SPOTS APPEARING ON TOP OF WALL & CEILING

[Nicetoseeyoutoseeyounice]

There are spots appearing around the top of the living room wall (outside wall) and ceiling edge, its a bungalow.
I use a dehumidifier regularly but this is not making any difference.
I've added some pictures, one shown with a remote control next to the spots so as you can get an idea of the size of the spots. For the last couple of years these have also appeared in the bathroom (joined to the other side of the living room) and the bedroom (joined to the other side of the bathroom). All along where the outside wall is.
I presume these are condensation spots but I'm asking on here as I have tried everything possible by the book and not had any joy. The loft area on that side has been checked and everything appears dry as I was wondering if this could be something maybe coming in along the roof edge.
Any ideas of how to solve this would be greatly appreciated. Hope I have attached correctly.

 

[Koolpc]

House has chicken pox.

 

[Nicetoseeyoutoseeyounice]

Ingenious.

 

[Alec_t]

I presume these are condensation spots

That would be my guess. Do you keep window vents open continuously during cold weather? Do you have adequate extra ventilation when bathing/showering/cooking/clothes-drying?

 

[cwhaley]

We've been getting them in our bedroom at the ceiling edge -- it's where there is no insulation at the eaves, so there is a cold spot where the spores can form. If yours are at the edge, too I would suggest a lack of insulation. Of course you don't put insulation there so that there's air flow in the roof space.

The windows are cracked open 8-10 hours a day. we don't dry clothes inside, the bathroom has a powerful fan and the window is open in there for hours a day. There's nothing more we can do aside from not breathing overnight! I'm just going to clean it off and re-paint the ceiling in Spring.

 

[Odds]

Scrub down the surface and remove the stains then use an anti-mould paint to cover the ceiling good as new. Two coats worked well for me on a similar wall.

 

[JP_]

Yeah, we had that on bedroom ceiling where there was no insulation in a patch (fireplace removed) and insulating fixed that.
Walls trickier - you need to insulate those too. Or just wash with bleach and paint with antimould paint to help reduce the problem and make it more manageable. Easier to insulate though, as then you won't have the problem again, and you'll be warmer and have lower bills.

 

[Nicetoseeyoutoseeyounice]

Thank you all for your replies.
Sorry, I did check on here several times after the FIRST silly comment, then I gave up.
I’ve taken a couple more pictures which I will upload shortly.

cwhaley:
you say “ We've been getting them in our bedroom at the ceiling edge -- it's where there is no insulation at the eaves, so there is a cold spot where the spores can form. If yours are at the edge, too I would suggest a lack of insulation. Of course you don't put insulation there so that there's air flow in the roof space.”

I don’t understand where you say the bit about if my staining is at the edge you suggest lack of insulatio, but then say DONT put insulation there to allow air flow.

Should the loft insulation go right the edge or should there be a gap right along that edge.

We do dry clothes on an airer and use an excellent dehumidifier. I know we shouldn’t but we do try and back.
The bathroom, running along that same side and adjoining the bedroom, has an electric air vent which is on permanentl, funnily the bathroom is not too bad but is fully tiled so I wonder are the tiles hiding anything.

We open windows when the weather permits.

My real BIG worry is if this is damp. If you all think it’s condensation then I feel I could try further to rectify by having another electric vent fitted in the bedroom and in the living room (other side of the bathroom). I’ll do a diagram.

if it’s damp or roof problems then I shall have to call in someone who specialises in it.
All outside pointing looks fine.

If I redecorate and use anti mould paint aren’t I just masking the problem.

Thank you all once again. I’d appreciate any suggestions before I redecorate.

 

[Nicetoseeyoutoseeyounice]

Here are some more pictures of my bungalow, excuse the diagram.
The photos are showing the living room, wall to ceiling.
I've not taken any of the bedroom walls as it was really hard getting the marks to show but its roughly the same principle.

 

[robinbanks]

.

 

[robinbanks]

Of course you don't put insulation there so that there's air flow in the roof space

Well, you're supposed to find a way to adequately insulate the eaves and keep the ventilation..

has an electric air vent which is on permanentl, funnily the bathroom is not too bad

because it's better ventilated. Consider a heat recovering fan like a vent axia tempura, if you're going to run one permanently. Dry your clothes in the bathroom if you're going to persist with the airer method

My real BIG worry is if this is damp. If you all think it’s condensation

I think it's condensation; when a house surface falls to about 12 degrees it's liable to start dehumidifying the air and collecting condensation. Solutions are to make the house air less humid, or keep the place warmer. Don't perform activities like drying on an airer, insulate so surfaces are warmer, run the heating, ensure a flow of fresh air. Some of these things you may not want to do, especially rubbing hearing and letting your paid for heat disappear out the window; there are technologies that can recover a percentage of it but they also come with a cost. DIY MVHR is possible, and MVHR is the gold standard for indoor air quality, but again, something you pay for.. If the focus is on saving money, insulate (a one off cost) and dry your clothes on a line outside

HG mould spray is great for removing the mould you have already

 

[Nicetoseeyoutoseeyounice]

A massive thank you for the HG mould spray, bought some this morning, it’s a foam spray.

The bedroom is painted, silk paint, anagypta, the faint stains all over the wall (outside wall).
I sprayed the foam all over and spread lightly with a clean damp cloth, left for 30 mins, and then used a wet cloth to remove. I couldn’t believe the difference, wish I’d taken a before and after picture to post on here.

The ceiling is really not too bad so I only dabbed on the odd spot.

I tried on the living ceilin, very lightly, this also helped, BUT, the HG site says not use on ceilings as they say plaster on ceilings is not as a good a bond as you get on walls.

Any suggestions for the plastered ceiling?

if the wall I sprayed today drys as good tomorrow as it looked earlier then I won’t redecorate just yet, I’ll see how it goes. In fact it was looking like it had been freshly painted.

I’m also going to have an extractor fan fitted. I do feel this will help.

Anyway thanks agai.

 

[Wayners]

Plenty off insulation above at that spot? Stops board getting cold

 

[robinbanks]

Rather than spraying the ceiling, consider spraying into a cup and using a paintbrush to dot it onto mould spots. It both kills the mould and bleaches clear any staining..

Note that it's not intended to be a solution; it resolves symptoms rather than curing the cause...

For that you need to look at moisture generation, heating, ventilation and insulation

 

[Nicetoseeyoutoseeyounice]

Thank you, re the insulation, I have checked this but I shall double check.

I will try the spray as suggested, with a brush. I realise this is not the solution which is why I will be getting an extractor fan fitted. I will also move things around so as nothing runs along that wall. Currently the bed and bedside tables are sited along there. We need to do some serious thinking for drying clothes next winter.

i really appreciate all the answer. Thanks.