Damp · Mould · Flat roofs · Terraces
Mould comes back unless the cause goes.
Most Paphos homes were built to release heat, not keep it: concrete walls, tiled floors, no insulation, no heating. Shut the house for the winter and the warm air inside condenses on the cold north wall. Painting over the black spots hides them until February. Panos finds where the water comes from, fixes that, then treats and repaints.
- Cause found before anything is painted
- Roofs and terraces sealed before the rains
- 3-year guarantee on the work
Sounds familiar?
The reasons people message Panos.
If one of these is you, send a photo. You get an honest answer within two hours in working hours.
- You open the apartment in spring and the bedroom wall has black spots again.
- A musty smell when you arrive, and the paint is lifting off the wall.
- A stain on the ceiling that grows after every storm.
- The flat roof or terrace was 'sealed' a few years ago and it is flaking.
- Someone painted over the mould last year. It is back.
Scope
What Panos fixes
Walls
- Condensation mould on cold walls and corners
- Damp patches from a leak, a failed seal or a cracked terrace above
- Mould removed, wall treated with fungicide, dried, stain-blocked and repainted with anti-mould paint
- Blown or salt-damaged plaster cut out and replaced
- Advice on ventilation and a dehumidifier for closed homes
Roofs and terraces
- Flat concrete roofs and terraces sealed with elastomeric liquid membrane, two coats over primer
- Cracks opened, filled and reinforced with mesh before coating
- Balcony drains and outlets cleared and sealed
- Silicone and seals renewed around windows, doors and shutters
- White reflective membrane that also cools the room below
Done properly
How a proper job is done in Paphos
What the quote lists, and why.
First the diagnosis
Condensation and water ingress look the same on the wall and need opposite fixes. Panos checks the terrace above, the roof, the window seals and the drains before he quotes. A moisture reading tells you whether the wall is dry enough to paint.
Then the cause
A cracked terrace is sealed. A failed window seal is replaced. A closed room gets a ventilation plan. Only then does the wall get touched, or the mould comes back.
Treat, dry, stain-block, paint
Mould is killed with a fungicidal wash, affected plaster is cut out if needed, the wall is dried, a stain-blocking primer stops the shadow coming through, and two coats of anti-mould paint finish it.
Roofs: prepare, prime, two coats
Pressure-washed, loose material removed, cracks wider than a hair filled and meshed, primer, then two coats of elastomeric membrane at the thickness the manufacturer specifies. Products with technical data sheets sold in Cyprus, for example ISOMAT ISOFLEX or Hyperdesmo polyurethane.
The right months
Roofs and terraces are sealed from April to October, when the surface is dry and warm. Rain in Paphos comes late October to March, with December and January the wettest months. Book the roof in autumn, not after the first storm.
Prices
Prices, in writing before the work starts.
Inspection first, then a written price with photos of what was found.
Starting prices
- Inspection visit with moisture readings, deducted from the job
- €60
- Mould treatment and repaint, per wall
- from €180
- Elastomeric membrane, two coats over primer, per m²
- from €14
- Crack repair with mesh
- priced per metre in the quote
- Window and shutter seals renewed
- half day €110
The total on the written quote is the total you pay. Nothing is added at the end.
Worked example: a 60 m² terrace
- Pressure-washed, cracks opened and filled, mesh on the joints
- Primer, then two coats of white elastomeric membrane
- Drain outlet resealed
- €900–€1,400 including the membrane, two working days plus drying
- Photos of each stage, so you can see the membrane thickness
No Paphos company publishes a price for this work. Panos does, because the work is the same every time: preparation, primer, two coats.
Guide: damp and mould in Cyprus homes, causes and what actually worksFAQ
Questions people ask about damp & roofs.
Why does mould appear every winter in my Paphos apartment?
Because the air inside is warmer and wetter than the wall. Without heating or insulation, the north wall and the corners behind furniture stay cold, and moisture condenses on them. Closed shutters and no ventilation make it worse. Ground-floor flats and bedrooms are the usual places.
Can I just paint over it with anti-mould paint?
Anti-mould paint helps once the wall is clean, dry and the cause is dealt with. On its own, over live mould and a damp wall, it fails within a season.
Does mould mean there is a leak?
Not always. Spots in the upper corners and behind wardrobes are usually condensation. A patch below a terrace or a window, or one that grows after rain, is usually water coming in. The inspection tells which.
How long does a roof membrane last?
A properly prepared two-coat elastomeric membrane lasts five to ten years in Paphos sun before it needs a maintenance coat. Thin single coats over dirt fail in two or three.
When should the terrace be sealed?
April to October. The surface must be dry and above 5°C, and rain within 24 hours ruins the coat. Autumn, before the November rains, is the busiest time, so book early.
I live abroad. How do I know it was done?
Photos of every stage: cleaned surface, filled cracks, primer, first coat, second coat, finished roof. Plus a photo after the first heavy rain if you ask.
Send photos. Get a written price within 48 hours.
Two or three photos of the job and your village on WhatsApp are enough. Panos replies within two hours in working hours.