Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Condensation dripping from a roof light

  • 29-10-2013 8:59am
    #1
    dwiseman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 138 ✭✭


    Hi all just wondering if anyone could advise of a possible solution for the problem we are having. We built a flat roof extension last year and put an 8ft by 4ft roof light in the centre of the roof for extra light. Now that the weather has turned a little colder condensation is forming on the aluminium frame of the rooflight and dripping down onto the floor. Is there a way to prevent this like cladding the internal aluminium frame in pvc or something like that? Any advice would be welcomed thanks.


Comments

  • #2
    PaleRider
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 155 ✭✭PaleRider


    Hi

    You have installed a very large roof window. It's likely you are facing north etc. In other words the cold side - were little sun settles.

    If it's not that then It may be poor heating in that room. Is it a kitchen?

    It really hard to tell without more information - photos?

    More heat and ventilation will help. It does not appear good design in the first place to have such a a large window with an aluminum frame.

    Try more heating in that area if possible.


  • #3
    dwiseman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 138 ✭✭dwiseman


    PaleRider wrote: »
    Hi

    You have installed a very large roof window. It's likely you are facing north etc. In other words the cold side - were little sun settles.

    If it's not that then It may be poor heating in that room. Is it a kitchen?

    It really hard to tell without more information - photos?

    More heat and ventilation will help. It does not appear good design in the first place to have such a a large window with an aluminum frame.

    Try more heating in that area if possible.


    It is north facing with little direct sunlight hence the roof light. The room is a combination of kitchen/living room with plenty of heating, insualtion, and well ventilated. anytime any cooking is done the extractor fan is used, there are trickle vents in the windows and there are also vents in the walls. I think at this stage the hotter the room gets coupled with the colder outside gets creates more condensation so I think more heat will likely make it even worse.The issue seems to be a cold bridge in the frame and I was just looking for advice as to what the best approach to resolve it is. Be that starting on the frame from the outside or doing the inside or both? I have rang the glazing company that supplied and am awaiting a return call but would like to know for myself anyway so that I have some idea when they ring me back and suggest a solution.


  • #4
    prewtna
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 73 ✭✭prewtna


    the alu frame window should have a thermal break built into it.

    can you find out if this is the case?


  • #5
    dwiseman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 138 ✭✭dwiseman


    prewtna wrote: »
    the alu frame window should have a thermal break built into it.

    can you find out if this is the case?

    will check into it. thanks


  • #6
    martinn123
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,300 ✭✭✭martinn123


    prewtna wrote: »
    the alu frame window should have a thermal break built into it.

    can you find out if this is the case?

    Also check if the spacer bar, inside the Double Glazed units are metal or plastic,
    if metal they are creating a cold bridge.between the cold air outside and warm air inside.
    The warm moist air, inside is rising and meeting the cold aluminium,


  • Advertisement
  • #7
    dwiseman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 138 ✭✭dwiseman


    martinn123 wrote: »
    Also check if the spacer bar, inside the Double Glazed units are metal or plastic,
    if metal they are creating a cold bridge.between the cold air outside and warm air inside.
    The warm moist air, inside is rising and meeting the cold aluminium,

    great I can check this with the glazing company this afternoon thanks.


  • #8
    BryanF
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 10,146 Mod ✭✭✭✭BryanF


    dwiseman wrote: »
    great I can check this with the glazing company this afternoon thanks.
    D
    what was the spec on your roof window?


  • #9
    dwiseman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 138 ✭✭dwiseman


    BryanF wrote: »
    D
    what was the spec on your roof window?

    I don't know as I don't have the details at hand. I got onto the window company today and someone is coming out this afternoon. Apparently there is a thermal break in the window and plastic spacers so they have said it's quite unusual. They are going to do some work to the frame from the outside to try and resolve it. I've attached a pic of the rooflight taken during construction as that's all I have on the laptop here.


  • #10
    BryanF
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 10,146 Mod ✭✭✭✭BryanF


    dwiseman wrote: »
    I don't know as I don't have the details at hand. I got onto the window company today and someone is coming out this afternoon. Apparently there is a thermal break in the window and plastic spacers so they have said it's quite unusual. They are going to do some work to the frame from the outside to try and resolve it. I've attached a pic of the rooflight taken during construction as that's all I have on the laptop here.
    the upstand doesn't look insulated at all!!


  • #11
    dwiseman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 138 ✭✭dwiseman


    BryanF wrote: »
    the upstand doesn't look insulated at all!!

    It was well insulated during the plastering stage creating a ledge for dead flies!


  • Advertisement
  • #12
    martinn123
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,300 ✭✭✭martinn123


    dwiseman wrote: »
    I don't know as I don't have the details at hand. I got onto the window company today and someone is coming out this afternoon. Apparently there is a thermal break in the window and plastic spacers so they have said it's quite unusual. They are going to do some work to the frame from the outside to try and resolve it. I've attached a pic of the rooflight taken during construction as that's all I have on the laptop here.

    I can see that the Gable End section is just sitting on the upstand, it should really be on a cill, to deflect water out.Was there silicone involved.
    What about the angled frames, are they just sitting on the upstand, if so they would at an angle, so just one edge is in contact

    If the visit to-day, involves a load of silicone, beware.


  • #13
    BryanF
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 10,146 Mod ✭✭✭✭BryanF


    dwiseman wrote: »
    It was well insulated during the plastering stage creating a ledge for dead flies!
    was the windows subbie of main contractor.
    review the architects drawings.
    the perimeter timber plate where the window rests - the insulation is to the inside only? - seems like that is the weak point of this detail (& a separate issue to the window frame being thermally broken)


  • #14
    dwiseman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 138 ✭✭dwiseman


    BryanF wrote: »
    was the windows subbie of main contractor.
    review the architects drawings.
    the perimeter timber plate where the window rests - the insulation is to the inside only? - seems like that is the weak point of this detail (& a separate issue to the window frame being thermally broken)

    will do thanks bryan


Advertisement