A Brief Explanation of Black Mould
Visible black mould derives from microscopic mould spores that are ever-present throughout the indoor environment. This is completely normal and has always been the case in homes and workplaces. In order to understand a black mould problem it is essential to understand how and why mould spores grow.
Black mould will only grow when certain conditions are met and like us humans, black mould needs food and water to live:
- Food - indoor environments contain numerous food sources for black mould – for example organic materials like dead skin cells, dust and fabrics.
- Moisture - black mould can thrive not just from liquid water (condensation, rainwater ingress or water leaks) but also from elevated indoor relative humidity.
Relative humidity rises the temperature falls. This is why black mould problems are most common in the colder months. When relative humidity exceeds 80% for long periods, mould spores will start to develop and grow. It is unavoidable and like watering plant seed on the coldest, least ventilated surfaces first such as door and window frames and external walls.
The Dangers of Black Mould
There are several dangers of black mould, which is why it’s important to act fast. These include:
- Health risks - mould exposure can lead to serious health problems including respiratory issues, headaches, fatigue and allergic reactions. Prolonged exposure can even cause death as the tragic case of 2 year old Awaab Ishak has shown, which led to a change in the law, known as Awaab’s Law.
- Property damage - it can damage furniture, walls, clothing, books and electronics if left untreated.
- Wasted energy - most buildings are naturally ventilated and rely on opening windows, air bricks or trickle vents for ventilation but this exacerbates heat loss that increases energy bills and can inadvertently worsen mould problems.
Painting over mould, mould cleaners and anti-mould paints and additives will not fix the root cause of the problem. These are symptom treatments that have no effect on the root cause. Black mould will eventually return unless you permanently address the root cause.
Is My Home Affected?
If a household has black mould, it’s relatively easy to spot:
- Musty smells - a strong, damp odour often means mould is growing somewhere hidden.
- Health symptoms - if you feel worse whilst at home – for example, you experience frequent headaches – mould may be the cause.
- Visible dark patches - look for dark areas on windowsills, skirting boards, ceilings, or behind furniture.
The main reason why black mould is so common in British homes is because we build or retrofit to “minimum standards” for heating, insulation and especially ventilation. In recent decades the drive to save energy and reduce carbon emissions has resulted in widespread adoption of improved heating and insulation standards (retrofits for older homes, in-built for newer homes) but ventilation standards have not evolved significantly and natural ventilation remains the most common choice. This has resulted in millions of properties being poorly ventilated and less energy efficient during the colder months, despite the heating and insulation improvements, and poor ventilation leads to an inability for the property to effectively control indoor relative humidity, especially in the colder months.
How We Solve It
If you have issues with black mould, there are various ways that Better Indoors can help:
Expert root cause diagnosis
We are a member of PCA. Our expert PCA/ABBE CSDB accredited damp and mould surveys accurately identify the root causes of all types of damp problem including structural defects (groundwater/rising damp, rainwater ingress, water leaks) and atmospheric moisture/relative humidity. Misdiagnosis of root cause is unfortunately very common in damp and mould surveying, even by qualified surveyors. We do not do guesswork and you can rely on our peerless knowledge and experience for the right answers and advice.
Permanent prevention
Our industry leading high-performance, energy-efficient ventilation retrofit solutions permanently address the root cause of black mould growth throughout the property so it never returns. Our designs are unique and suit the needs and preferences of the property and occupancy
Professional mould cleaning
We can provide deep cleaning and safe mould removal using industry-leading techniques although these are symptom treatments that do not address the root cause.
Better Indoors are trusted nationwide by homeowners and landlords, for our energy-efficient, cost-saving solutions. We are recognised experts in black mould prevention.
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