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- 12 Feb 2025
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I’ve been dealing with cold walls in a couple of bedrooms due to having two external walls, which causes cold areas and has led to issues with condensation and mould. This is something I’ve always experienced with the property, even after living here for over 10 years.
I’ve involved the council several times, and they carried out a building survey, concluding that there isn’t any rising or penetrating damp occurring externally. They also provided the following information about the building’s structure:
“Having now looked at the structure, I can confirm it’s a typical late-1950s low-rise structure with solid external walls under a timber pitched roof, similar to many builds of the post-war period. One of the fundamental issues with such builds is that there is no thermal break between the inner and outer-faced brickwork, allowing cold to penetrate. Most modern brick builds of this type have a cavity between the inner and outer walls, which allows for insulation and helps prevent cold bridging and heat loss.”
I’m now considering one of two approaches to address the issue:
Installing humidity-controlled thermostatic extractor fans in the bedrooms. While effective, this could look out of place aesthetically. I know other properties nearby have had trickle vents installed, but they don’t seem to make a significant difference. Would extractor fans help manage high humidity and condensation effectively?
Fitting PIR insulated boards to the two external walls in each room to reduce the cold areas and minimize cold bridging. However, I’m concerned this could potentially make things worse by shifting condensation to the next coldest surface. Is this a valid concern?
In the short term, I’ve been promoting good airflow and using a dehumidifier to manage the humidity levels while deciding on the best course of action. Any advice or insights would be greatly appreciated.
I’ve involved the council several times, and they carried out a building survey, concluding that there isn’t any rising or penetrating damp occurring externally. They also provided the following information about the building’s structure:
“Having now looked at the structure, I can confirm it’s a typical late-1950s low-rise structure with solid external walls under a timber pitched roof, similar to many builds of the post-war period. One of the fundamental issues with such builds is that there is no thermal break between the inner and outer-faced brickwork, allowing cold to penetrate. Most modern brick builds of this type have a cavity between the inner and outer walls, which allows for insulation and helps prevent cold bridging and heat loss.”
I’m now considering one of two approaches to address the issue:
Installing humidity-controlled thermostatic extractor fans in the bedrooms. While effective, this could look out of place aesthetically. I know other properties nearby have had trickle vents installed, but they don’t seem to make a significant difference. Would extractor fans help manage high humidity and condensation effectively?
Fitting PIR insulated boards to the two external walls in each room to reduce the cold areas and minimize cold bridging. However, I’m concerned this could potentially make things worse by shifting condensation to the next coldest surface. Is this a valid concern?
In the short term, I’ve been promoting good airflow and using a dehumidifier to manage the humidity levels while deciding on the best course of action. Any advice or insights would be greatly appreciated.
