Advice needed please

[turkish14]

We need to some work doing in our house but not sure what kind of tradesman we need or what kind of work is to be undertaken.

We have really draughty windows and air bricks throught the house, this is causing condensation and black damp spores all on the window seals, so far we have had quotes that are quite different in cost and different types of work have been mentioned.

I'm aware we cannot block air bricks but not sure if there are products and tradespeople out there that can minimise the flow of draught but also solve the draughtiness on the windows.

Is it a glazer or odd job people maybe even double glazing specilist? We need to minimise cost so any advice given would be greatly appreciated.

[BunkMoreland]

I don't thing a draught would usually be the cause of damp. Better ventilation should mean less dampness. If condensation is your problem.then it will still be your problem if you cut out the draught. Try cutting down on your water vapour producing activities or invest in a dehumidifier.

[THEFATBASTARD]

Before you do any other works the spores need to be treated or they will continue to come back..you can purchase a fungicide treatment form most DIY stores..but it might need something more industrial,..depends on how chronic it is.. to avoid continued condenstion you must have a resonable air flow through the room..A good quality extractor fan or dehumidifier can help with damp air.. you don't specify if your windows are wood or UPVC cos its a slightly different approch for each .. look online for insulation advice...

[Smudge]

We need to some work doing in our house but not sure what kind of tradesman we need or what kind of work is to be undertaken.

We have really draughty windows and air bricks throught the house, this is causing condensation and black damp spores all on the window seals, so far we have had quotes that are quite different in cost and different types of work have been mentioned.

I'm aware we cannot block air bricks but not sure if there are products and tradespeople out there that can minimise the flow of draught but also solve the draughtiness on the windows.

Is it a glazer or odd job people maybe even double glazing specilist? We need to minimise cost so any advice given would be greatly appreciated.

The mold on your windows is probably caused by condensation. The moisture in the air is condensed on a cold window pane and the hence the mold problem. Double glazing will eradicate this issue since the vacuum between the panes stops the inner pane getting too cold. If the windows are already double glazed, then they have failed and need to be replaced and you need a double glazing company to sort that out. Mold can be washed away with soap and water but a mild chlorine solution also does the job.

The air-bricks serve two purposes, if they are situated below the floor, they are designed to keep the suspended ground floor dry as it's made up of timber joists and floor boards. These are found in older houses but superseded by a concrete slab since about 1960. If you have draughts coming up through the floor, then I'd suggest that you find a product to seal the boards and a flooring/carpeting company would advise you on that. Under no circumstances should you block foundation air bricks as they will keep the foundations from rotting.

The air bricks found at an upper level, say near the ceiling were installed to provide air for the fireplaces or boilers. The chimney needed air to replace that going up the flue. If the house now has central heating and has its own independent air intake, those air bricks can be filled in and the chimney capped. You need a heating company to have a look at that to advise you but an odd job man or brickie would do the work.

Edit - You also need to make sure that all items such as gas water heaters, that need an air intake have their own independent air supply. As I said get an expert to advise you. Pochins or the gas company used to be the go to people when I lived there.

[Webbo]

The mould is caused by moisture in the air, mainly caused by people breathing in and out, condensating on cold spots in the house.Double glazing and insulation will help but the moisture in the air still has to go somewhere.As others have said ventilation will reduce dampness so don't block your airbricks.

The easiest solution is to paint the ceilings and walls in the effected room with mould resistant acrylic eggshell which should stop the black patches.

[Captain...]

The mould is caused by moisture in the air, mainly caused by people breathing in and out, condensating on cold spots in the house.Double glazing and insulation will help but the moisture in the air still has to go somewhere.As others have said ventilation will reduce dampness so don't block your airbricks.

The easiest solution is to paint the ceilings and walls in the effected room black

Fixed it for you.

[turkish14]

Really appreciate you taking the time to reply guys, some really good advice above.

Just to allude to above comments,we do have double glazing which sounds like the windows are failing in there purpose.

We also have gas central heating back boiler which I'm guessing needs the air bricks (located near ceiling height) to function adequately?

We have what is believed to be a de humidifier in our room, but this leaves water marks all along the ceiling which obviously means a re paint at some point.

The advice given so far by 1 worker in particular is too either replace the windows completely or at a lesser cost ( as our house is a short 2-3 yr option) replace the inner and outer gaskets. We have had a quotes for replacement inner gaskets/ inner & outer gaskets/ and windows. And replacement glass panels filled with warm argon. Does this sound about right?

If any of you have expertise in this area and want to have a look at our property then pm me and ill give you our address, were looking to have this work done ideally prior to Xmas.

Cheers again guys

[Orkneyfox]

I agree with most of the advice above. On no account block up any air-bricks for the reasons given. A wash down with a mild bleach solution also helps keep the mould at bay and takes the black colour out a bit. You don't exactly say if the condensation is between the panes of the double glazing, in which case it's ****ed, or around it. Replacing it isn't necessarily urgent if you are otherwise wind and water tight and you could go for a programme of gradual replacement if it is more affordable.The advice about reducing water emissions, opening windows if you can is all good. Is there an extractor fan in the kitchen and bathroom for example, they should help. Draughts around the window frames can be improved by applying a sealant, which you can get from any DIY store, no problem to apply especially if you are on the ground floor.

[definitely not finners]

Get FT's own Sparky to quote your windows, pretty sure that's what he does, noticed a shout out for it on Facebook. Top bloke and a big city fan!

[Ross-Kemp]

Agree with finners, sparky is a top bloke.

Done some work for me in past.

[AoWW]

I used to have Sparky's mobile number but can't seem to find it any more. If anyone has it can they PM it to Turkish, please? I'm pretty sure he wouldn't mind if there's potentially some business in it for him.

I can vouch for both Sparky and Turkish - both 100% sound.

[turkish14]

Ahhh thanks aoww for the compliment, how's lexi? Spoilt rotten I guess :-)

We had 2 quotes today on guttering soffits and facia boards. There is a large hole in the soffits which is now believed to be the cause off not just the damp spores ( which we worked out) but also the condensation like effect on the windows. The guy believes that water it running down the cavity walls which makes the house and external walls very cold which then produces condensation.

So hopefully when the work is completed all we will need to do is clean the walls windows using the very grateful advice from the posters above.

As aoww suggested if sparky works in the soffits guttering industry then a pm would be good, however if he is a glazer/ windows then may not be required currently but will bare him in mind.

Thanks again guys and girls ;-)

[turkish14]

Cannot edit: just seen the post about sparky wirking in window industry, so ok currently :-)

[AoWW]

Ahhh thanks aoww for the compliment, how's lexi? Spoilt rotten I guess :-)

No problem. Spoilt rotten doesn't even come close to describing how thoroughly pampered she is. She thinks it's the very least she deserves.

[Raj]

Sparky is a Glazer...Im sure one of the mods can put you in touch with him

[cambridgefox]

I don't thing a draught would usually be the cause of damp. Better ventilation should mean less dampness. If condensation is your problem.then it will still be your problem if you cut out the draught. Try cutting down on your water vapour producing activities or invest in a dehumidifier.

i would tend to agree with you,just airing/ drying clothes produces a huge amount of water vapour.

Replacing windows could be a very expensive way to find out if it isn't the problem,best get this Sparky to at least give it a glance.

[The Year Of The Fox]

air bricks will want leaving in if you still havr a back boiler

[FoxesAreBlue]

Threads like this make me realise just how fvck end I could be later in life. Without much of a father figure in my life since childhood I seem to have missed out on all this knowledge about "soffits", "back boilers" and "cavity walls". Fvck knows what "air bricks" are, I've never heard of them!

It seems that all males born before me seem to have this in built knowledge such as how to install a washing machine, what to do when you have ants and basic motor repair and I literally know fvck all.

For example, I wanted to bang a TV bracket on the wall, so asked my mate to came and show me so I didn't fvck the wall up. He took one glance at it and said you can't put it there because the gasses from the fire could affect the telly. HOW THE FVCK DOES HE KNOW THIS STUFF??? He's a fvcking bank clerk for christs sake!

[Captain...]

Threads like this make me realise just how fvck end I could be later in life. Without much of a father figure in my life since childhood I seem to have missed out on all this knowledge about "soffits", "back boilers" and "cavity walls". Fvck knows what "air bricks" are, I've never heard of them!

It seems that all males born before me seem to have this in built knowledge such as how to install a washing machine, what to do when you have ants and basic motor repair and I literally know fvck all.

For example, I wanted to bang a TV bracket on the wall, so asked my mate to came and show me so I didn't fvck the wall up. He took one glance at it and said you can't put it there because the gasses from the fire could affect the telly. HOW THE FVCK DOES HE KNOW THIS STUFF??? He's a fvcking bank clerk for christs sake!

Apart from how to deal with ants, I know fvck all about the others, and I doubt my Dad knows much more than that, but he will know stuff because he will have gone through it all as a home owner, these things come with experience and with talking to other people, as much as I know none of the stuff you mentioned I do know how to roof a house, cos my mate was doing it on a house he had just inherited, so I offered to give him a hand in exchange for a few beers, likewise fitting a bike rack on a car, or laying cheap laminate wood flooring, or laying a patio.

I just take an interest in these things, talk to people about what they are up to, and offer to lend a hand, then when it comes to my turn I have a better idea of what I need to do.

[The Year Of The Fox]

Threads like this make me realise just how fvck end I could be later in life. Without much of a father figure in my life since childhood I seem to have missed out on all this knowledge about "soffits", "back boilers" and "cavity walls". Fvck knows what "air bricks" are, I've never heard of them!

It seems that all males born before me seem to have this in built knowledge such as how to install a washing machine, what to do when you have ants and basic motor repair and I literally know fvck all.

For example, I wanted to bang a TV bracket on the wall, so asked my mate to came and show me so I didn't fvck the wall up. He took one glance at it and said you can't put it there because the gasses from the fire could affect the telly. HOW THE FVCK DOES HE KNOW THIS STUFF??? He's a fvcking bank clerk for christs sake!

I think you'll find most people replying on here have some experience in the building trade!

An air brick is as it sounds. And yeh you can't really drill the chimney breast unless you decomission the gas fire

[FoxesAreBlue]

I think you'll find most people replying on here have some experience in the building trade!

An air brick is as it sounds. And yeh you can't really drill the chimney breast unless you decomission the gas fire

I imagine, that is a type of brick that let's air through but not water - I think you can also get some sort of special "water brick" (a wild stab at its name) that usually go in the foundations of a n building and raise 2 or 3 bricks above ground level? God knows.

Here's a perfect example, my oaf of a step sister managed to somehow break the shower cord thing. Thankfully it was stuck on! I decided to unscrew the box and take a look.

Got the screws out no problem but could I get the plastic casing off? Could I buggery! Got knows why it wouldn't come down. Usually in this sort of situation I call on the trusty services of a hammer, but the tool in question is metal, and the rubber handle has long since disappeared, I was also in bare feet standing on a metal ladder about to smash a box full of live electric cables.

Something told me that this was not the greatest of ideas so left it and called my mums partner to come and sort. God knows what he's done but now there is no cord at all and where it used to hang from there is a kind of light switch in the ceiling but without the actual switch. I guess set it to 'on' and covered it up?