In Wavertree, L15, the most common call we get is about mould in a bathroom in the back extension of a Victorian terrace, followed by bedrooms on cold outside walls. Many homes here are let to students and young professionals, and busy showers plus washing drying indoors add a lot of moisture. We clean and treat the mould, fix the ventilation and leave surfaces ready to decorate.
The back-extension bathroom
Many Wavertree terraces have a rear extension that holds the kitchen downstairs and the bathroom above, or a ground-floor bathroom behind the kitchen. These rooms often have three outside walls and a roof directly overhead, which makes them colder than the main house. Add daily showers and a fan that is undersized or switches off too soon, and black mould on the ceiling, in the corners and along the sealant is almost predictable.
What usually helps:
- A properly sized fan, with a humidistat or overrun timer so it keeps running after the shower stops.
- Short, rigid ducting where possible, because long flexible runs cut airflow.
- A gap under the door so replacement air can get in.
- Cutting out and renewing mouldy silicone rather than scrubbing it.
- Checking for slow leaks from the shower tray, bath or waste pipes.
Our bathroom mould removal service covers all of this, and new fans are fitted by qualified electricians with the work notified under Part P.
Lets for students and young professionals
Wavertree’s rented houses tend to be busy. Several people showering and cooking at different times, and laundry drying on radiators, raise humidity across the house. Heating is often used in short bursts to save money, which leaves walls cold for much of the day. None of that is a criticism of tenants; it is how shared homes are lived in, and the building needs to cope. Simple humidity sensors can show landlords and residents when moisture builds up, and our humidity and mould monitoring helps track whether changes are working.
Redecorating after mould
Once the cause has been dealt with, surfaces are cleaned, treated and allowed to dry fully. Then a suitable anti-mould paint can help slow regrowth. Painting over mould that has not been treated, or before the moisture problem is fixed, is a short-lived fix. See mould-resistant decorating for how we approach it.
Your visit
We ask which rooms are affected, whether it is worse in winter and whether the house is rented. On site we check the fans and how much air they actually move, take humidity readings, look at trickle vents and heating, and check outside for leaking gutters or downpipes on the extension. You then get a written quote with the cause explained plainly.
Wavertree sits between Kensington and Toxteth, with Old Swan just to the north-east. To learn more about mould and damp services in Liverpool, or to see how we treat damp and mould across the city, visit our homepage.
Mouldy bathroom in Wavertree?
Call 07777 659786 and tell us which room is affected and whether the house is rented. We will call back to arrange a visit.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the bathroom in my back extension always mouldy?
A bathroom in a single-storey or two-storey back extension often has several cold outside walls and a cold ceiling, and showers produce a lot of steam. If the fan is weak or switches off too soon, moisture settles on those surfaces. Better extraction, a humidistat or overrun timer, and dealing with any leaks usually make the biggest difference.
Should mouldy silicone around the bath be cleaned or replaced?
Mould that has grown into silicone sealant usually cannot be cleaned out, because it is inside the material. The sealant is normally cut out, the joint cleaned and dried, and fresh sealant applied. Doing this without improving ventilation means it will often discolour again.
Does anti-mould paint stop mould coming back?
Anti-mould paint can slow regrowth on a properly cleaned, treated and dry surface, but it does not stop condensation. If the cause is still there, mould can return. We deal with ventilation or damp first, then decorate.
We are students renting in Wavertree. What should we do about mould?
Tell your landlord or letting agent in writing, with photos and dates, as soon as you notice it. Keep trickle vents open and use extractor fans where you can. Repairs to the property are normally the landlord’s job. For advice on your rights, Shelter or the council can help.
Can you prepare a house for new tenants after mould treatment?
Yes. Between tenancies is a good time to treat mould, upgrade fans and redecorate with suitable paints once surfaces are dry. We can provide written notes with photos for the landlord or agent’s records.