Mould in new build homes – how it builds and how to prevent it

Long gone are the days when damp problems would only arise in older homes and buildings. Unfortunately, a newly built house can now also experience mould growth, causing stress to homeowners up and down the UK.

Mould problems are usually caused by poor ventilation and can cause health problems for the house’s inhabitants.

How, specifically, do mould issues develop, though? And, are there ways to prevent future mould problems in a new build property?

Continue reading our guide to find out.

How does mould grow in a newly built house?

If you’ve recently moved into a new build house and you think you’re immune to mould growth, you’re not. Every house with insufficient ventilation will struggle with mould and dampness problems at some stage.

It grows in two different ways.

Construction phase

During the construction of a new build property, a lot of water is used, specifically for concreting, laying screed floors, plastering and bricklaying. Up to 8000 litres of water could be used to mix with building materials during the construction of a home.

This moisture will gradually dry out over time, but it can contribute to mould in new build homes.

Also, poor weather conditions could dampen parts of the structure before the roof and walls are fully completed, adding more moisture.

Occupants

The other type of moisture build-up comes from within the house after completion, from the people living in the property.

Household size, appliances, and lifestyle, all have an impact on the level of moisture within a house daily.

In terms of breathing, cooking, showering, and washing and drying clothes, households can collect a large amount of moisture – but it depends on how many people are present in the property.

• Working couple – A couple who work out of the house and perform regular duties at home generate approximately 900L of water (100 buckets) per year.
• Retired couple – A retired couple who spend the majority of their time in the home are likely to generate over 2000L of water (215 buckets) per year.
• Family of four (two children) – A family with two young children and one adult at work are estimated to generate over 1500L and 155 buckets of water per year.
• Family of four (two teenagers) – Finally, a family of four with two teenagers and both adults at work, are expected to generate over 2600L of water and around 280 buckets of water.

Homes that generate the most moisture will be at greater risk of developing mould in new build houses. The excess moisture generated from regular showers, baths, breathing and drying clothes all combine to create a hugely negative factor impacting mould in new build homes.

Is there a way to prevent future mould problems?

Yes, there are ways to prevent mould in new build homes, and it starts with ventilation.

Sufficient ventilation is an essential aspect of maintaining a healthy moisture balance. All new homes have built-in steps to help with ventilation, such as trickle vents in windows and extractor fans that can prevent mould growth.

Occasionally, a temporary increase in ventilation could be required to tackle mould growth in a new build property, such as running extractor fans for longer, keeping trickle vents open and open windows around the house.

This allows humid air to escape your property and allows fresh air in.

During the winter, this can be difficult because of cold weather but it could be a necessary step to avoid mould in new build homes.

Steps you can take to treat mould

If the problem has moved beyond prevention and now you must tackle mould growth, there are a few things you can do – so try not to stress too much.

If you find mould problems in your walls, this is not right as a new home shouldn’t have a build-up of mould. If you do find some, give it a wipe with a bleach solution.

Perform the above steps to improve ventilation and find out if furniture is blocking the area where you have discovered mould.

If this reappears, ensure air ventilation is as good as it can be in that area of your home. The next step is to try and reduce moisture in that area.

If none of these steps are helping, and the mould keeps reappearing, there are other steps you can take, such as looking into your new home warranty.

Obtain a new build warranty

When you bought your new build property, it should have had a new build structural warranty accompanying it.

What’s a new home warranty? Well, at ABC+ Warranty, we offer them to contractors, developers and builders constructing new homes so they and you are protected in case of structural issues.

If you’d like to know more about our new build warranty, then you’ve come to the right place.

Give us a call at 0161 928 8804 or email info@architectscertificate.co.uk. You can also fill out our online enquiry form and a member of our new build warranty team will get back to you as soon as we can.

Thanks to our no-obligation quotations, you’ll never have to commit to a higher price than you’re looking for or worry about damp and mould in new build homes causing you too much stress.