Insulation without ventilation leads to dampness issues

[Nick G]

I found this an interesting read, particularly in lieu of recent rule changes.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/81653585/rising-damp-a-major-problem-in-wellington--victoria-university

I wonder what the cost increase will be to do proper ventilation when you insulate to prevent this?

[jimO]

i see major problems in the future all these draughty old villas that generations of people lived in without insulation in the walls and floor getting sealed up with insulation without adequate ventilation will be rotting messes in the future

[Davo36]

No no no jimO. The problem is they're cold and mouldy and need insulation.

Any other story or permutation of the above will not be accepted.

[Nick G]

Hah. I did up a 100 year old monster in Brooklyn this year and the builder put in 3 automatic extractor fans, god bless that man.

[sidinz]

I've been saying this for years. Our older houses were built to breathe and insulation plugs up the lungs.

I even posted on here that I have had to run a dehumidifier much more since insulating and was told that it was highly unusual and something else must be going on. Pffft.

[flyernzl]

You need advice from an expert - Twyford or Little.

[charlotte30]

Sidinz
"I've been saying this for years. Our older houses were built to breathe and insulation plugs up the lungs".

Agree withe the above. My experience with renovating a 100 year old house and insulating ceiling, walls and inter tenancy walls, has been condensation problems when winter came. (House split into 4 flats) One unit faces North and the water literally runs down the windows.  A dehumidifier is being used by the current tenants which works well. I will install a positive pressure system in the next few weeks and this will hopefully solve the problem.

[Davo36]

You need advice from an expert - Twyford or Little.

Like like like

[TheFlash]

Yeah, i got the old paper fluff in the ceiling. and then some bats were added to a portion of the roof. If a little bit of water gets through the tiles the paper fluff would grab it and it would eventually evaporate out. The bats dont hold water but force it to the exteriour of the walls if the ceiling is on a angle so a behavour change - so old house mixed with new products - cant be a good thing.

[drelly]

Agree withe the above. My experience with renovating a 100 year old house and insulating ceiling, walls and inter tenancy walls, has been condensation problems when winter came. [/COLOR](House split into 4 flats) One unit faces North and the water literally runs down the windows.  A dehumidifier is being used by the current tenants which works well. I will install a positive pressure system in the next few weeks and this will hopefully solve the problem.

What system are you putting in?

[charlotte30]

Drivaire 2 outlet ventilation system. The flat is 90sm with an attic bedroom. Using it for downstairs bedroom and lounge living area.
Cheers
Charlotte30

[FrozenWaves]

I am just going through this with our PPOR which is a 50's weatherboard house.
Insulated ceiling and underfloor and now we have condensation on the internal exterior walls and water running down the windows since the temps have dropped. Mildew has already stated to form as a result ,so am investigating a ventilation system so am interested to see what other people with the same situation have gone with...

[Wayne]

so am investigating a ventilation system so am interested to see what other people with the same situation have gone with...

Open the windows for a while during the day?
We had streaming windows last week with all the rain in Hamilton and being shutup during the day.
Nice weekend, 1 day of airing and no more wet windows.

[north shore]

Hi Charlotte, could I ask what made you choose Drivaire? There is certainly a lot of choice out there now.

[drelly]

HRV wanted to charge us $6k for our house. I'm sure there's a cheaper option for a fan and some pipes!?