Mould Remediation in Ayia Napa

How water gets into Ayia Napa buildings

Ayia Napa sits on an exposed stretch of the south-east coast, and its buildings meet the weather head-on in winter. That is when most water damage starts, and when many properties stand empty. Older apartment blocks from the early decades of tourism may still have their original plumbing, running through shared risers and under tiled floors where a slow leak can soak a slab before it shows. Flat roofs on blocks and villas alike need their waterproofing renewed over time, and a roof that has gone several winters without it lets water into top-floor ceilings. Ground-floor flats and villas with patios can take storm water under the doors when drains back up.

Signs it has gone beyond a surface problem

• Brown tide marks or yellow staining on ceilings, especially in top-floor flats.
• Floor tiles that have lifted or sound hollow, with dark grout around them.
• Skirting boards and door frames that are swollen, soft or spotted at the base.
• Mould on several walls of a room, or in more than one room, after a leak or a storm.
• A heavy damp smell that stays even with the windows open.

What remediation involves

Remediation, from €350, is the full process for mould that has come with water damage. The affected area is contained so the rest of the home stays clean, the mould and spoiled materials are removed, the cause and the damage are repaired, and the surfaces receive an anti-mould finish. We find the cause before we touch the mould, which in a block can mean following a leak back to the roof or to a neighbouring flat. If you are wondering whether mould that has dried out still needs removing, the short answer is yes, and the article explains why.

Acting quickly

Water damage costs more the longer it sits. Wet materials begin to grow mould within days, and growth that is left follows the damp into places you cannot see; our piece on how quickly mould moves through a home shows how. If you find water damage, turn off the supply if a pipe is to blame, move what you can out of the wet room and photograph everything. Send the photos for a quote and a specialist will price the job and call you back.