ᐅ Construction of a Drywall Partition / Corner Shower in Bathroom – Moisture Issues
Created on: 29 Dec 2017 16:38
J
Jens09
Hello,
after water damage in the shower area (cause unclear), there is disagreement among my craftsmen about the correct method for rebuilding the wall to prevent follow-up damage caused by condensation. The wall was previously constructed as follows...
From the hallway to the bathroom:
Wallpaper | drywall panel | particleboard | vapor barrier | wooden beams with insulation in between | vapor barrier | particleboard | green drywall (moisture resistant) | tiles
The sealing to the screed and the wall was carried out carefully. It is now suspected that temperature fluctuations during showering cause moisture to form between the vapor barrier and the particleboard (bathroom side) due to condensation, leading to swelling of the wall structure, cracking of the joints, and water from the shower penetrating behind the tiles. This then causes further damage.
What is the correct wall construction for interior walls in this case? Is it acceptable to install a vapor barrier?
I would be very grateful for any help. The work has been stalled for quite some time.
Thank you.
after water damage in the shower area (cause unclear), there is disagreement among my craftsmen about the correct method for rebuilding the wall to prevent follow-up damage caused by condensation. The wall was previously constructed as follows...
From the hallway to the bathroom:
Wallpaper | drywall panel | particleboard | vapor barrier | wooden beams with insulation in between | vapor barrier | particleboard | green drywall (moisture resistant) | tiles
The sealing to the screed and the wall was carried out carefully. It is now suspected that temperature fluctuations during showering cause moisture to form between the vapor barrier and the particleboard (bathroom side) due to condensation, leading to swelling of the wall structure, cracking of the joints, and water from the shower penetrating behind the tiles. This then causes further damage.
What is the correct wall construction for interior walls in this case? Is it acceptable to install a vapor barrier?
I would be very grateful for any help. The work has been stalled for quite some time.
Thank you.
Hmm. Really interesting. Are you sure there isn’t a hairline crack somewhere? I would still calculate it using a U-value calculator. For condensation to occur, moist air and the corresponding dew point would have to meet. How hot is the shower, and how cold is it on the other side of the wall?
In my opinion, the paint was applied at least twice. The cracks in the joints were primarily in the splash water area of the shower. Sometimes the daughter would shower for quite a long time and at a very hot temperature. One wall faces the hallway, the other faces the study. In extreme cases, the study can be ventilated in winter while the bathroom is being used at about 40°C (104°F) for showering. This can lead to significant temperature differences on the wall. I will try to calculate the U-value. For now, I still believe in my theory.