Help needed

[ssyson]

Hi
I am posting this in the hope that someone on the forum can help. I have recently had my small house in Cerbere painted on the outside. The house was then rented out all was OK for a few months until the weather started to cool down in October. By mid November the inside of the exterior walls were completely covered in mould. The house is solid walls the paint used impermeable. It seems that this may be the root cause of the problems but my insurance company are telling me I have to find a paint company or an expert to confirm this is the problem and then they will become active. As well as the insurance issue I need to find the cause otherwise all my work to repair the damage will be in vane as it will come back. Does anyone have any experience of this type of issue, any advice but especially any recommendations for an expert able to determine the root cause of my recent problems. I have owned the house for 15 years and never experienced this type of situation;
Thanks to all for taking the time to read this. I am in a somewhat desperate situation. Because of the damp the ASR have declared the house uninhabitable
Sue

[alan]

Sue

This is a really strange situation.

Was the exterior professionally painted? If so, have the painters commented and perhaps asked for advice from the company who manufactured the paint.

Also were there agents involved in the letting of the property and did they take anything up with the tenants about their use of the property?

Is the insurance company able to give advice as to the name of an independent export whose recommendation, they would be happy to expect.

We have owned a house with solid stone walls in Port Vendres for about 20 years now. The front has never been repainted but the back was about 5 or so years ago. We have never had serious mould issues even when the downstairs self contained studio was let.

I would be really interested to know how you get on.

Alan

[ssyson]

Hi Alan and thanks for your interest in my plight
The exterior walls were painted by a professional company Traitech. They used Unikalo xtreme paint. I have contacted Unikalo a french company to ask if the paint could cause a problem but no reply.
The house let was done privately and then tenants, though they washed a lot and could have dried their clothes inside, insist they had the windows open when showering and when cooking. Maybe?
The insurance company originally sent out AN EXPERT who was in fact a plumber looking for visible leaks. They say there are none (I knew that) and so have declared there is not a sinistre and closed the case.
We have protection juridique and they have said we need to get an expert or a paint company to say the wrong paint has been used. Despite phone calls emails and text messages we have had no replies from anyone. I desperately need someone who can give a professional opinion both for the insurance and so we can solve the problem.

[alan]

I have done a little research using google. Traitech appears to be a reputable local company and Unikalo also appears to be a long standing manufacturer of quality paints so it's most surprising that you are being left in the lurch. Presumably Traitech recommended the Unikalo product.

I am not familiar with protection juridique in France but I take it that its similar to legal protection insurance often sold with property insurance in the UK. I would expect them to point you in the way of a suitable expert.

Also here is a link to a forum which may be of help https://www.docteurpeinture.com/forum/s ... n-probleme

Do you live in the UK or France? I am a retired solicitor who used to work in-house in the construction industry. We live in a period house in the UK and our second home in Port Vendres is also an old property. We also have tenanted properties here but have never come across the problems you are experiencing.

I would be very pleased to continue to kick the problem about with you from time to time. Good luck

Alan

[russell]

Could it be coincidence that the problem occurred after painting?

The other significant change is that it is now rented out. Damp on the inside walls could be a result of high humidity caused by the renters along with insufficient ventilation. Are they using paraffin heaters for example?

Russell

[ssyson]

Thank you so much for your help. It does seem odd that we are being left to our own devices re trying to find an expert. I will have a look at the link you sent me and am happy to have someone that I can communicate with. Thanks again will be back in touch if I have any news or need a little more support.
Sue

[Gus Morris]

You might find this site useful.

https://www.safeguardeurope.com


Gus Morris

[ssyson]

Just a quick update. Receive a reply from Tollens who I asked if paint D3 I1 was good for solid walls that need to breath. They said no that this paint could cause humidity inside the property. I have sent this information to our insurance company who are going to contact Traitech on our behalf. Will keep you posted.
Sue

[alan]

Good luck Sue. It looks as if the painters specified a incorrect product. Looking forward to hearing about developments.

Alan