Hello everyone,
For about a year now, we have been living in a ground-floor apartment that partly has a walk-in cellar and partly a crawl space cellar. The living area (west side) above the crawl space cellar shows humidity levels between 60 and 70%, and we have problems with white mold on clothing there, despite regular ventilation.
These mold issues prompted me to take a closer look at the crawl space cellar. It resembled a dripstone cave. The masonry and concrete ceiling were wet, with mold and efflorescence everywhere. A vapor barrier membrane had been embedded in the concrete ceiling, but in one section it was completely missing, while in another it hung loose from the ceiling. The membrane was also quite moldy. I suspect that the cement layer below the membrane was gradually damaged by constant condensation on the ceiling, which caused the membrane to come loose. The crawl space cellar itself has been filled with sand, which is also damp. The masonry (calcium silicate brick) is wet as well. There is no ventilation in the crawl space cellar.
As a first measure, I used a dehumidifier for two weeks to remove buckets of water from the cellar until the ceiling was dry again. I disposed of the detached vapor barrier and treated the affected sections with mold spray. I excavated the downpipes running down the corners of the house, but found no damage. However, it appears that the underground exterior walls were buried without a protective coating (bituminous coating).
So the moisture is coming up through the floor of the crawl space cellar and from the sides through the masonry.
My question now is: How should I proceed? I have done some research and discovered that countermeasures in such cases vary considerably. In my case, the house was built in the 1970s. At that time, crawl spaces were less common in Germany. During my research, I came across a study from the Fraunhofer Institute, which was quite informative. It states that the vapor barrier should have been embedded in the floor. Furthermore, the crawl space must have ventilation that can be closed in summer.
This all sounds quite logical, so I have now considered the following further steps:
1. Bury a plastic sheet (construction foil) as a vapor barrier about one shovel deep in the cellar floor.
2. Essentially excavate the crawl space cellar so that the masonry can dry over winter.
3. Install ventilation ducts (one per section) and apply an appropriate protective coating to the exterior masonry.
4. If necessary, lay drainage around the crawl space cellar.
Will these steps remove the moisture from the cellar and the living area above? What do you think?
Has anyone experienced a similar situation here?
Best regards from Edewecht
Stefan
For about a year now, we have been living in a ground-floor apartment that partly has a walk-in cellar and partly a crawl space cellar. The living area (west side) above the crawl space cellar shows humidity levels between 60 and 70%, and we have problems with white mold on clothing there, despite regular ventilation.
These mold issues prompted me to take a closer look at the crawl space cellar. It resembled a dripstone cave. The masonry and concrete ceiling were wet, with mold and efflorescence everywhere. A vapor barrier membrane had been embedded in the concrete ceiling, but in one section it was completely missing, while in another it hung loose from the ceiling. The membrane was also quite moldy. I suspect that the cement layer below the membrane was gradually damaged by constant condensation on the ceiling, which caused the membrane to come loose. The crawl space cellar itself has been filled with sand, which is also damp. The masonry (calcium silicate brick) is wet as well. There is no ventilation in the crawl space cellar.
As a first measure, I used a dehumidifier for two weeks to remove buckets of water from the cellar until the ceiling was dry again. I disposed of the detached vapor barrier and treated the affected sections with mold spray. I excavated the downpipes running down the corners of the house, but found no damage. However, it appears that the underground exterior walls were buried without a protective coating (bituminous coating).
So the moisture is coming up through the floor of the crawl space cellar and from the sides through the masonry.
My question now is: How should I proceed? I have done some research and discovered that countermeasures in such cases vary considerably. In my case, the house was built in the 1970s. At that time, crawl spaces were less common in Germany. During my research, I came across a study from the Fraunhofer Institute, which was quite informative. It states that the vapor barrier should have been embedded in the floor. Furthermore, the crawl space must have ventilation that can be closed in summer.
This all sounds quite logical, so I have now considered the following further steps:
1. Bury a plastic sheet (construction foil) as a vapor barrier about one shovel deep in the cellar floor.
2. Essentially excavate the crawl space cellar so that the masonry can dry over winter.
3. Install ventilation ducts (one per section) and apply an appropriate protective coating to the exterior masonry.
4. If necessary, lay drainage around the crawl space cellar.
Will these steps remove the moisture from the cellar and the living area above? What do you think?
Has anyone experienced a similar situation here?
Best regards from Edewecht
Stefan
B
Bauexperte12 Nov 2016 15:27Good day Stefan,
What "we" think doesn’t matter—without knowing the exact location and with a mix of assumptions on your part.
I find it concerning how the DIY section of this forum has developed. Your question is a good example to consider closing this section altogether!
I understand that you want to save money by using government subsidies (EL)—this is certainly possible, but it should be done with professional guidance, following the correct steps, and, most importantly, in the right order. First, find an expert who understands masonry and moisture issues. Walk through your condominium and the underground area with them, and then have them show you possible solutions—if necessary, involving government subsidies (EL). Anything else, in my opinion, is reckless and could possibly cause further damage!
Regards, Bauexperte
Pergamon schrieb:
Will this get the moisture out of the basement and the living area above? What do you think?
Has anyone here had a similar situation?
What "we" think doesn’t matter—without knowing the exact location and with a mix of assumptions on your part.
I find it concerning how the DIY section of this forum has developed. Your question is a good example to consider closing this section altogether!
I understand that you want to save money by using government subsidies (EL)—this is certainly possible, but it should be done with professional guidance, following the correct steps, and, most importantly, in the right order. First, find an expert who understands masonry and moisture issues. Walk through your condominium and the underground area with them, and then have them show you possible solutions—if necessary, involving government subsidies (EL). Anything else, in my opinion, is reckless and could possibly cause further damage!
Regards, Bauexperte
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