How do I get rid of mold/mildew on drywall in an unheated room?
by
Marti
+1
At the back of my house, built in 1910 in Hoquiam WA, is a room that was probably where the carriage or Model T was parked. It has concrete floors and drywall on the walls. There is no heat for the area. It is damp and smells of mold/mildew and mold is on the drywall and green "stuff" on part of the concrete floor. There is also a large, wood work bench against one wall. Will I be able to keep that? I'd like to clean up the room, put in a heating source and be able to use the space. Thanks for any help you can share with me!
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You need to dry up the room first. Start with a dehumidifier. You can get a decent one for about $80-90 at Walmart. They delivered mine to my doorstep for free. THEN... Scrub the mold off of the concrete. Wipe the mildew off of the drywall with a vinegar and water solution, not too wet though or you will lift the paper off of the drywall. Paint with KILZ paint. It will cover stains and is mildew resistant, not proof but resistant. You will have to keep the room moisture free. Find out why it is so damp in the first place. If it is because water is leaking in somewhere you need to address that first. Otherwise keep the room at livable house temperature or lower or run dehumidifier. There are those you empty and those that empty the moisture outside a window by itself. Once the mold is off of the concrete consider putting a concrete sealer on it;.
Mold feeds on the paper of drywall. You may have mold on the back of the drywall also. Best to remove and replace the drywall after cleaning. Any insulation behind the drywall should also be disposed of. The green on the concrete may be moss or lichen. Wash everything down with a mixture of bleach and water. Bleach will clean any mold. Then wash everything down wit a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water. Then you remodel. Bleach does not kill mold spores, vinegar does.
Is there a practical way to vent the area. If not can you set up a positive vent system as the only way to effectively control the mold is to reduce the humidity. Dehumidifyer may work but I've not had good luck with those.
As to heating & cooling the area can you install a single unit HVAC with a eat pump. An alternatve but ot chesp is a split HVAC system with eith streap eating or strip and heat pump.
First you need to find the source of the moisture that's causing the problem. It could be a roof leak, could be a drainage problem coming in from underneath, could even be coming up from under the concrete. Having lived in western Washington I know how much rain you get year round. I would first check out the ground around the outside of the building for any low spots, ponding, etc. Then check out the roof, and finally remove the drywall in the worst places to see what you can find. Good luck.