Summer houses made of wood are particularly susceptible to mould. This need not be. We'll show you what you can do about it.
Mould often has an easy time in garden sheds. Hardly any garden owner pays meticulous attention to regulating the indoor climate in the garden house. There is little to no ventilation and many gardens are not visited at all during the cold season. It is not uncommon for mold to grow unnoticed in the garden shed and attack the structure of the building. Mold is not only ugly and unsavory, it can also have negative effects on human and animal he alth.
Mould - what is that?
Anyone who likes to eat blue cheese consumes one of around 130,000 different molds. Mushrooms are used to refine cheese or to produce antibiotics. If there is a change in the surface, harmful fungi are far more often the cause. If food is covered with a nasty lawn of fungus, it's not only inedible, it's poisonous.
Tip: Molds are not destroyed by heating, drying or freezing.
Not only food is attacked by mold. Most garden houses are made of wood. Mold can attack the wood and cause it to decompose. The danger comes from both living and dead mould.
How does mold develop?
If food is not disposed of in good time, a white to greyish film can quickly form on the surface. Something similar happens on damp wood or damp walls. This means that the most important prerequisite for mold formation has been found: moisture.
Moulds can only survive in a moist environment. It is immaterial whether the moisture develops in the substance itself or comes from the ambient air.
Fungal spores are found almost everywhere, inside and outside. The fungal spores can also spread via condensed water vapour. If a suitable culture medium is found, mycelium forms and small thread-like cells develop that spread out in a circle.
Tip: Molds feed on fats, protein and carbohydrates, which arefound in dust, wood, masonry, or fabric.
Why are garden houses particularly at risk of mould?
Mold spores are everywhere. Whether mold forms in the garden shed depends solely on whether the fungal spores find suitable living conditions. In garden houses, the mold usually expects a rich supply of food:
- Dust
- dirt
- Food Leftovers
- Cellulose
- Organic material in wallpaper and flooring
If you have transformed your garden house into an oasis of well-being, mold can spread not only to walls, ceilings and garden cushions, but also to floor coverings, wooden furniture or books.
Incorrect ventilation behavior promotes mold formation
Most of the time, there is increased humidity in garden houses. Regular and sufficient ventilation in the garden shed is usually not a priority. If the humidity is over 70 percent, mold growth is inevitable.
Mould is very resistant to its ambient temperature and tolerates temperatures between 0 and 60 degrees. Most molds spread at temperatures between 25 and 35 degrees. In summer, garden houses are usually heated up by direct sunlight. Heat builds up quickly if there is no ventilation.
Poor insulation often leads to mold
In addition, summer houses are often not sufficiently insulated. This creates cold bridges where moisture from the air settles. Moisture can also penetrate through the roof and walls. These are ideal conditions for mold.
Tip: Sometimes the mold in the garden shed cannot be seen at first glance, because mold likes to settle on wood-destroying fungi.
Remove mold in the garden shed - this is how it works
Anyone who notices mold in the garden shed should act quickly to prevent the infested material from further decomposing and mold being inhaled, which can lead to allergic reactions, respiratory irritation or asthma.
The procedure is not clearly defined and sometimes not undisputed. Wood producers recommend refraining from chemical methods of combating and relying on home remedies:
Tackle mold with vinegar
Vinegar is non-toxic and can be found in every household. Vinegar can be applied using a sponge or cloth. The exposure time should be at least 30 minutes.
Warning: Anyone withVinegar essence works should wear protective clothing - especially protective gloves and goggles - as there is a risk of chemical burns.
Vinegar has no effect on calcareous surfaces.
Alcohol
Use pure alcohol for surfaces that cannot be cleaned with vinegar. It should be at least 70 percent alcohol. There is no he alth hazard when applying. But the risk of fire can become a risk. After the order should therefore be smoked under no circumstances. Candles may not be lit in the garden shed either.
Tip: Alcohol evaporates quickly. Several applications are therefore necessary for sustainable mold control.
After treatment with alcohol, the additional application of a chlorine-based mildew remover is a good idea. The treatment has to be repeated several times. The garden shed should be well ventilated during and after use.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Small mold spots in the garden shed can be removed with a hydrogen peroxide solution of at least five percent. Mold can only be removed when the surface is completely dry. This can be checked using a blotter.
If the mold stains are still visible, the wood must be treated mechanically. After the affected areas have been planed or sanded down, they are repainted.
Search for clues
Mould in the garden shed is equivalent to moisture in the garden shed. To prevent mold from forming again, it is imperative that the leak on the building is located.
possible causes:
- leaky roof
- leaky windows
- leaky doors
- overflowing rain barrel
- clogged gutter
- poor water drainage under the garden shed
How can mold be prevented in the garden shed?
If you winterize the garden house in autumn, this is a good time to check the garden house for possible weak points. Sealing with silicone helps against penetrating moisture through windows and doors. Damage to the roof must be repaired before winter, otherwise the moisture from the snow load can penetrate unhindered into the interior of the garden house.
The gutter can also become a source of danger if it is clogged with leaves and water drainage is no longer guaranteed, or if it freezes over and is damaged as a result. Therefore shouldYou protect the gutter from frost. The same applies to the rain barrel. This should be emptied in autumn so that the effects of frost do not destroy it. Garden houses made of wood should be treated regularly with wood preservative to prevent moisture from penetrating. There are also special anti-mould coatings on the market.
To prevent mold, the garden house should be ventilated regularly. The principle of shock ventilation has proven its worth here. All windows must be opened several times a day for five to ten minutes. This should create draft.
Tip: If daily airing is not possible, ventilation openings can ensure moisture exchange. The location must be adjusted accordingly. A grid ensures that no insects or small rodents can get into the garden house.
In the event of a longer absence, dehumidifiers can be placed in the garden shed. These work on a silicate basis, similar to cat litter, or draw in the air to dehumidify it. However, these devices require a power connection.
More tips to prevent mold in the garden shed
Garden houses are exposed to wind and weather. This should be taken into account when purchasing. Not only the optics play a role. If it doesn't seem to make much sense to erect a garden house made of wood in terms of building physics, suitable alternatives are advisable.
The location for the summer house must be checked in advance. For questions such as the type of soil and the proximity to groundwater, it is advantageous to hire a specialist. The building material can already contain moisture. This is the case, for example, with insufficiently stored wood.