Common Wall Issues and How to Manage Them
That stain on your wall may be more than just a stain – identifying the source is the first step in solving it
Issue: Stains
Accidental spills – red wine, curry – are the obvious culprits. A dried-up wet spot can also leave a brownish stain on your wall (or wallpaper). Dirty handprints could also cling to the wall if there’s a sticky substance such as grease or lotion.
Try this:
Accidental spills – red wine, curry – are the obvious culprits. A dried-up wet spot can also leave a brownish stain on your wall (or wallpaper). Dirty handprints could also cling to the wall if there’s a sticky substance such as grease or lotion.
Try this:
- Vacuum or wipe wall surfaces with a dry cloth to clean off dust.
- Immediately wipe stained wallpaper with mild soapy water and a soft cleaning cloth.
- Don’t use bleach or detergent to clean your wallpaper as the chemicals may cause discolouration.
Issue: Moisture
Chilly air con temperature + ever-dark room = condensation that the porous concrete walls may absorb. If you are not in the habit of airing your bedroom and letting the sun in, mould may grow on the walls over time.
Poor workmanship may be another reason for moisture. Patches of wall are more porous and have deep cracks when contractors skimp on cement, so when it rains heavily, water seeps into the wall and makes it damp.
Try this:
Chilly air con temperature + ever-dark room = condensation that the porous concrete walls may absorb. If you are not in the habit of airing your bedroom and letting the sun in, mould may grow on the walls over time.
Poor workmanship may be another reason for moisture. Patches of wall are more porous and have deep cracks when contractors skimp on cement, so when it rains heavily, water seeps into the wall and makes it damp.
Try this:
- Open your windows on a warm, sunny day to air your rooms (and walls!).
- Get a multi-tasking paint that goes beyond colouring your walls. Dulux Mouldguard is lead- and mercury-free, protects against most mould species and has a refreshing pine fragrance. Nippon Paint has 3-in-1 Medifresh, which is waterproof, washable and has an anti-bacterial formula.
Issue: Grease
As much as mouthwatering aromas coming from the kitchen are a good thing, they sometimes also carry small particles of grease that you cannot see. Luckily, most kitchen walls are tiled, so they’re easier to clean.
Try this:
Scrub kitchen walls clean after every major cooking session.
As much as mouthwatering aromas coming from the kitchen are a good thing, they sometimes also carry small particles of grease that you cannot see. Luckily, most kitchen walls are tiled, so they’re easier to clean.
Try this:
Scrub kitchen walls clean after every major cooking session.
Issue: Pests
Behind the walls of old structures there can be ants, cockroaches, termites and other pests nibbling their way through wood, brick and cement. When you see ants (and other pests), look for where they’re coming from – it could be through a wall.
Try this:
Call a pest control company when you spot a fine dust trail or insect droppings along a wall. Don’t sweep the dust trail away as this is is how pest control professionals can easily trace the source.
Behind the walls of old structures there can be ants, cockroaches, termites and other pests nibbling their way through wood, brick and cement. When you see ants (and other pests), look for where they’re coming from – it could be through a wall.
Try this:
Call a pest control company when you spot a fine dust trail or insect droppings along a wall. Don’t sweep the dust trail away as this is is how pest control professionals can easily trace the source.
Issue: Cracks
Walls can show cracks over time – as the weather changes from hot to cool, building materials expand and contract (in minute amounts, mind you), causing hairline cracks. Earthquakes, major construction next door, or burst pipes within the walls are a different issue, however, and may result in more alarming cracks.
Try this:
Walls can show cracks over time – as the weather changes from hot to cool, building materials expand and contract (in minute amounts, mind you), causing hairline cracks. Earthquakes, major construction next door, or burst pipes within the walls are a different issue, however, and may result in more alarming cracks.
Try this:
- Sand and paint over unsightly hairline cracks. These are just superficial and natural cracks that occur as plaster and paint dry over time.
- Watch where you drill that hole! While interior walls made of wood can withstand drilling, concrete walls can crack and fibre-cement walls can crumble. You may also be drilling into hidden electrical wirings and water or gas pipes.
- Call a contractor or waterproofing consultant if the visible cracks are big and deep or if your wall is seeping water.
Tip: When house-hunting, knock on random parts of the concrete walls. A quiet knock means the walls are solid; when the knock sounds hollow, you could be in for some dampness.
TELL US
Ever had a wall issue that we may not have identified here? Let us know what it was and how you fixed it in the Comments section.
TELL US
Ever had a wall issue that we may not have identified here? Let us know what it was and how you fixed it in the Comments section.
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We barely give the walls in our home a thought – except when we see that the wallpaper is peeling, or when we want to change room colour. But there are things we should check once in a while because walls may often conceal bigger problems. Here are the common issues you can visually check for, and what you can do to manage them.