Thermal Plastering treatment for cold spots and mould in Loughborough

Peter Cox were called in to help improve conditions in a bedroom which was suffering from mould and condensation problems due to cold spots in the property.

Condensation will affect thousands of properties every year in Loughborough and Leicestershire especially in the colder winter months.

A Peter Cox surveyor was called out to conduct a thorough property inspection to understand the underlying causes of mould in a home.

Cold spots and mould in bedrooms are usually caused by a mix of poor insulation, inadequate ventilation, and excess moisture. Warm humid air will hit a cold surface and the moisture in the air will cool and condense on cold surfaces.

In this property the surveyor found evidence of mould growing in areas where sloped eaves were present and were unable to install sufficient roof insulation. This meant this area was generally colder and therefore more prone to condensation. Because fitted wardrobes were installed, this prevented sufficient ventilation allowing the mould to form.

The surveyor used a range of specialist tools including a hygrometer to measure the humidity and temperature of the air which can then be used to calculate dew point - the temperature in which moisture laden air will condense. A thermal imaging camera was then used to collect surface readings, which can be used to visualise the cold spots.

There are many ways to reduce a mould and condensation problem, which typically revolve around increasing the temperature inside the property, increasing ventilation and improving insulation.

The surveyor noticed that improvements could be made to ventilation including making sure that extractor fans are used when cooking and when showering, as these tasks tend to create excess moisture. Trickle vents of windows should also be opened to provide ventilation in rooms, even in winter.

Furniture should be pushed away from the walls to increase airflow and washing on radiators should be avoided, but if necessary should be dried in a room with an extractor fan with the door closed.

Due to the lack of ventilation in the sloped eaves causing a cold spot, Peter Cox recommended using a thermal plastering system which increases the thermal efficiency of the wall. A thin 15mm base coat is applied which can help reduce heat loss of up to 40%.

The system is then skimmed over to allow for decoration. The system can be applied over existing plasterwork. The flexible tiles allow even the most awkward shapes and curves to be insulated, perfect for this scenario where insulation in the roof space above couldn’t be installed.

Peter Cox also fitted new extractor fans into the bathroom, which was located close to the area replastered and more than likely the cause of the excess moisture.

Local surveyor Jonathan Mee CSTDB said “properties across loughborough and Leicestershire suffer from these types of problems and improvements to insulation and ventilation can make all the difference. Because the fitted cupboards prevented airflow and the lack of insulation created a cold spot, its the perfect environment for mould to appear. The thermal plastering system will help insulate this area and create a much more habitable environment for the tenant"