Guide

How to Get Rid of Black Mould and Stop It Coming Back

Black mould on bedroom walls, around windows or on bathroom ceilings is one of the most common problems in UK homes, especially in winter. Here's how to deal with it sensibly, and how to stop it coming back.

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Customer reviews

5.0 from 28 Google reviews
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DDaniel Taylor

Excellent outfit! Extremely efficient and professional eith very high standards of workmanship. Communication excellent with updates at important points. Nothing was a problem and the project was completed on time and on budget

SShaun Fairclough

Sc maintenance, great guys worked flat out non stop an got the job done. Really pleased with results. Will 100% use again.

GGreg Baldock

William Holmes SC and his gang did a very professional job on our rear garden fence and side gate. Our neighbours were so impressed they’ve been asking for business cards!!

CCoral Rees

Very punctual. Really good job of fencing and tidied up each day after work.
Thoroughly recommend

JJosh

Can’t thank SC Maintenance enough for the great job they done on my fence! Professional and easy to deal with would definitely recommend to anyone requiring any maintenance.

SS

Great job, had a spur put in to save the whole fence coming down. Short notice, good value and nice solid tidy job. Thanks William

MMichael Jones

Absolutely would definitely use SC maintenance again and have already inquired about a second job . Couldn’t thank William enough for coming out in the pouring rain to complete the job . Thank you so much and such a lovely gentleman with a lot of knowledge. Would highly recommend. .

RRussell Croutear

Contacted SC Maintenance for fence repairs. William was friendly and communicated well throughout. The work was scheduled quickly, and I’m very happy with the results. Would recommend.

BB

Very fast efficient communication and service. Replaced two rotten timber fence posts with new concrete ones to stop a fence from falling down. Texted to say they were on their way, arrived on time, cleared up afterwards and the cost was very reasonable. I will use them again and recommend them to others.

DDominic Collicott

Found this company as my mum needed her garden cleared out, great communication, good prices and got the job done very quickly - would highly recommend!

MMartyn Rummey

We used SC Maintenance to carry out some fencing repairs. They were easy to communicate with good price prompt and nice end product highly recommend.

SSabir Malik

William did a fantastic job fixing our backyard fence, which was in poor condition. Even though the work wasn’t completed on the first day, he came back promptly and finished it exactly as required. I would gladly hire him again.

JJames Cassar

Excellent service - fast, reliable and reasonably priced. Couldn't be happier.

AAmanda Cathcart

We have had a full 12 metre fence, posts and a new custom fit gate replaced by SC Maintenance. William's speed of communication was great, keeping me informed each step of the way. The work was scheduled within a two week period from the initial enquiry. A huge shout out to Dustin, who completed the work ahead of expectation. He was polite, tidy, efficient and carried out the job to a superb quality. We are thrilled with the job and would thoroughly recommend the team. Will definitely use them again.

Ggeorgia Graham

Efficient, great communication, quick but quality repair. Thank you so much!

DDaryl Kellett

"I recently used SCM for some repairs around the house, and I couldn't be happier with the results. The team were professional, punctual, and finished the job in record time. They even took the time to explain the process and cleaned up the entire work area before leaving. Their pricing was fair and transparent. I highly recommend them for any maintenance needs!

MMelissa Haddock

He did an amazing job on our lawn!

AAdam C

Excellent work carried out by SC MAINTENANCE in my garden this week !
And in particular, first class , friendly service by Jonathan, for preparing and installing my new garden gate, and installing concrete spur/ post to my fence to straighten it out.
I do, on this particular occasion knock off one star, purely as nobody turned up to start work on the original date planned , due to staff issues.
This wouldn't normally have been a problem, but would have liked to have been notified that morning , rather than be sat around waiting to find nobody would show up.
Apart from that one gripe, can I recommend Williams team???
ABSOLUTELY! 👍
The work was complete today, and communication was there when needed.

CCarl Green

Very happy with the work William carried out on the replacement of my garden gate, it looks great thank you.

HHeather Stoyles

The team came to replace a fence for my mother, to remove the old one and take it away. I couldn’t be there that day and mum is 87 so I was keen to be contacted if need be. I need not have worried mum reported a respectful team of men who did an excellent job from start to finish. I was asked by phone at points of the work if I wanted this done or the fence in a particular place. Very professional job and ‘lovely people ‘ mum said. She is delighted with the job and the way in which it was done. Thank you so much you come highly recommended.

LLaura Federanko

William and his guys have done an amazing job & I am very pleased with the finished result. Have already asked for further quotes for other jobs . Definitely recommend

JJanet Arrowmsmith

Would thoroughly recommend Will and team.
Put a new fence up in my back garden .
Very happy. Thank you

MMandy Clifford

This is the second time that I have used Will, this time for the outside of my pond and to relay the slabs. They had just started when they came upon a problem meaning they couldn't do what was originally planned. However, Will came up with a solution, got more materials and by the end of the day, I had a great surround on my pond & slabs that didn't move.
I am so pleased with it, and if anything it looks better than what was originally there.
If you want reliable, polite and reasonable prices then I would highly recommend Will.

Why black mould grows

Most household mould comes from condensation: warm, moist air from cooking, showers, drying clothes and breathing meets a cold surface and turns to water. Mould then grows on the damp surface. Other causes include leaks, overflowing gutters and rising or penetrating damp, which need fixing at the source.

Is it a health concern?

Damp and mould can affect health, particularly for people with asthma or other breathing conditions, allergies or weakened immune systems, and for babies, children and older people. Government health guidance on damp and mould advises dealing with it promptly. If you have health concerns, speak to your GP.

Cleaning small patches safely

  1. Open a window and wear gloves, eye protection and a mask.
  2. Don't dry-brush mould, as this releases spores into the air.
  3. Use a mould remover made for the job and follow the instructions on the label. Never mix cleaning products.
  4. Wipe with a damp cloth, then dry the area thoroughly and bag the cloths.

Bleach can lighten the stain on non-porous surfaces without dealing with growth in porous materials like plaster or silicone, so a dedicated product is usually a better choice.

When to call in help

  • The mould covers a large area or keeps coming back after cleaning.
  • There are signs of a leak, a damp patch that won't dry, or peeling plaster.
  • Someone in the home is vulnerable to its effects.

We offer mould washing and treatment with practical prevention advice. Anti-mould paint afterwards is optional.

Stopping it coming back

  • Use extractor fans when cooking and showering, and leave them on for a while afterwards.
  • Keep trickle vents open and air rooms daily.
  • Dry clothes outdoors or in a vented space where possible.
  • Keep a low, steady background heat in cold rooms.
  • Leave a gap between furniture and outside walls.
  • Keep gutters clear so rainwater doesn't soak walls. See our gutter clearing service.

If you rent

Report damp and mould to your landlord or letting agent in writing, with photos. Government guidance sets out landlords' responsibilities for dealing with damp and mould.

Frequently asked questions

Does anti-mould paint work?

It can help slow regrowth on treated surfaces, but it won't fix the underlying moisture problem on its own.

Why is mould worse in winter?

Cold walls and closed windows mean more condensation, and condensation is what mould needs.

Can I paint over mould?

Not without cleaning and treating it first. Otherwise it usually comes back through the paint.

Is mould around windows normal?

It's common, because glass and frames are the coldest surfaces, but it's a sign of excess moisture worth tackling.

Want a price for your job?

Send a few photos and rough measurements and we'll get you a price quickly.

Free, no-obligation quote · Local to Southampton · Send photos for a quick price

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