Help for a client

[abskiing]

I am starting a job for a client next week, UFH and tiling kitchen, utility room and conservatory. He has a condensation problem in the conservatory which is accessed via the large kitchen. Apparently the condensation is so bad he has to wipe the floor after use it gets so wet.
I can see no dampness around the walls, windows or damproof membrane.
The conservatory has acrylic panels for the roof with double glazed window units all round and brick course up to about 3 ft.

Any ideas as to why he gets so much condensation and any recommendations to remedy this problem.


abskiing

[grumpygrouter]

Seems like a ventilation problem to me. Cooking and cleaning in the kitchen will produce large amounts of moisture. This needs to be ventilated. The acrylic panels will probably be where the moisture is condensing.

Maybe shut the kitchen/conservatory door when cooking?

Grumpy

[Dan]

Get an adequate extractor fan in the kitchen. UFH in the conservatory would help warm the floor up but it will simply vaporise the moisture which will then get condensed again and end up on the windows. etc.

[tfs]

It is deffo due to lack of ventilation. Unless there are stainless steel or aliminium windows used in the consevatories. Conservatories and windows normally have vents in them that can be opended too.

I would suggest telling him to get a fan installed or even ensure entrncae to conservatory is closed when cooking etc. Due to amount of glass, conservatories can get alot of condensation with the warmth of the house and the cold from outside meeting via the glass (just the same effect as when your in the car on a cold or rainy day).

Suitable ventillation is the answer to this I would say.

kris
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I mentioned steel and aliminiukm windows and didn't give more details.

These style of frames are prone to damp and condensation etc. As a result they can increase the amont of condenstaion. You usaully find that premises with this type of window will have dampness or mold groth around windows and possible causewall and ceilings to blister too.
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You should also ask them to check that the brick work of the conservatory has several air brick used to allow further ventillation into that area of the property.

There are some other factors structural wise that could be the cuase. these include;

.*Damp proof course on birck work could have been installed at an inadequate level (approx 100 mm above external ground level)

*Inadequate preperation of the foundations in the conservatory (hardocore not compacted or not thick enough)

*DPC in the floor may have been damged or installed incorrectly 9perhaps not at all)

Also if the conservatory has underfloor heating too, then the air temperature in the room could be to cold.
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One more thing, the old external wall whcih would now be the wall between the house and the conservatory, sometimes needs to have a vapour barrier installed prior to being plasterboarded etc.

[brian c]

the room really needs to be ventilated and the vents in windows opened as this can make a huge difference,all the best and watch the cowboys.