Treatment of mould and dry rot

As living organisms, harmful fungi (mould, brown wart sponge, genuine dry rot, etc) have certain requirements on their environment. They require sufficient (1) humidity (condensation at thermal bridges, rising damp and accumulative capillary or hygroscopic dampness) and (2) nutrition (i.e. building materials, cellulose, lignin). Installations of modern interior thermal insulation materials (calcium silicate blocks, foam glass blocks, etc.) are effective measures in treating these fungi, as they raise the dew point and subsequently prevent condensation. In addition, professionally installed thermal breaks (Hygrodiode®) in facing formwork further help to prevent damages to health and building.

The prevention of mould at thermal bridges and following water damages is our daily challenge in existing buildings and new builds.

With the help of a combination of measures, we are in a position to offer guaranteed thorough removal of your mould problems, only from an aesthetic point of view, but also for health safety reasons. We also offer solutions for the long-term removal of dry rot and wood worm. Please contact us on +43 1 606 45 95 or email office@ecowork.at for a free and non-binding consultation or initial visit.

Dampness: Main Cause for Mould in Living Areas

  • Mould on interior and exterior walls and wallpapering is a result of dampness, i.e. residual building moisture, condensation, building or water damages.
  • Additionally, mould fungi require a food supply such as wallpaper, emulsion paint or glue-bound paints.
  • Condensation usually forms at thermal bridges caused by geometrical designs, i.e. at all throats and connections to exterior walls, which, in the absence of effective insulation measures would appear as building defects and encourage the formation of mould.
  • Unprofessionally installed or altogether missing vapour barriers in interior refurbishments result in hidden mould behind face leaves.
  • So-called Isokorbs have long since become standard technology and prevent mould formation at building projections, i.e. balconies, where up to the 80's thermal insulation was interrupted.

How do I identify mould? How do I detect hidden mould?

  • Certain room air measurement methods, i.e. DIY sedimentation method, show occurrences of mould and also give information on the potential health hazard.
  • Thermography (= infrared imaging) visualise thermal bridges and building defects.

WHow to combat mould? Professional treatment of mould - with guarantee against recurrence!

  • Use of specialist wall paints and putties as well as fungicidal waterproofing and paint additives, developed specifically for mould treatment in collaboration with our partner laboratory ECOWORK Laboratories (OEPS formulas), reduce the food supply and therefore minimise the health hazard of mould fungi within living areas.
  • In cases where insulation is not possible from the outside, it becomes necessary to carry out interior insulations measures. In particular so-called climatic plates (Veinal® Klimaplatten), which is composed of foamed silicate, have proven highly effective. For wet areas, base ranges and in cases where high levels of insulation are required Ecowork foamglass is applied.
  • Mould hidden behind face leaves are treated by our dry lining team following a preceding disinfection by our hygienist technicians.

Dry Rot Fungus (= Serpula lacrimans)

  • The only harmful fungus to living areas,dry rot. The dry rot fungus can push its finger-thick mycelium through several meters of masonry to its food source (cellulose and/or lignin) leaving a trail of damp in its wake. In many old cellars architraves, cellar doors, stored firewood, newspapers and cardboard boxes fall victim to dry rot.
  • Dampness - usually rising damp or water penetration through building - defects create an ideal environment for the "true dry rot fungus".
  • Dry rot can also occur in living areas. This can be particularly drastic when load-bearing beams are affected as there is the danger of parts of the house collapsing. Thermal insulation of damp and undrained walls can lead to infestation of upper floors.
  • The individual steps for treating dry rot according to DIN are: removal of substrate, scorching, scraping out of mortar joints, injection of fungicides and surface treatment
  • We offer bespoke drying and drainage solutions based on the particular circumstances of the damaged area.

Other harmful fungi (pore sponge, brown rot, white rot, longhorn beetle)

  • Every lasting fungicide control involves a mechanical removal - with adherence to the health and safety standards - alongside the respective fungicidal treatment, which exceed the infested areas. This also applies to pore sponge infestation. Following these works our flooring specialists commence with the reconstruction.
  • A combined infestation - consisting of several different partially parasitic fungal species - requires the removal of the covering flooring including all batons and the installation of a barrier against rising damp.
  • Brown or White Rot in timber usually only requires surface treatment, in rare cases, i.e. longhorn beetle infestation, a combination of fungicides and insecticides need to be additionally injected into the wood.