Mould and damp in Tel Aviv apartments: what to fix before you paint

Why painting over mould does not work

The US Environmental Protection Agency puts it simply: “The key to mold control is moisture control.” Its guidance is to fix the water problem, clean up the mould and dry the surfaces before painting, because “paint applied over moldy surfaces is likely to peel” (EPA). Covering a damp patch with fresh paint hides it for a while, and then the stain comes back.

In Hebrew you will hear two words for this: רטיבות (retivut), damp, and עובש (ovesh), mould.

The right order

1. Find the water. A leak from a pipe, the roof or a neighbour, water coming through an outside wall, or condensation in a room that is not aired. Fixing a leak is a job for a plumber or a waterproofing contractor, not a painter.
2. Dry it quickly. The EPA advises drying water-damaged areas within 24–48 hours to prevent mould growth.
3. Clean off the mould. Tambour sells Fungicheck Solution for cleaning and removing fungi and moulds; its product page gives 30 minutes before you can paint (Tambour). If there has been a lot of water damage, or the mould covers more than about 10 square feet (roughly 1 m²), the EPA says to consult its separate mould remediation guide rather than handle it as a small clean-up.
4. Let the wall dry. Tambour’s data sheet for Polisid says not to paint when the wall is wet or the relative humidity is above 85% (Polisid TDS).
5. Repair and repaint. Fill cracks and flaking plaster, then paint. In bathrooms and other wet rooms, use a paint made for them (see below).

Which paint for bathrooms and damp-prone rooms

Tambour makes Supercryl Acrynol, a water-based acrylic with a matt finish that it describes as resistant to fungus and mould and “especially designed for wet rooms such as bathrooms”. It is dry to the touch in an hour, needs two hours between coats and takes three days for final drying (Tambour).

A mould-resistant paint helps a clean, dry wall stay clean. It does not stop water that is still coming in.

Keeping it from coming back

• The EPA recommends keeping indoor humidity below 60%, ideally between 30% and 50%.
• Run the bathroom fan or open the window when you shower, and use an extractor fan or open windows when you cook. Both are EPA tips.
• Fix drips and leaks as soon as you see them.

If you rent: who fixes it

Under the Fair Rental Law (the 2017 amendment to the Rental and Borrowing Law), the tenant is responsible for defects caused by unreasonable use. The landlord has to fix other defects that are not trivial, within a reasonable time and no later than 30 days after the tenant asks. A defect that makes the apartment unliveable has to be fixed within three days (law text, section 25H).

A lawyer’s guide published by Nefesh B’Nefesh says that leaks, mould and safety problems caused by structural faults are generally the landlord’s responsibility (Nefesh B’Nefesh). Tell your landlord in writing, with photos, and keep a copy. This is general information, not legal advice.

What a repaint costs after the damp is fixed

Our wall repairs cost ₪150–₪400 per repair, and a single room costs ₪700–₪1,000 for a small room (up to 12 m²), ₪1,000–₪1,500 for a standard room and ₪1,500–₪2,200 for a large room, including VAT. See the full price guide.

Common questions

Sources

1. US EPA, A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home
2. Tambour, Fungicheck Solution (product page)
3. Tambour, Supercryl Acrynol (product page)
4. Tambour, Polisid technical data sheet (PDF)
5. Rental and Borrowing (Amendment) Law, 5777-2017 (the “Fair Rental Law”), Sefer HaChukim 2649, 19 July 2017, official text on gov.il (Hebrew, PDF)
6. Nefesh B’Nefesh, Renting an Apartment in Israel (Russell D. Mayer, Adv.)