Damp on wall under window: Damp patch underneath window sill (pics inside)
Damp patch underneath window sill (pics inside)
martin645
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#1
Hi all,
I’m looking for thoughts on a damp patch that has recently appeared underneath the window sill in my bedroom.
Wide shot of the whole window bay:
Shot of the corner of the window showing the weather seals:
Looking down the outer bit of the open window – inside on the left, outside on the right:
The window is a modern-ish double glazed affair, the outer wall is old stone. The damp patch is entirely confined to the underneath of the interior window sill, and has a weird, “patchy” distribution – some bits are very damp and some bits not at all. The damp bits show up as darker patches on the photos.
The patch has been very slightly damp for a while now, but has suddenly got much worse in the last two days. We haven’t had any rain at all in the last couple of days, but we have had two very cold nights, which makes me wonder if the dampness could be due to condensation on the inside of the window, dripping down somehow and emerging underneath the sill. There is a fair amount of condensation on the glass on the inside of the window, especially near the edges (you can easily see it on the full-sized version of the first photo). Two humans and four dogs sleep in this (quite small) bedroom overnight, plus we often have washing drying on the radiator, so there is plenty of scope for there to be a lot of moisture in the air.
Other potentially relevant information: the weather seals on the window are not in great condition, and there is a hole (around 1/2 inch diameter) drilled through from the outside at just above ground level that used to be filled by a cable from a satellite TV dish.
I will go out tomorrow during the day and get some more pictures from the outside – please say if there’s anything you want to see. I have uploaded full-resolution pictures, so you should be able to zoom in for more detail. Please excuse the dirty condition of the window and sill! I am pretty inexperienced with this kind of thing so if there’s any important information I’ve missed out, please ask.
Thanks in advance for any advice,
Martin
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#2
Is the window sill wet? Does moisture drip off it and onto the lower wall?
Is the effected area wall papered?
If you dont have damp getting onto the wall in a way you can trace i’d suspect cold bridging, especially as you say it has got worse in cold but not wet weather. Woody will probably have a better idea then me if he looks in here.
You probably need to ventilate the room better, the amount of condensation on the window tells a tale. You say two humans and 4 dogs sleep in the room, could the dogs sleep elsewhere? Do you have the bedroom door closed at night? Maybe think about a dehumidifier to bring the condensation under control.
martin645
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#3
Aqua,
thanks for the reply. The (inside) window sill is dry everywhere that I can touch it, which makes me think that if the dampness is due to condensation, then it must be running down the window and somehow getting underneath the sill. The affected area is papered.
Good idea re. ventilation and dehumidifier – I might run out and see if I can pick one up this weekend and see if that helps matters.
cheers,
Martin
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#4
If condensation was dripping off the window and down i suspect you would be able to follow the course of it past the bottom of the window and onto the window edge of the sill.
I don’t think that’s the problem. As the wall is papered i suspect if the issue is cold bridging, condensation forms behind the wall paper causing the damp areas which show in the photos.
Is the wallpaper lifting in those areas, does it feel/look like it would come away easily?
joe-90
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#5
Looks more like a leak down the cavity to me.
noseall
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#6
Looks to me like there is no cavity.
Reading the op’s post points towards cold bridge condensation damp – i.e. zero rain, cold temperatures outside etc.
Also, if this is an occupied bedroom then the possibility that someone has been breathing out moist air for 8 hours would compound the issue.
joe-90
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#7
How thick is that wall? Looks way too thick to be a cold issue, and why does it seem to be only at the sides of the window? It looks like there is a section in the middle that has been removed in the past? If not, what is that line? Is it a solid wall below? Or lath and plaster?
martin645
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#8
Thanks for all the replies,
The paper is not exactly lifting away, but it is a little bit flaky – i. e. I can pull it away without too much effort.
Some additional info: I left the door open overnight for ventilation and most of the moisture has cleared – the wallpaper still feels a little bit damp but there are no drips running down the wall like there were last night. Also, I measured the temperature of the walls with an IR thermometer: the other walls at the same height are 16 degrees but the bits where the damp has gathered is around 11/12 degrees. So I could well believe that overnight those bits of the walls easily get cold enough to cause condensation out of the air.
joe-90: It’s a bay window; the thickness between the interior and exterior wall is about 13 inches in the bay where the window is, and about double that elsewhere. The damp does seem to be worse at the sides; I have no idea why this is! The horizontal line near the floor is just a join in the wallpaper. I think it’s a hollow wall – it sounds hollow when I tap it.
Thanks for putting up with my inexpert descriptions!
HERTS P&D
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#9
Does the external stone cill have a drip underneath? If not you can cut one with an angle grinder.
Andy
martin645
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#10
Andy,
By a drip, you mean a groove running underneath the cill that stops water running along the underside of the cill to get to the wall, right?
joe-90
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#11
Yes, a capillary groove – and a good call from Andy.
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#12
Still sounds like cold bridging to me (sorry joe-90).
I know there are still quite a few who dispute the existance of cold bridging being the cause of mould and damp on internal walls but just two days ago i removed external bricks to reveal a cavity bridge, the other side of which was damp/mouldy yet the cavity and bridge where snuff dry..
The OP says he has changed a few life style habits and results are instant.
Remove the sleeping dogs from the room, leave the bedroom door open at night, ventilate as well as possible (cold weather i know), dehumidify if necessary and things should get better.
noseall
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#13
Aqua said:
I know there are still quite a few who dispute the existance of cold bridging being the cause of mould and damp on internal walls.
Click to expand…
They would have to be idiots then!
Funny how this materialises when the weather is BONE DRY and VERY COLD outside.
Cold bridging has never been in doubt. Its signature tell tale signs are revealed whenever the weather turns cold, in spotting and shadowing etc.
The problem is people look for everything but cold bridging, when damp manifests itself and scratch their heads wondering how it can be happening when it is dry outside.
That’s because the moisture is coming from INSIDE!
joe-90
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#14
That’s not cold bridging – that is condensation.
noseall
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#15
joe-90 said:
That’s not cold bridging – that is condensation.
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damp patch under window, isolated area
andrewaaa299
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#1
Hello
I was repainting the bedroom walls and noticed a damp patch under one of the windows. It appears to be an isolated area and i never noticed it before.
It is right under the window sill (of a double glazed window). We had heavy rain in th eUK recently, maybe that has something to do with it?
can anyone shed any light / advice on this? I have uploaded a photo if that helps:
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Any help greatly appreciated. Thank you[/img]
Chukka63
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#2
is it under the window or in the corner of the reveal.any pics???
andrewaaa299
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#3
Hi there, its directly under the window sill. I pasted a link to a photo i uploaded – does that link work?
(no idea how to display an image in an actual post though)
hotrod
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#4
I’ve added it for you andrew:-
I can’t tell if they’re salts leaching out of the plaster or not because the flash has caused a reflection on the photo. Are there white salts on the plaster? That skim looks quite new, like they’ve tried a remedial repair that hasn’t quite worked maybe
What’s the brickwork/pointing like externally? Is there any water maybe pooling on the window cill and not being shed? Pics from the outside may reveal more.
lostinfens
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#5
Is it 9″ or cavity brickwork, the window board looks to me like a sash type. Was there a sash replaced with a double glazed unit , what type of unit, & did this occur before? What is the window sat on externally, is it a stone cill & is the new unit sat on this or on its own sub cill?
andrewaaa299
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#6
Hello guys, thanks for trying to help.
– The plaster is newer you are right (we moved in 3 montsh ago)
– There is no salt that i can see (it is just camera flash)
– Yes it is a double glazed window that has replaced a sash. The dble glazed window must be 8 years or more old. No idea if this occured before, but may have done given that the plaster in thsi area looks new
– outside there is a thick window cill, made of stone i believe
– the window unit sits within part of the old sash frame. The old sash frame is a little worse for wear externally where it meets the double glazing
– the brick work is just standard brick – its a Victorian house, no no cavity etc – I could not see any water pooling on the window sill, but the rain has eased off for a good 24 hours or so
– externally there is a small mini tiled roof over a bay window, which has a gutter. The top of this mini roof runs directly iunderenath the window sill externally and at the bottom of the roof there is a gutter
Chukka63
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#7
have you got a picture of this???
– the window unit sits within part of the old sash frame. The old sash frame is a little worse for wear externally where it meets the double glazing
andrewaaa299
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#8
Untitled
- andrewaaa299
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- andrewaaa299
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- andrewaaa299
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I have taken three photos of the window frame from outside. It does look like it is need of overhaul. Have a click on teh middle phot especially so you can see it upclose, it does look it has seen better days
Do you think that the moisture could be getting in through there?
Chukka63
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#9
that doesnt look good to me from those pics.my guess its getting through that silicone joint.
lostinfens
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#10
Bit of silicone may do the job, using the old sash as a sub frame may also be the prob if its past its sell by date. Could the fact that it’s damp close to the verge of the roof be a point? Have you looked around that area for any gaps or loose pointing around the flashing? The flashing looks very tight to the cill & it may be that the pointing isn’t too good there, after the wind & driven rain we’ve had, it’s feasible that it may have soaked through and come out in the corner. Try the silicone solution first & go from there though, just a matter of eliminating each possibility.
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Fungus and mold on windows and walls: control and prevention measures
Mold and dark fungal stains can appear in completely unexpected places in the house, regardless of the newness and condition of the home. The main reason for the appearance of fungus on walls and windows is an imbalance in the microclimate in the room. Fungal mold appears where there is little fresh air and constantly warm, high humidity. Therefore, most often the fungus can be seen in bathrooms, if there is not enough effective ventilation. Also, dark spots of fungus and mold can appear throughout the house: on walls, floors, furniture, carpets, you can even notice mold on the windows.
This phenomenon affects rooms where pipes are leaking, poor ventilation, no regular ventilation, constant dampness. Fortunately, fungus on windows and walls can be removed by yourself, and you can take a number of measures to prevent its recurrence.
HOW FUNGUS AND MOLD APPEAR ON WINDOWS AND WALLS
Before visible fungus appears on walls, furniture and windows, a specific smell characteristic of a damp, damp room appears in the room. In this case, it is necessary to inspect the bathroom, pantry, walls, corners, places near the pipeline for white, gray or black deposits.
If they are found, it is recommended not to ignore fungal and moldy areas, as they are not as harmless as they seem at first glance.
WHAT IS FUNGUS MOLD DANGEROUS
In addition to aesthetic discomfort, fungus on windows and walls can provoke exacerbation of human diseases. Fungal spores affect the organs of the respiratory system, cause or exacerbate asthma and allergic reactions, cause skin diseases like mycosis, dermatosis. Home mold is especially dangerous for young children, which can lead to chronic cough and runny nose, asthmatic bronchitis.
The presence of mold on windows, walls and furniture has a negative effect on well-being and causes dizziness, nausea, migraines, exacerbates rheumatic symptoms. There is a weakening of the immune system, which is especially dangerous for the elderly.
HOW TO GET RID OF MOLD
There are several ways to remove mold from your home, either by yourself or with the help of specialists.
It is quite easy to fight mold on windows and other surfaces with bleach. Before cleaning, it is better to insure against the influence of mold on the body by wearing a protective mask and gloves, as well as providing intensive ventilation of the room.
1 WAY – BLEACH
- Prepare any detergent containing active bleach. Or mix the solution: for 1 part of chlorine, take 3 parts of water.
- With a stiff brush, intensively scrub darkened areas and all stains of the fungus.
- Rinse the surface thoroughly with a sponge and bleach solution, wipe dry and allow the surface to dry completely.
2 METHOD – VINEGAR
Use a spray bottle or sponge to treat moldy areas with table vinegar. Leave for 60 minutes, then clean and rinse the surface. Spraying vinegar can serve as a prophylactic against the appearance of fungus on problem areas of the walls.
3 METHOD – HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
Use 3% hydrogen peroxide in the same way as with vinegar. However, be careful when using peroxide on painted materials and surfaces, as it has a bleaching effect.
If these methods do not completely remove mold from windows, walls, pipes, furniture, use specialized anti-fungal chemicals, which are available in a wide range in hardware stores. In the case when the fungus has deeply affected large areas of surfaces, you can resort to the services of disinfection and fungus removal professionals who are guaranteed to rid the house of all manifestations of mold in the most inaccessible places.
HOW TO PREVENT MOLD
After removing fungal stains, take steps to prevent their recurrence. Eliminate favorable conditions in your home for the development of mold spores. To do this, carefully check all plumbing for water leakage and eliminate any damage. Watch for sources of moisture in the bathroom, leave damp towels folded, and straighten and dry the shower screen. Ventilate the kitchen, bathroom more often, make sure that the rooms are dry and ventilated.
If the problem persists and more drastic measures are required, you can do the following:
- Cosmetic repair of affected areas. Remove the old coating, clean the plaque and treat the affected areas with an aseptic primer, which can be found in construction hypermarkets.
- Use a special antimicrobial spray that effectively prevents surface re-infestation and the development of mold spores.
- Purchase and install an electric dehumidifier in your home that will reliably and permanently prevent mold growth.
- Update the insulation system to prevent condensation in the apartment. Properly insulated floors, ceilings and walls will not be subject to mold growth.
Carefully monitor the humidity level in the apartment, and you will avoid the appearance of fungus.
top 5 simplest and most effective remedies
Mold on the walls in the apartment is a real misfortune: it looks disgusting, spoils the appearance of housing and can be dangerous. Moreover, a fungus can appear both in an old apartment that has never seen repairs, or in a new building. Did you also face this problem? Then we will tell you how to remove mold from the walls of the apartment and why it appears at all.
Danger of mold on walls
Is mold dangerous in principle? Yes, there is a danger, especially if children, the elderly, as well as people with poor immunity or chronic diseases of the respiratory system live in the apartment.
But even in a perfectly healthy adult, mold can cause an allergic reaction, skin itching, dermatitis, and respiratory tract infections. True, this will not happen immediately, but if mold is not removed from the walls in the apartment in time.
Cause of mold on the walls in apartment
Before you fight fungus, you need to find out where it came from and eliminate the cause. Start from this stage, otherwise all your efforts will be in vain, and the hated raid will appear again and again.
Here are the 5 most common reasons why mold has appeared on the walls in the apartment:
- Poor ventilation of the room. If you have plastic windows with increased tightness or you just rarely ventilate the room, the walls may become covered with fungus. In this case, you can install a special ventilation valve on the windows or try to ventilate the room more often.
- Leaking pipes or roof. Mold loves wet areas, so check your pipes and fix any leaks if there is a leak. If the apartment is located on the top floor, contact the relevant services to repair the roof if necessary, or take care of the moisture insulation yourself.
- Humidity in the bathroom. The bathroom is most often affected by fungus due to high humidity. The solution is simple: teach your family to wipe the wet tiles dry behind them, and also keep the door open when no one is using the room. Good ventilation is the best way to prevent mold.
- Low room temperature. The lack of heating or its insufficiency, as well as the thickness of the walls, may be to blame here – thin walls quickly freeze through, mold goes along them. Consider insulating your apartment.
- Dampness coming from the foundation. This is more relevant for a private house – with poor waterproofing of the foundation, a fungus appears on the walls.
Read also: How to permanently get rid of two-east: professional and folk remedies
Top 5 most effective ways to get rid of mold on the walls in an apartment
And now we offer you our review of mold remedies, among them there are both practical modern and folk natural ones. You may have to try a couple at once to permanently remove the fungus from the walls in the apartment.
Antiseptic primer
This method helps in 100% of cases, the main thing is to properly prepare the surface. All materials affected by mold (wallpaper, paint) must be cleaned from the wall. Then dilute the primer according to the instructions, process the walls. After drying, the surface can be painted, plastered, etc.
Tip: it is better to apply the primer not in one layer, but in two or three. Each new layer is applied only after the previous one has dried.
Vinegar
This is a simple and natural remedy for mold on the walls in the apartment, it is ideal for those who have allergies in the family. Mold is afraid of the acid that vinegar contains.
The job is simple: prepare the wall (as above), then pour the vinegar into a spray bottle and spray liberally on the wall. Or you can simply dampen a rag with vinegar and wipe the surface affected by mold. Let the wall stand for a couple of hours, then wipe it with a damp cloth and ventilate the room.
Tip: this method does not always help the first time. If the surface is heavily affected by the fungus, treat it 2-4 times with an interval of 5-7 days.
Bleach products
Plain bleach or bleach with bleach (look for sodium hypochlorite) work just as well as special anti-mold primers.
Processing principle is the same. Prepare the surface and bleach solution: it must be diluted with water in a ratio of approximately 1:8 – 1:10. Put on gloves and open doors and windows – work only in a well-ventilated area to avoid poisonous fumes. Apply the solution to the wall, let dry, repeat 2-3 times.
Attention! Sodium hypochlorite fights mold only on the surface, without penetrating deep into the material, so this method is not suitable for treating porous surfaces (wood, drywall, etc.). In addition, bleach can change the color of the surface it is applied to.