Hello everyone,
we insulated our attic with thermal insulation and a vapor barrier. The general contractor was supposed to install a cold roof, but since we did the attic conversion ourselves, we insulated it as well. Additionally, the attic is equipped with an insulated loft ladder.
The heating has been running for about 5-6 weeks now and has completed the screed heating program.
Yesterday, while hanging lights in the attic, I noticed water dripping near the chimney and water collected in 2 or 3 spots on the vapor barrier.
I then removed the vapor barrier and the insulation around the chimney. The insulation is completely soaked, but only in that area near the chimney. The vapor barrier underneath, i.e., the one from the roof, is also wet, as are the beams of the roof structure.
My site manager says it is condensation, but I find it strange that it occurs only near the chimney. He said the chimney is close to the loft ladder, which is not fully sealed yet, and that’s why condensation is forming there. He suggested sealing the ladder tight, which I have done, but I still find it hard to believe it is just condensation since the attic hasn’t actually been cold. What do you think?
we insulated our attic with thermal insulation and a vapor barrier. The general contractor was supposed to install a cold roof, but since we did the attic conversion ourselves, we insulated it as well. Additionally, the attic is equipped with an insulated loft ladder.
The heating has been running for about 5-6 weeks now and has completed the screed heating program.
Yesterday, while hanging lights in the attic, I noticed water dripping near the chimney and water collected in 2 or 3 spots on the vapor barrier.
I then removed the vapor barrier and the insulation around the chimney. The insulation is completely soaked, but only in that area near the chimney. The vapor barrier underneath, i.e., the one from the roof, is also wet, as are the beams of the roof structure.
My site manager says it is condensation, but I find it strange that it occurs only near the chimney. He said the chimney is close to the loft ladder, which is not fully sealed yet, and that’s why condensation is forming there. He suggested sealing the ladder tight, which I have done, but I still find it hard to believe it is just condensation since the attic hasn’t actually been cold. What do you think?
Actually, the attic has been warm so far because it was insulated, but after I removed the insulation around the chimney, it has gotten colder. So the house and the attic were warm before, which means condensation shouldn’t have formed, right?
The chimney itself is not insulated; it is simply built up. Part of it is inside the insulated area, and another part is under the membrane on the exterior. The chimney passes through, but it is sealed with the membrane.
Is your chimney insulated? Honestly, I have never seen that before...
The chimney itself is not insulated; it is simply built up. Part of it is inside the insulated area, and another part is under the membrane on the exterior. The chimney passes through, but it is sealed with the membrane.
Is your chimney insulated? Honestly, I have never seen that before...
K
Knallkörper23 Dec 2016 11:59Condensation forms on the underside of your roofing membrane. This is essentially the first cold point, also known as the dew point. Whether your attic is heated or not does not make a difference. Condensation can also occur around the chimney area because it is cooler there. As mentioned, this might be the only spot you have noticed so far. I tend to believe that your entire construction is incorrect. Any entry of moisture into your roof’s insulation layer must be prevented. This can only be achieved with a vapor barrier that is properly sealed everywhere.
If you have not installed a vapor barrier, you should at least be familiar with the SD values in relation to each other.
If you have not installed a vapor barrier, you should at least be familiar with the SD values in relation to each other.
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