Damp and mould - Dom Post today.
Feb 29th 2008, 9:18 am
#16
you dewty owld maan!
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: is practically perfect in every way
Posts: 5,565
Feb 29th 2008, 9:42 am
#17
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 733
Re: Damp and mould - Dom Post today.
damp and mould...gosh, you've brought back some horrible memories of NZ....aaaaaargh 
...definite source of asthma problems- ours had severe difficulty breathing one night, we panicked and phoned emergency- ambulance, cop cars arrived at the same time! 
...definite source of asthma problems- ours had severe difficulty breathing one night, we panicked and phoned emergency- ambulance, cop cars arrived at the same time!
Mar 1st 2008, 11:53 pm
#18
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2008
Location: Dunedin
Posts: 1,383
Re: Damp and mould - Dom Post today.
Is this mould and condensation problem mainly on the North Island or does the South Island suffer as well?
Mar 2nd 2008, 12:15 am
#19
Memetchi
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 201
Re: Damp and mould - Dom Post today.
Sort of off topic, but does anyone else wonder what it means when a commercial uses the phrase: "made for New Zealand conditions"? I always have a chuckle and a little eye rolling action. There isn't much that I can see in our place that was made for the conditions. However, our new house may fit the bill.
Mar 2nd 2008, 1:03 am
#20
Actually just Adie
Joined: Jul 2006
Location: Up the Hutt
Posts: 478
Re: Damp and mould - Dom Post today.
We just moved so no idea of what the damp will be like. Our last house (rental) was pretty good, only damp and condensation if we used the gas radiators (no - flues !!!), but other wise fine. house before was a rental again, bloody cold and we even got mould in summer !!!
New place has under floor insulation, wood burner and heat transfer system, but is in a bush setting so we will have to see.
Last edited by Jac&Adie; Mar 2nd 2008 at 1:11 am. Reason: though i'd better ad something of value !
Mar 2nd 2008, 1:58 am
#21
Banned
Joined: Dec 2005
Location: noisy land, it's still noisy & crazy wrong
Posts: 254
Re: Damp and mould - Dom Post today.
not sure how to begin my reply here. of course i havent experienced a winter here so maybe not in a position to comment.
BUT newspaper articles are meant to be damning - thats what helps the newspaper sell.
And a comment like this I feel is bit of an over generalisation.
Would I be wrong in assuming that the better quality housing (for instance in areas of better standards of living) are of a better build, have been looked after and maintained and as such will not experience these levels of mould and damp to the extent the article suggests. As a rule the better quality housing are in the more desirable areas, with sun?
Now the areas that are less desirable, are poorer areas, have poorly maintained houses and are GENERALLY situated in the the valleys, damper areas. (i can only comment on wellington as thats all i know). These houses dont get to see the sun all day and consequently have all these issues the article suggests.
So you see FORTUNATELY FOR US the majority of uk expats will be able to purchase a house in a better area and are unlikely to suffer these extremes of mould and damp that you suggest. And as long as we all realise that then this article is all but scaremongering.
I admit i dont have all the facts or the experience - I am just trying to apply a bit of logic to it.
I also accept the benefits of having a dehumidifier -we will be purchasing one soon. That almost contradicts what I have just said. The only mould we have in our house is in the shower because previous owner never opened her windows, so we need to strip that down. One thing i checked for was evidence of mould 'dust' collecting in the corner of the windows where you get condensation - I found nothing like that.
BEfore I came out here I had these worries (because of threads like this) that we would be living in houses knee deep in water. I just want people to know it doesnt have to be like that. Our house was surveyed and had excellent moisture tests.
Just apply a bit of common sense when you buy your house out here. Dont buy one in amongst bush, aim for one that wont be in shadow the winter months, and is north facing maximising sun.
BUT newspaper articles are meant to be damning - thats what helps the newspaper sell.
And a comment like this I feel is bit of an over generalisation.
Would I be wrong in assuming that the better quality housing (for instance in areas of better standards of living) are of a better build, have been looked after and maintained and as such will not experience these levels of mould and damp to the extent the article suggests. As a rule the better quality housing are in the more desirable areas, with sun?
Now the areas that are less desirable, are poorer areas, have poorly maintained houses and are GENERALLY situated in the the valleys, damper areas. (i can only comment on wellington as thats all i know). These houses dont get to see the sun all day and consequently have all these issues the article suggests.
So you see FORTUNATELY FOR US the majority of uk expats will be able to purchase a house in a better area and are unlikely to suffer these extremes of mould and damp that you suggest. And as long as we all realise that then this article is all but scaremongering.
I admit i dont have all the facts or the experience - I am just trying to apply a bit of logic to it.
I also accept the benefits of having a dehumidifier -we will be purchasing one soon. That almost contradicts what I have just said. The only mould we have in our house is in the shower because previous owner never opened her windows, so we need to strip that down. One thing i checked for was evidence of mould 'dust' collecting in the corner of the windows where you get condensation - I found nothing like that.
BEfore I came out here I had these worries (because of threads like this) that we would be living in houses knee deep in water. I just want people to know it doesnt have to be like that. Our house was surveyed and had excellent moisture tests.
Just apply a bit of common sense when you buy your house out here. Dont buy one in amongst bush, aim for one that wont be in shadow the winter months, and is north facing maximising sun.
doesn't suffer 
Mar 2nd 2008, 2:53 am
#23
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,118
Re: Damp and mould - Dom Post today.
the shower room opens up straight into the shower cubicle and has a window - seems previous owner didnt like using windows.
the other two shower rooms have extractor fans, thank you for asking.
Mar 2nd 2008, 2:56 am
#24
Banned
Joined: Dec 2005
Location: noisy land, it's still noisy & crazy wrong
Posts: 254
Re: Damp and mould - Dom Post today.
Wow, you have three showers, I bet you miss having a bath eh?
Mar 2nd 2008, 4:18 am
#26
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Location: noisy land, it's still noisy & crazy wrong
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Mar 2nd 2008, 4:22 am
#27
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,118
Re: Damp and mould - Dom Post today.
well what can i say other than i have gone from a tiny 3 bed semi and moved into a lovely 5 bed place and i am so happy, feel very lucky and fortunate. sorry if it appears i am being that way - those people on here who know me personally, i am sure would tell you i am not like that at all. we have had to work bloody hard to get to where we are today, hasnt been given to us on a plate, so why the hell not eh??
Mar 2nd 2008, 4:29 am
#28
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Joined: Dec 2005
Location: noisy land, it's still noisy & crazy wrong
Posts: 254
Re: Damp and mould - Dom Post today.
well what can i say other than i have gone from a tiny 3 bed semi and moved into a lovely 5 bed place and i am so happy, feel very lucky and fortunate. sorry if it appears i am being that way - those people on here who know me personally, i am sure would tell you i am not like that at all. we have had to work bloody hard to get to where we are today, hasnt been given to us on a plate, so why the hell not eh??
Mar 2nd 2008, 7:21 am
#30
you dewty owld maan!
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: is practically perfect in every way
Posts: 5,565
Re: Damp and mould - Dom Post today.
As they say.........
