Really bad condensation problems

[nuttywoman]

A couple of years ago the house next door to me - i`m in a terraced house - was badly gutted by fire. We had smoke damage and as far as we know that was it, but we`ve gradually been bothered with really bad condensation on both the front outside wall and the back one as well.I`ve also got the same problem with the upvc windows.
Does anyone know if the intense heat from the fire next door - there was a big explosion at the time, windows blowing out etc , can cause damage to our brickwork somehow.
No one else in our row of terraces is affected like we are.
thanks

 

[masona]

I wouldn't have thought so unless it's still not re-built, so you now have an extra cold wall surface.

This time of the year is very common for condensation, have a read here

 

[JohnD]

The fire brigade will have squirted a lot of water into the burning house, so the walls and subfloor will have got very wet. Probably wetter than a new build. From the time the new roof went on it could easily take a couple of years to dry out. Does the rebuilt house suffer from bad condensation?

Ventilation, especially under the floor with extra airbricks, will help.

I am assuming that you are avoiding the usual causes (hanging wet washing over radiators; baths and showers without running the extractor afterwards; tumble-driers steaming into the house (including condensor driers which let quite a lot of steam escape)?

You mention PVC windows which can be tightly sealed and prevent air movement, leaving the trickle vents open will help, and openeing upstairs windows during the day if it's not too cold. Leaving the bathroom extractor running will generate a small but steady movement of air otherwise.