By Soo KimShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberA woman in the U.K. was left floored by what she found behind the wallpaper in her home during renovation works.
The disappointing moment was detailed in a clip posted on November 19 by @maisongigihome, which was captured in London, according to a location shared with the post.
The caption shared with the video says: “We wanted a cute Victorian house…the house had other plans.”
The clip shows a woman looking up at a ceiling that has been stripped back. “She thought she was getting a cute Victorian house…,” explains text overlaid on the clip. The text continues: “Then she stripped the wallpaper…”
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The video goes on to reveal “polystyrene [a synthetic material] tiles on the ceiling, mould, five layers of wallpaper & paint, cracks everywhere, asbestos,” according to subsequent text overlaid on the clip.
“Send help, what will I find next?” the poster wrote in another caption overlaid on the clip.
The TikTok video comes as investment in renovation has surged among homeowners in the United States in recent years, with median spending on renovation rising 60 percent from $15,000 in 2020 to $24,000 in 2023, according to a 2024 survey by Houzz, a home design website. The top 90th percentile of spending rose by 77 percent from $85,000 to $150,000 in the same period, the survey found.
Finding mold and asbestos in your home can pose health risks and needs to be addressed as soon as possible.
Mold, which grows where there is a buildup of moisture, produces allergens and can cause health problems, warns the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Mold should be cleaned off hard surfaces with water and detergent, and dried completely. “Absorbent materials that have mold growth may need to be replaced,” such as ceiling tiles, carpet, and furniture, notes the EPA.
The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission advises: “Even if asbestos is in your home, this is usually not a serious problem. The mere presence of asbestos in a home or a building is not hazardous. The danger is that asbestos materials may become damaged over time. Damaged asbestos may release asbestos fibers and become a health hazard.”
Despite the homeowner’s disappointment, viewers on TikTok remained optimistic.
User @lilyflower50090 said: “ooo next step is to strip the white paint off that cute mantle.”
Matty | New Home Diary wrote: “Good luck. can’t wait to see what you do!” adding, “Here for the chaos.”
Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok. This video has not been independently verified.
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