By and large, insulation keeps a house warmer – including the inside surface of the walls. Condensation is less likely to build up on a warm surface, so insulating a whole property reduces risk.
Insulation. Insulation (whether internal or external) raises the temperature of walls so that water vapour is less likely to condense on them. Condensation occurs when a surface is colder than the water vapour. By insulating your walls, you'll reduce the temperature difference between the two.
If your house walls are weatherproofed with a protective coating, they won't let the water in, so you won't get damp, plus the installation of the cavity fill will be successful and you will benefit from much lower heating bills.
Advances in housing insulation have meant a big increase in condensation problems. Homeowners are being warned to act to prevent damp talking hold. Ironically, condensation and dampness is getting worse as homes become better insulated.
An easy solution to cure damp on internal walls is to paint walls and ceilings with Dryzone Mould-Resistant Emulsion Paint. The paint damp-proofs internal walls against condensation and protects for at least 5 years from unwanted mould growth.
The warmer the air, the more water and moisture it can hold. Therefore, heating can help with excessive damp because it increases the water-holding capacity of the air and makes it, as a result, less likely to become saturated.
If you think that damp might be an issue, and you want to make sure you avoid it, spray foam insulation really is the only option that will give you a warm home, and one that is free from damp and its associated issues.
If the home doesn't have an adequate vapor barrier and there are leaks, then that water absorbs into traditional forms of insulation like fiberglass and cellulose. The mold and mildew begin to grow, which can be a health hazard for everyone in the home, including pets.
Although insulation helps to reduce moisture, it can also trap it, particularly in basements, leading to mold growth between insulation and walls.
By properly insulating cavity walls, you will save energy and cut costs off your heating bill. In general, houses built from the 1990s onwards have wall insulation to keep the heat in, but if your house is older than that, it may not have any wall insulation at all.
Gaps in insulation will also lead to drastic temperature differentials, which can cause condensation to form where warm internal air hits the cold section of wall – ultimately leading to damp and mould issues. The problem is that window and door frames in traditional homes can be quite narrow.
Most cavity wall insulation is perfectly safe – but it depends on the material used, and the quality of the workmanship. Modern retrofit cavity wall insulation methods pose no threat to those living in the home, but if your walls were insulated decades ago, you may want to check what was used.
The most common form of damp is often caused by poor heating and ventilation. It occurs when activities such as cooking raise the level of humidity in a building. This air condenses on cold surfaces, such as windows and walls.
If left untreated, damp can pose a number of risks including: structural timber decay, damage to plaster, corrosion, health issues for those with asthma and respiratory problems, unsightly staining and mould growth.
Technically, mold does not typically grow on the insulation itself. Fiberglass is not a viable food source for mold. Yet mold growth is often found on the top surface of attic insulation.
How long does it take for mold to grow on wet insulation? Mold begins growing between 24-48 hours after your insulation gets wet.
Does Loft Insulation Directly Cause Damp? The simple answer to this is no. Loft insulation in itself is not responsible for damp appearing in your property – however, it can be a contributing factor when it comes to the spread of damp via condensation.
It is softer, and as it has an open cell structure it's breathable. This prevents the kind of trapped moisture that can cause damp. Whether you are looking to stop or treat mould or damp, spray foam insulation is a long-term solution with many benefits.
Generally speaking, you only need to insulate the ground floor. If you're on an upper floor, you don't usually need to insulate your floor space. However, you should consider insulating any floors that are above unheated spaces such as garages, as you could be losing a lot of heat through those.
If the damp has caused your floor joists to rot, then you will need to replace them. They can't be fixed. The cost will depend on how many joists need replacing.
A dehumidifier will extract moisture from the air, a bit like a tumble dryer extracts moisture from clothing. This will help your home dry out much faster. If you're damp problem was caused by condensation in the first place, then a dehumidifier will solve the problem without you having to get the landlord involved.
Penetrating damp is usually caused by structural problems in a building, such as faulty guttering or roofing, or cracks in the walls, which let water in when walls or roofs are soaked with water during heavy rainfall. It can also be caused by internal leaks, such as leaky pipes underneath the sink or bath.
The most common way to damp-proof a wall is to apply a damping resin, epoxy, or spray to the surface of the wall. You can also use plastic sheeting to cover exterior wood walls, or silicone to fill in gaps in masonry and keep dampness out.