. I think I will try internal insulation and retro fitting trickle vents

Oh it is double glazing btw

off on a tangent drugs but what sort of price were the pane replacements and what sort of person did it? not one of those double glazed salesmen that come to the door and offer you discounts if you sign up there and then?

A vent is a hole. For £50, I can send you a bag of holes, but you will have to fit them yourself*

the people who fit them drill or rout a hole in the frame and put an ornamental plastic trim on it to keep out rain and insects.

It is extremely easy provided that you know where the joints, reinforcements and screws are likely to be in the plastic frame so you can drill without weakening it.

The is probably at least one person in your town who specialises in repairing plastic doors and windows, because they go wrong so often, who could do it for you. It might take him an hour or two to do the whole house. He can put new runners on your patio doors, too, if you have them.

* this is a joke

I had the same problem with beautiful corner windows in a 1930's flat. In the coldest months of the year the windows would get hugely condensated and the surrounding wall v mouldy. Before I moved in my DH had lived there for several years and kept the windows shut to try and 'keep it dry' When I moved in and moaned about the damp we took some advice and were told to wipe the windows clean each morning and dry the towel outside and to air the rooms every day, whatever the weather. That, coupled with putting the windows on night vent all the time solved our problem. We washed the mould off and treated it with anti fungal stuff from Wickes before we repainted and it never came back.

£600 sounds quite reasonable, lots of people would have been talked into spending much more and having complete new windows put in.

fab drugs thanks