CONDENSATION - its main causes and how to minimise it.

Whist a book can be written on condensation, we will try to show and advise you of the day-to-day aspects of its causes and its remedy.

In brief, condensation is one of the main causes of an internal damp related problem.

Its cause if often YOU the owner/occupier.

Older style brick constructed properties were not built with added insulation qualities that new build properties now provide. Installing double glazed units, central heating and closing up coal fires provides us with warm draught free homes BUT we are now suffering from surface moisture problems on walls now more readily.

WHY?………. In short, our life styles have changed. We are showering more often, introducing modern day appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines and dryers; we are drying clothes in doors on radiators (the list can go on). All these create additional air borne moisture into the property over and above what we ourselves create personally and this is leading to SEVERE problems of condensation. We are not extracting the moisture out of the building.

It is important to achieve a balance between insulation, ventilation and heating in order to minimise problems of condensation as damp walls can lead to problems of wood rotting fungi, fungal growth, addled/perished plaster, health problems and heat loss.

To advise that black fungal growth to walls is associated with condensation. The fungal growth needs to be removed, as its spores are a potential health hazard.

Condensation mould growth forms in different colours and types of growth identification. One can have 'pin mould' on surfaces which looks like pin sized black dots of mould. Severe problems of condensation shall give rise to complete areas of black fungal growth. Within cupboards and wardrobes for example, the mould may be seen as a 'green' colour especially on leather goods and clothes due to inadequate ventilation and extraction of air borne moisture within such closed environments. Often problems of condensation are hidden and do not become apparent until one re-decorates or moves furniture around for example.

Condensation

The following are points of information are listed to help to minimise surface moisture within a property.

1. To install within a kitchen, utility room and bathroom, extractor fans fitted with a humidistat. A humidistat is an automatic devise that shall operate when there is a high humidity present.
   Extractors with pull cords rely on us knowing when to pull them!
   Cooker hoods generally are not adequate as many are not extracting externally and in any case we tend to turn them off when we have finished cooking, not when we have extracted all of the air borne moisture! Moisture will still remain that shall absorb into walls and timbers in contact.
2. For the property we advise using a de-humidifier especially in the winter months. This machine is ideal especially to those who work all day and therefore leave the house closed up or for families who stay at home all day and are creating air borne moisture on a minute-by-minute basis with no window open! Ideally, they should be used continuously from September through to April.
3. If you are in the process of placing a property onto the open market, this is the time to bring in a de-humidifier. The more you use the machine the less likely a surveyor shall 'pick up' on dampness when using a conductivity metre.
4. Properties with original fireplaces ideally should be re-instated. Coal fires help in providing natural ventilation for the property by changing the atmosphere and extracting air borne moisture, which helps to reduce problems of condensation.
5. The drying of clothes in doors especially on radiators creates additional air bone moisture within the property and without adequate extraction-taking place shall lead to SEVERE problems of condensation. Wherever possible use a utility room or a dryer.
6. We produce an average of 1 litre of moisture into the atmosphere per person per night! Sleeping with no ventilation and with the door shut shall allow this moisture to be absorbed into the coldest part of the room i.e. external walls, below a window and to corners of rooms.
7. An average size family of 5 people can produce on a daily basis up to 50 litres of air borne moisture! Without adequate extraction this can lead to severe problems of CONDENSATION.
8. You can use an anti fungal wash solution to the wall plaster prior to re-decorating or to use an Anti fungal paint especially to walls within a bathroom, kitchen and utility room. This can help to reduce mould growth on surfaces.
9. Upon re-decorating we recommend that only a NON VINYL CONTRACTORS EMULSION and NON VINYL WALLPAPER be applied. Vinyl based wallpapers and paint restrict walls from breathing.
10. Not to close internal doors to rooms as this locks in air borne moisture that can be absorbed into all surfaces including furniture.
11. Spare rooms must still have a moderate amount of heating and ventilation taking place.
12. To periodically move furniture around as units and furniture kept along a wall for long periods of time can create problems of dampness behind due to limited circulation of airflow.
13. To advise that walls that are dry lined, with timber cladding on or are tiled can be concealing defects including dampness and such closed conditions may encourage rot to any concealed timbers.
14. The wrong plastering specification can lead to damp problems i.e. condensation.
    To Note:
    Modern day lightweight plasters are manufactured for application onto breezeblock and thermalite block work. This plaster type must not be applied onto a brick constructed property as it can absorb and retain air borne moisture and shall form a 'damp patch' on the wall. This type of plaster application is commonly found when patch plastering has taken place to a wall in particular around windows, fireplaces and doorways! When you are re-decorating this is the time to observe obvious areas of plaster changes.
15. Properties purchased having been vacant for long periods of time will be suffering from surface moisture due to no heating or extraction having taken place. One should introduce a moderate heating and to use a de-humidifier to aid in the drying out of the walls.
16. Properties constructed in 9" solid brickwork have no thermal value and as such are prone to problems of penetrating damp but also condensation. Such external walls are cold surfaces. Surfaces that are cool shall suffer from condensation.
17. Bungalows and flats are susceptible to condensation problems due to one living on one level with all rooms in the same vicinity of the high moisture producing rooms i.e. kitchen, utility and bathrooms. It is therefore essential to provide adequate extraction of the moisture out of the building to prevent a build up of mould growth on walls.
18. RE-FURBISHING A PROPERTY - When one is re-furbishing a property that includes re-plastering works - to remember that such walls can take up to 12 months to completely dry out. Although surfaces may look dry they are not when probed into. Provide the correct combination of heating and extraction and this shall help to quicken the drying out process and help to minimise problems of condensation. When decorating such walls, for the first 12 months only apply a water based paint finish to the walls, as this shall help the walls to breathe and will help the drying out process.