'Problem' cupboard...

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by Fat Controller, Nov 22, 2020.

  1. Fat Controller

    Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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    Suggestions please folks....

    In our front bedroom, there is a cupboard - a sort of airing cupboard style cupboard, but there is no boiler or water tank in there. It is one of those cupboards that is used to store stuff that we don't use all that often so we rarely go in there - indeed, in more recent weeks my desk is sat right in front of the louvred doors of this cupboard.

    Now, it's never been great and it has been one of those jobs that are on the to-do list under the heading 'when we get a chance' - but, on occasion recently I have noticed that I can smell this cupboard whilst sat at my desk. So, yesterday we investigated and to be honest it is pretty terrible.

    There is quite a lot of mould on the walls, so I am going to have to do something with it as a matter of urgency really, not least as I simply cannot have mould in the house with my respiratory system...

    There are two causes I think, neither of which I can do much about - the first, is that it is located on what has to be the coldest corner of the entire house; if you look at the image below, it shows our street with the corner of the house where this cupboard is located highlighted - - as our house sticks out from the others, any wind/weather that blows down the street hits this corner dead on.

    Cupboard.png

    The second issue is ventilation - it has louvred doors, but they clearly are not sufficient and heat from the room does not get into this cupboard (indeed, often my feet will be cold whilst sat at my desk) as the radiator in our bedroom is not the biggest.

    So, the only thing I can think to do is to treat the mould, scrub and then repaint with kitchen/bathroom type paint, but is there anything else I could do to improve the situation? I did toy with the idea of putting a 50w tubular heater in there just to knock the cold off a bit, but I am not convinced that it is the safest of ideas, nor would such a tiddly wee heater be man enough for the job? I do have one that I am not using, so I could try it if I could get a guard to put over it I suppose...

    Thoughts, suggestions, welcomed and appreciated as always
     
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    • ricky101

      ricky101 Total Gardener

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      Hi FC,

      Often thought your house was an old cottage but it seems quiet modern.

      It looks like a standard brick/ breeze cavity construction, has it had the cavity filled with insulation ?
      Same with the loft have its insulation been topped up?

      Would think it more likely the warm air from the house condensing on the cupboards colder walls, so producing the mould; providng there is no leakage from the roof /gutter ?

      Assuming its the former, after usng a mould resistant paint I would cover the whole area with these tiles from B&Q
      You may think they are just polystyrene but they are actually Extruded polystyrene and a much denser material.
      I used them on the garage workshops ceiling to help keep the heat in.
      If you place your hand on the bare wall, its really cold, but placed on the tiled area it warm , from it refecting your own heat back.

      Comes in 3 thickness and several sheets per pack for those prices, not just a single sheet as shown.
      We used the 6 or 9mm , would have to go and measure to be sure.

      Diall Polystyrene Insulation board (L)0.8m (W)0.6m (T)6mm | DIY at B&Q
       
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      • shiney

        shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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        We used something similar on a cupboard that just has a single skin outside wall. It was actually on a roll and normally used before covering with wallpaper.

        If you did that and then removed the door the space should not get any condensation.
         
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        • NigelJ

          NigelJ Total Gardener

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          I saw the title of this thread and immediately thought it was about a cupboard to put your problems in.
           
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          • Fat Controller

            Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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            It is reasonably modern (probably 50's/60's construction), has a good thickness of loft insulation and has had cavity wall insulation installed also. The polystyrene is a good idea, however I do have to be very careful what I put up, bearing in mind I don't own it; there are rules about polystyrene in rental properties (fire related I believe) so I would need to be sure that I don't fall foul of those. Would that not lead to wallpaper being required over the the top?

            It used to be called Cortina (not the car!) back in the day - I have put quite a lot of it up over the years (my dad was a decorator) but have not seen it for a while now which I wonder if that is linked to it not being suitable under certain fire regulations.

            :heehee: there is no cupboard big enough for that @NigelJ
             
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            • Selleri

              Selleri Koala

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              Oh I have a spare bedroom for that, with a built in pool of wine to drown them for a good measure. :frown:

              Regarding FC's cupboard, I'm following with interest. We have similar cold, damp corners and it would be helpful to know what can be done from the inside and what needs tackling from the outside.

              So far a thorough Cillit Banging and bathroom paint seems to have worked in the problem areas, but if the actual issue is within the structure it's probably just making it worse hiding the signs.
               
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              • Fat Controller

                Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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                We had great success with HG Mould Remover spray in our porch @Selleri , however we have since fitted a central heating radiator in there (just a wee one) and now it is dry as a bone. I did toy with the idea of removing the doors from this cupboard and storing them in the loft, but it would look awful to be honest.

                Sadly that entire gable end of the house hasn't got a single radiator on it anywhere so that coupled with it being relatively exposed means that it is a generally cold wall.
                 
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                • JR

                  JR Chilled Gardener

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                  I'd think about removing the doors to the cupboard.
                  Then use mold treatment and decorate to blend the corner in with the rest of the room.
                  It's obviously a 'pocket' for storing moisture at present.
                  Once treated and exposed it should allow a suitable air flow.
                   
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                  • Scrungee

                    Scrungee Well known for it

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                    Could be any one of the potential causes listed above, plus mortar droppings on wall ties and possibly nesting material from birds (who've gained access inside the eaves) falling down the cavity, as the tops of cavities were not required to be closed when that house was built.
                     
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                    • Fat Controller

                      Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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                      There is a product called Wallrock that seems to be the replacement for Cortina, but for a couple of rolls plus adhesive it is £100! By the time it is cleaned, treated etc and then painted after that is getting on for £200 for a ruddy cupboard that purely stores general junk.
                       
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                      • Fat Controller

                        Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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                        @Scrungee - is the only way to see the cavities to get a look inside the eaves?

                        I am going to have to get someone to come and take our old aerial down, so I am wondering if it would be worthwhile killing two birds with one stone.
                         
                      • Fat Controller

                        Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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                      • Fat Controller

                        Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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                        I've ordered that paint, because either way it is going to need painting and I cannot ignore it.
                         
                      • shiney

                        shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                        If the doors were off then you wouldn't need much insulation.

                        This sort of thing would be sufficient. I'm only guessing, but I don't think there's much in the way of fire risk.

                        Red Label Insulating lining paper
                         
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                        • Fat Controller

                          Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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                          Thanks @shiney - that looks more like the thing. I think we need to gut the cupboard out for a start - there is stuff in there that I know for sure we do not need. I have also had an idea - I have an old laptop cooler lying around that runs basically on a USB power supply. If I stuck that to the inside of one of the doors, it should pull warm air from the room into the cupboard?

                          Mrs C is really not keen on having the doors off, so I doubt that is likely to happen.
                           
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