Can you wallpaper over anti mould paint?

Mould is something that will always cause concern in a property. Not only does it look unsightly, but it also poses a health risk to everyone in the building – particularly babies, children and the elderly.

These health risks of mould can be just a runny nose or sneezing, but they can be more serious than that. Mould is a fungus, and also an allergen. You may not be aware if you have a mould allergy, but you will find that exposure to mould causes skin rashes, coughing, headaches and red eyes. Mould is also capable of producing toxins and irritants which can affect anybody and can induce asthma attacks.

In short, if you have a problem with mould, then you will want to get it addresses as quickly as possible.

How does anti-mould paint work?

If you have an area of mould or damp in your house, one solution that you may try is to use anti-mould paint. These paints are available in most DIY shops and are often seen as an easy way for people to treat mould problems themselves.

Anti-mould paint is packed full of a chemical called benzisothiazolone. This is a fungicide and microbicide that is designed to prevent the growth of mould while being completely safe for people to come into contact with (although this paint can give off a potent smell while it is drying, so it might be a good idea to leave the room as clear as possible until it is dry).

Can you wallpaper over anti-mould paint?

While anti-mould paint is now available in a whole host of different colours, there may be times that you want to use wallpaper on a wall that has had anti-mould paint applied to it – the theory being that anti-mould paint will continue to do its job on the mould, while the wallpaper makes the room look exactly how you like it.

Sound theory, but there is a catch. Anti-mould paint only addresses the mould itself, not the cause of the mould. Also, the effect of the anti-mould paint begins to wear off after around 5 years, sometimes less. After this amount of time, you may start to see areas of mould and damp start to reappear if you have not addressed the cause of mould.

This can be slightly frustrating when you have only applied anti-mould paint, but fairly easily solved  – you just apply more paint and start the cycle over again. You will need to keep repeating this, obviously.

When you have wallpapered over anti-mould paint, however, it is a lot more problematic. You may not be aware of the problem initially, but soon the mould and damp will start to appear through the wallpaper, causing it to look old and dirty, and probably start to smell. The wallpaper will need to be removed, and then the mould issue will need to be addressed.

What should you do if you have an issue with mould?

The first thing you should try to do when you discover that you have a mould problem is to try to locate the source. Mould grows in damp conditions, sometimes condensation, sometimes as the result of a flood or leak. If you can find the source, you can ensure that the problem won’t keep on returning.

If the area is small (under 1 metre square) then you may be able to treat the problem yourself using some specialist chemicals. If the problem is any bigger, or you are unsure of the cause, then it is safest to speak to a professional mould cleaning company – like Ideal Response.

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Our Mould Remediation Service will not only treat the mould problem but using the revolutionary BioSweep ® technology we are able to guarantee that the mould has been completely removed and that it will not return – leaving you free to wallpaper your walls with complete peace of mind!