Dry the wall surface with a fan heater, then tape some kitchen foil tightly over the affected area. If the surface of the foil is wet after 24 hours, you have condensation. Condensation occurs when moisture-laden air builds up inside the house. Poor ventilation and over-efficient draught-proofing are often to blame.
Condensation inside walls happens when there is a large temperature difference between the inside and the outside of the home. If the insulation inside your exterior walls is lacking, or it still allows for air movement like fiberglass and cellulose do, then condensation will be able to form.
Unfortunately, any property can be affected by condensation if proper precautions and preventative measures aren't taken. Damage can often be significant and there are health implications, too, should the moisture turn to mould.
Yes, a dehumidifier can be an effective tool in combating damp in the home. Dampness can be a major problem for many homes in the UK, particularly in areas with high levels of humidity or rainfall. Left unchecked, damp can lead to mould growth, musty odours, and damage to furniture and other belongings.
In order to avoid these problems, painting with a satin or semi-gloss paint is recommended. Satin and semi-gloss paints have a higher sheen value, meaning it provides a harder finish that proves more moisture resistant.
Increasing the temperature in your room, particularly overnight and in the winter, will prevent the build-up of condensation on your windows and walls.
Opening the windows to reduce damp from condensation
Opening a window allows humid air to escape from your home, thus reducing condensation. If you don't want to one ajar all the time, try opening them after you've performed an activity that creates high levels of humidity, like cooking or showering.
This is condensation. In most cases, internal condensation issues occur because of too much humidity in the room or little to no air circulation. Low internal room temperatures can also create cold surfaces (particularly on windows and exterior walls) which allows warm air to condense onto them easily.
What is condensation paint and does it work? Over the past few years, anti-condensation paint has gained popularity among homeowners. The paint slightly insulates the wall improving the surface temperature and the paint can also have a fungicide to stop mould growth germinating.
In all my years doing damp surveys, I can count on one hand the number of damp problems which could be solved entirely with damp proof paint. Most of the time, condensation is caused by poor ventilation, which is better treated with the installation of a PIV unit or other ventilation systems.
PermaSEAL damp proof paint can be used to treat a variety of damp proof problems. It can be used under a render as a waterproof layer when damp proofing walls, or used as a cover up to treat damp stains on painted surfaces. Aside from this, the reliable paint can be used as part of a basement waterproofing system.
Coo-Var Voted Best Anti Condensation Paint!
Damp is caused by a variety of structural failures, as detailed above, none of which can be fixed by painting over them. You must fix the underlying issue first. Painting over damp materials allows the damp to continue to cause damage right underneath the lovely fresh layer of paint.
Paints with a glossy sheen—like satin or semi-gloss—are best for humid rooms. Instead of absorbing moisture like a matte or eggshell paint would, they deflect it. Glossy paints can resist moisture because they have a harder finish. An additional benefit of using glossy paint is that it is easy to clean.
Drawbacks of damp proofing include an inability to seal larger cracks, large bug holes, holes left by form ties, surface protrusions and potential damage caused by coarse or careless backfilling due to the limited thickness applied and the brittle nature of the product.
Designed for use in areas of high moisture – kitchens and bathrooms – and providing moisture resistant finish, anti-condensation paint is not a waterproofing product that will prevent moisture and damp from penetrating the walls from behind.
There are a few key ways to tell the difference between condensation and penetrating dampness. First, condensation is usually found on cold surfaces, while dampness can penetrate walls, floors, and ceilings. Second, condensation is often caused by humid air, while dampness is often the result of water leaks.
Anti-Mould vs Anti-Condensation Paint
Applying anti-condensation paint to certain problem areas in your home can save you time and money in the future when mould begins to grow. Anti-mould paint is specifically formulated using fungicides that effectively kill mould spores and stop them from spreading.
The key difference is that the anti condensation paint is designed to stop damp problems where the moisture is coming from inside the property, whereas damp proof paint (sometimes called tanking slurry) prevents damp from outside getting into the home.
The World Health Organisation guidelines suggest 21 degrees in a living room and 18 degrees in the bedrooms, falling lower at night and when you are out. You don't need to keep your home at these temperatures all the time, but you should aim to bring it up to these temperatures at least some of the day.
Adequately heating your home can help to reduce condensation and damp, so keep temperature levels consistent, especially in those rooms that you may not use often. A heating thermostat can be useful for this. Avoid using paraffin heaters as these tend to create excess moisture.