ᐅ Severe Moisture Issues in Walls of Timber Frame Construction During Summer
Created on: 26 Jun 2016 12:13
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BibbesHello,
last year we discovered mold growth on the interior walls of our timber-frame house, which was completed in 2012. Several experts visited the site and identified the window construction as the cause. It was found that the entire base area had been saturated with water, and the moisture had risen into the stud area, soaking the entire structure. This was followed by an almost year-long renovation. I then purchased a moisture meter with electrodes and have been regularly measuring and recording moisture levels since the renovation was completed to check for any new moisture buildup. Moisture levels remained stable in the autumn and winter, around 13-15% humidity. However, since the weather warmed up, the moisture in the wall area and interior base has risen significantly, reaching between 20-40%. My construction company attributes this to the humid summer months, but I am skeptical and suspect that the walls or the concrete slab may now be generating a lot of condensation during the summer, even though the wall construction, using OSB (oriented strand board) panels, is designed to be vapor-permeable. I can rule out leaks in the water pipes because a specialist company performed pressure testing. I also find it very unlikely that water is entering from outside, since the moisture did not increase during the cold, rainy months. I am quite desperate, as I fear that the whole renovation and investigation process will start over again and that this time it will be a significant financial burden for me, especially since the warranty will soon expire.
Are these moisture values during the warm months really normal?
last year we discovered mold growth on the interior walls of our timber-frame house, which was completed in 2012. Several experts visited the site and identified the window construction as the cause. It was found that the entire base area had been saturated with water, and the moisture had risen into the stud area, soaking the entire structure. This was followed by an almost year-long renovation. I then purchased a moisture meter with electrodes and have been regularly measuring and recording moisture levels since the renovation was completed to check for any new moisture buildup. Moisture levels remained stable in the autumn and winter, around 13-15% humidity. However, since the weather warmed up, the moisture in the wall area and interior base has risen significantly, reaching between 20-40%. My construction company attributes this to the humid summer months, but I am skeptical and suspect that the walls or the concrete slab may now be generating a lot of condensation during the summer, even though the wall construction, using OSB (oriented strand board) panels, is designed to be vapor-permeable. I can rule out leaks in the water pipes because a specialist company performed pressure testing. I also find it very unlikely that water is entering from outside, since the moisture did not increase during the cold, rainy months. I am quite desperate, as I fear that the whole renovation and investigation process will start over again and that this time it will be a significant financial burden for me, especially since the warranty will soon expire.
Are these moisture values during the warm months really normal?
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meister keks8 Jun 2018 22:32Hi. What results did you get?
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Baurevolution11 Jul 2018 11:42Hello,
Multi-layer constructions, all timber frame houses are inherently risk-prone structures. Once water gets into the construction, dismantling is inevitable, as happened in your case.
After the renovation, everything was dry!
Where are you measuring, within the wall (in the insulation) or on the surface?
Regards, Christoph
Multi-layer constructions, all timber frame houses are inherently risk-prone structures. Once water gets into the construction, dismantling is inevitable, as happened in your case.
After the renovation, everything was dry!
Where are you measuring, within the wall (in the insulation) or on the surface?
Regards, Christoph
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