Anti Mould Paint & Anti Condensation Paint – Great Solution?

What is Anti Mould Paint?

Clearly there are many brands of anti mould paints on the market, some of which is marketed alongside damp proof paints or anti condensation paint – some claim to do both of those things (more on that later) but the basic idea is that after a surface is painted with anti mould paint, it will stop or reduce mould growth in your home.

We have written previously explaining what is meant by mould, the problem of mould on walls and in both instances explained what causes mould and how you can prevent it. We also have a very useful article about damp on walls which can be caused by condensation problems.

How do Anti Mould Paints Work?

One of the things needed for mould to grow is an organic material to grow on. Anti mould paint effectively makes the surface of the material painted inconducive to mould growth. Commonly this is done by the paint containing additional chemicals, making it a paint with anti mould within it, which can be antifungal or anitmicrobial / biocide based. One example that is used is ‘Benzisothiazolinone’ which even has a wikipedia page dedicated to it, which makes an interesting read as it shows potential health risks.

Interestingly, some anti mould paints are only suitable for certain materials, so if you decide to use it check that it will work where you want it to. It is interesting to note that some products also have s limited advertised usage period (e.g. 5 years) suggesting they degrade over time and may not be a very long term solution, unlike some other methods – if carried out correctly.

Does Anti Mould Paint Work?

The general consensus is that anti mould paint can help to prevent mould but it does have limitations also, some of which we have mentioned above, plus…

As we’ve said before, with mould, as well as treating and removing it effectively and safely, the key is to understand what is the cause of the mould in the first place. We offer mould surveys in your property to help understand that and make recommendations too. Prevention is better than cure.

In our view, anti mould paint should not be considered as a simple wonder cure for mould. After all, it would be very difficult to use anti mould paint everywhere in your property!

Do your own research though and check reviews from other people that have used it.

What is Anti Condensation Paint?

Anti condensation paint, a bit like the mould example above, is a paint designed to help reduce condensation on surfaces it is painted on. As we have mentioned previously in our article about how to stop condensation, condensation can be a contributing factor to mould as it provides moisture to mould spores, which is a bit like watering seeds to help them grow. Without moisture there is no mould.

Anti condensation paint is usually applied in areas more susceptible to condensation such as bathroom condensation or in kitchens. In some instances, anti condensation paint has anti mould properties too. On the topic of kitchens, we loot at how moisture in kitchens can be a problem, and how kitchen extractor fans can help.

How does Anti Condensation Paint Work?

Generally, anti condensation paint is designed to give additional insulation properties to surfaces it is painted on. In our article explaining relative humidity, we discussed the concept of ‘dew point’ – as sometimes seen on dew point charts which can be beneficial.

Dew Point is the temperature at which water vapour in the air is cooled to in order for it to become saturated and form water droplets, settling on those colder surfaces. This can include:

• Condensation on Windows
• Condensation on Pipes
• Condensation in Loft Spaces or
• Condensation on Walls and Ceilings in bathrooms
• Ceiling Water Damage Problems

So now that you understand the theory of anti condensation paint, the clear question is…

Does Anti Condensation Paint Work?

Remembering what we said above about the extra insulation that anti condensation paint can be aimed at improving, it is important to think about how much extra insulation a layer of paint will give. Clearly something like a thin layer of paint has limitations but again, do your own research and see what other people who have bought and used the product say.

Also, if you think about it, the moisture in the air will not go away quickly without natural or mechanical ventilation. It will also settle on other cold spots on surfaces instead, many of which cannot be painted – you don’t want to us paint to cover glass on windows for example!

On that subject, we have written an interesting article about room temperature in bathrooms, especially to understand how it varies by location, especially next to windows!

We are not saying that it cannot help but, in our opinion, it is unlikely to be the best effective solution to a significant condensation or mould problem in a property. As we said with the comments about anti mould paint, condensation is something which you need to understand the causes of – what is contributing to the moisture it and what can you do to reduce it. Hence why we came up with 20 tips to reduce condensation and a special tip to reduce condensation in your bathroom.

If you are interested, we have written a similar article to this looking at Moisture Resistant Plasterboard to explain what it is and the pros and possible cons of using it. There are similarities with this article too. We also have a guide to desiccant dehumidifiers.

We offer both mould, including black mould, and condensation surveys at properties so if you have a problem with either, get in touch with us today and we can discuss how we can help. We focus on the cause of both mould and condensation (as well as removing it if needed) and make recommendations with long term and proven benefits.