House Insulation trouble

Bonzo-Reborn

Ok I hope somebody can offer me advice.

For the last few years my house has been subject to damp patches etc etc

To help the problem I was told by a professional, attic insulation would help, so attic insulation services were bought, 2 guys came in and sprayed the attic with an expandable foam type substance which indeed kept the upper half warm...

However, when the problem persisted we were told to get new windows, which we did. With a layer of gas between them to stop the transfer of heat yet the problem has persisted and money is being spent which is not a good thing by anyones estimation.

A few weeks ago we were told that by insulating the attic and getting the new windows we have raised the temperature inside the house and so when the outside temperature hits the walls (which are really only blocks with slabs on the inside - old house) a 'cold bridging' occurs.

After so much money I just want an easy solution, now I have been advised to put further foam slabs on the walls with a foil back which will detract room space by over an inch...

In my opinion these may add to the problem further, my theory is the walls will sweat more or become more damp while others tell me the foil will eradicate it or at least stop it...

Its not an ideal situation but is there any other methods that users know of which might help this situation....

The slabs will cost somewhere in the region of 800+ by the time the house is done...

MicktheMan

Bonzo-Reborn wrote: »

Ok I hope somebody can offer me advice.

For the last few years my house has been subject to damp patches etc etc

To help the problem I was told by a professional, attic insulation would help, so attic insulation services were bought, 2 guys came in and sprayed the attic with an expandable foam type substance which indeed kept the upper half warm...

However, when the problem persisted we were told to get new windows, which we did. With a layer of gas between them to stop the transfer of heat yet the problem has persisted and money is being spent which is not a good thing by anyones estimation.

A few weeks ago we were told that by insulating the attic and getting the new windows we have raised the temperature inside the house and so when the outside temperature hits the walls (which are really only blocks with slabs on the inside - old house) a 'cold bridging' occurs.

After so much money I just want an easy solution, now I have been advised to put further foam slabs on the walls with a foil back which will detract room space by over an inch...

In my opinion these may add to the problem further, my theory is the walls will sweat more or become more damp while others tell me the foil will eradicate it or at least stop it...

Its not an ideal situation but is there any other methods that users know of which might help this situation....

The slabs will cost somewhere in the region of 800+ by the time the house is done...

hmm... you are being told/advised a lot of things by, what looks like, a lot of different people. Are you paying for this advice? In the advice completely independent?
My advice is to research the best professional to advise you further. By that I mean someone who can/will look at & test the house as a whole, how you live in it and be able to advise on all aspects from cause/effect right through to a solution that will work. Otherwise, I fear that you will continue to throw good money after bad and exasperate the situation.

BryanF

please get some independent advice!

if you have damp patches, you have a leak or a direct cold bridge

get thermal imaging done: then you will be better able to diagnose the problem.

dont dry line: read J. Littles 'Mould' series in Construct Ireland

1. figure out what's causing the dampness, start with thermal imagery
2. sort out ventilation strategy ie. your sealing up your house: insulation in attic and windows, how are you ventilating?
3. consider your house from a holistic view point, for example: only consider external insulation after looking at the existing wall build up and where condensation will occur.

BostonB

BryanF wrote: »

...
dont dry line: read J. Littles 'Mould' series in Construct Ireland....

How would you get that?

Buford T Justice

part 1

Part 2

Poor Uncle Tom

Bonzo-Reborn wrote: »

For the last few years my house has been subject to damp patches.........To help the problem.....attic insulation services were bought......the problem persisted.....get new windows......yet the problem has persisted.

You need an on-site inspection by a professional to find out what is causing the 'damp patches' so the problem can be dealt with.

Bonzo-Reborn wrote: »

....by insulating the attic and getting the new windows we have raised the temperature inside the house and so when the outside temperature hits the walls (which are really only blocks with slabs on the inside - old house) a 'cold bridging' occurs.

You haven't actually raised the temprature inside the house, you have managed to retain the heat inside the house for longer. There is a subtle difference here, if your problem is condensationm you have not fixed the problem but probably exaggerated it.

Bonzo-Reborn wrote: »

...put further foam slabs on the walls with a foil back...these may add to the problem further, my theory is the walls will sweat more or become more damp while others tell me the foil will eradicate it or at least stop it...

The walls can't sweat, what you are describing is condensation. Putting a layer of foilbacked slabs on the wall will not fix your problem it will mask the problem.

Bonzo-Reborn wrote: »

Its not an ideal situation but is there any other methods that users know of which might help this situation....

The slabs will cost somewhere in the region of 800+ by the time the house is done...

You are complaining about wasting money on the job, yet you are asking people who have never seen your house to guess at methods of getting rid of damp/condensation.

My guess is you have a condensation problem which can be sorted out by balancing insulation with heating and ventilation, but this problem can only be sorted out by you getting in a professional to inspect and advise.