Beaded Insulation installed, now condensation in attic.

blackeyes

Hi folks,

My MIL got her house walls pumped with beaded Insulation last spring, also she had her roof ridging replaced at the same time, all good. However I'm just down out of her attic with the decorations and the place is dripping with condensation.

I'm wondering why this would be? House is well insulated on attic floor and around access ladder. I see beads blocking up a hole on the gable attic wall as seen below.

IMG_20221218_115207782.jpg

I don't feel any light breeze in the attic so would it be a ventilation issue or something to do with the ridging being replaced? Rafters loom wet as well.

Any thoughts gratefully recieved.

who what when

If there's condensation in the attic there's no or not enough ventilation.

It's easy enough to fix it. Sooner the better.

Deregos.

A few vented roof tiles worked for the same issue on my brother-in law's house.

zg3409

Check outside looking up for vents in the eves. These may be blocked now by insulation. Normally vented roof tiles are used for a quick fix but it means going up on roof and may not be easy DIY. 4 to 6 would by typical. It's probably worse lately, very, very cold with no wind.

GreeBo

Take a picture of where the roof meets the attic floor, you should see daylight.

If you cant then this is your problem.

Also is it floored?

blackeyes

Guys thanks for taking the time to respond. Attic dry as a bone after a few days, the cold snap obviously highlighted an issue she was unaware of. No daylight whatsoever showing through, gonna arrange for a few vents along the roof in the new year for her to reduce the condensation issue. I'm assuming now the house is well insulated, it has blocked a previous airflow channel to attic.

Thespoofer

It also could be hot air making its way up through the attic hatch, meeting the cold air in attic ( as there should be ) and condensing on cold surfaces.

Might not have anything to do with beaded insulation or putting in extra vents.

Stop any hot air making its way to the attic would be my first port of call, its what I did.

C. Eastwood

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058276236/beaded-insulation-installed-now-condensation-in-attic

If your Attic is a normal pitched roof, then you should not require ridge ventilation tiles.

You need to find the cause of the moisture in the attic void which is causing the surface condensation on the underside of the felt. 

There are 2 reasons for this surface condensation. 

Reason 1

1. Moisture from the dwelling escaping in to the attic
2. This could be caused by extractor fans exhaustion steam/ moisture from Bathrooms or Kitchen in to the attic void. ( Yes some Plonkers do this).
3. Moisture escaping from the dwelling in to the attic void through holes in the ceiling of the Hot Press, and through gaps in the Attic Access door and through small holes in the ceilings where the wires of the ceiling lights pass through the ceiling slab. 
4. You must seal all of these gaps. I would use Mastic to fill these gaps. 
5. Fit Draught Excluder strips on the Attic Access Door. 

Reason 2 - lack of Ventilation in the Attic Void 

Surface Condensation on the underside of the felt is generally caused by a lack of Through Ventilation of the Attic Void - vents in the Soffit at the front of the house and also at the rear of the house. Therefore to solve the problem to prevent the surface Condensation of the felt- you need to fit plenty of Soffit vents - back and front.

If you do not know how to do this- let me know.