Mould testing in Brisbane

Why apartments grow mould in internal bathrooms

Many inner-city units have an internal bathroom and a laundry cupboard with no opening to outside air. Steam from every shower has one way out: the exhaust fan. When that fan is undersized, ducted into the ceiling space instead of outside, or switched off with the light, humidity stays high for hours and mould appears on the ceiling first.

An inspection measures airflow at the fan, logs humidity after a shower, and checks whether the duct actually terminates outdoors. In strata buildings it also notes whether moisture is arriving from a neighbouring lot or common property, such as a failed balcony membrane above, because that changes who is responsible for the repair.

Built-in-under Queenslanders

Lifting or enclosing the space under a high-set timber house adds a bedroom or rumpus room, but the new room often sits on a slab that was never designed as habitable floor, against retaining walls or earth on the uphill side. Damp walls, swollen skirtings and a musty rumpus room are typical. Moisture readings at the base of walls, behind built-in robes and along any retaining wall show whether the water is rising, penetrating from the soil or condensing on cold masonry, which are three different problems with three different fixes.

After river and creek flooding

Parts of Brisbane flooded in 2011 and again in 2022, from the river and from local creeks. Homes that were repaired quickly sometimes had new linings fixed over frames that had not fully dried. If a house has flood history, an inspection checks the lower wall cavities and subfloor even where the finishes look new. The council’s flood mapping is a useful first look at whether a street is exposed.

Suburbs and towns in this council area

New Farm · Paddington · Red Hill · Toowong · Indooroopilly · Chermside · Nundah · Carindale · Coorparoo · Sunnybank · Wynnum · Ashgrove