Hello,
I spend a lot of time in a small weekend house (30 m2 (323 sq ft)) located in a natural setting. The house was built 30 years ago and is made of wood with mineral wool insulation. Recently, I installed new triple-glazed windows. Floor construction: concrete foundation – wooden battens – OSB boards – blue linoleum. I heat with a Rowi gas stove, but only when I am there. The roof is not insulated. Now I have a mold problem due to condensation around the corners and on the walls. How can I insulate the house to eliminate the mold issue? I can redo the insulation and floor covering, but I don’t know how to solve the overall problem.
Thank you for any help.
Luis
I spend a lot of time in a small weekend house (30 m2 (323 sq ft)) located in a natural setting. The house was built 30 years ago and is made of wood with mineral wool insulation. Recently, I installed new triple-glazed windows. Floor construction: concrete foundation – wooden battens – OSB boards – blue linoleum. I heat with a Rowi gas stove, but only when I am there. The roof is not insulated. Now I have a mold problem due to condensation around the corners and on the walls. How can I insulate the house to eliminate the mold issue? I can redo the insulation and floor covering, but I don’t know how to solve the overall problem.
Thank you for any help.
Luis
I am also in favor of automatic air dehumidification. To answer the question:
Insulating from the inside is extremely difficult, mainly because the airtight layer must be executed with great precision. However, you still have a significant intake due to burning propane.
Dehumidifiers and switching to a split air conditioning system could be the preferred options.
Insulating from the inside is extremely difficult, mainly because the airtight layer must be executed with great precision. However, you still have a significant intake due to burning propane.
Dehumidifiers and switching to a split air conditioning system could be the preferred options.
Tolentino schrieb:
If you don’t heat, the insulation situation will only get worse. Either ventilate or heat (ideally both). Thank you for your reply. What exactly do you mean by ideally both, i.e. ventilate when I’m not there?
Tolentino schrieb:
I think the most practical solution would be to run a dehumidifier with a hose connection and built-in hygrometer while away. It should only run when the indoor humidity exceeds 50%. The condensate drain hose can go into a sink or be directed outside, and that’s it.
Alternatively, keep two opposite windows open at all times, secured with bars to prevent break-ins. Thank you, Tolentino, that is very clear and straightforward.
lastdrop schrieb:
A gas heating system causes significant moisture buildup. This moisture will penetrate wood, furniture, and walls. You won’t be able to get rid of it just by briefly airing out the room before you leave. Thank you for your response! I need to get this moisture under control. Could a clay wall or clay building panels help?
Durran schrieb:
I don’t want to scare you, but it doesn’t look like mold to me. And I don’t think it is mold. Mold would not only appear at the bottom but also in corners and other places.
This is not caused by insufficient heating either; it is penetrating moisture. It’s a type of fungus. If you’re unlucky, it could be dry rot. In that case, a rebuild is necessary. The boards are absorbing moisture from below, the back, or elsewhere. You can clearly see this.
If the boards are in contact with the ground or if the damp-proof course is missing or defective, the boards will draw up water. This is just beginning. Then, with poor ventilation, the problem starts.
You will have to open the wall and get air in there as soon as possible. Otherwise, the fungus will grow and you might have to demolish the entire structure. The spores of the fungus are throughout the wood. Wherever there is no direct airflow, the fungus will develop. It may even be significantly worse on the reverse side.
However, this usually occurs only between 10 and 25°C (50 and 77°F). Heating while moisture is still entering from below may actually accelerate the process. So, the cooler, the better.
Wait until spring when it gets even more favorable for its growth. That’s very dangerous. Thank you very much for your reply! I need to get this moisture under control. Could a clay wall or clay panels help? How can I find out if it is fungus?
Joedreck schrieb:
I also support automatic dehumidification. To answer the question:
Insulating from the inside is extremely difficult, especially because the airtight layer must be executed very precisely. Even then, you still have significant moisture input from burning propane.
Dehumidifiers and switching to a split air conditioning system could be the best options. Thank you very much for your answer! I need to get this moisture under control. Could a clay wall or clay-based panels help?
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