Painting over mould is one of the most common mistakes we see. The paint looks fine for a fortnight, then the black spots bleed straight back through. Mould is a living organism, and unless you kill it and deal with what is feeding it, a fresh coat of paint just gives it a new surface to grow on. Here is how to remove mould before painting so it actually stays gone.
Mould spores are always in the air. They only take hold where there is moisture, so mould on a wall is a symptom, not the problem itself. Cover it with ordinary emulsion and you trap live spores under the film, seal in the damp, and give the mould something new to feed on. Within weeks it pushes back through and you are worse off than when you started. The fix is a proper sequence: kill it, clean it, dry it, deal with the cause, then paint with the right product.
Mould releases spores when disturbed. Open a window, wear a mask and gloves, and take down or cover soft furnishings. If mould covers more than roughly a square metre, or keeps returning across a whole room, that points to a bigger damp problem worth getting looked at before you decorate.
This is the step people skip. Wiping visible mould away with a cloth spreads spores and leaves the roots behind. Apply a fungicidal wash generously and, crucially, leave it to dwell for the time stated on the tin so it actually kills the growth before you wipe it away. A quick once-over with a damp cloth does nothing. A word on bleach: it lightens the stain so the wall looks clean, but it is mostly water, evaporates quickly and rarely kills the roots in porous plaster. A proper fungicidal wash like Caparol Capatox is the reliable choice.
Paint will not adhere to a damp wall, and trapped moisture feeds the next outbreak. Let the area dry thoroughly, which can mean 24 hours or more in a cold room, with heating and ventilation on. If the wall still feels cold and clammy, it is not ready.
This is the difference between a job that lasts and one you redo next winter. Most household mould is condensation, and Aberdeen’s cool, damp climate makes it worse. The usual culprits:
If mould or damp has left tide marks, a stain-blocking primer stops them grinning through the new paint. Skip this and even the best topcoat can shadow.
Once the wall is clean, dry and the cause is sorted, finish with a paint that actively resists regrowth rather than ordinary emulsion. Options like Zinsser Perma-White, Tikkurila Luja and Benjamin Moore Aura Bath & Spa carry a fungicide in the film that keeps working for years. We compare them in our guide to the best anti-mould paint.
Pop into the shop in Bucksburn and tell us what you are dealing with, and we will match the wash, primer and paint to your wall and mix the colour while you wait. Browse the full anti-mould paint range online, with free UK delivery over £100 or collect in Aberdeen.
