Preventing condensation

[sigma]

Part of my bedroom wall forms the entrance porch resulting in an exterior wall being single course and north facing. Consequently, condensation forms in the bedroom on this part of the wall. Is there any way of preventing the condensation from forming.

[buildersmate]

Either reduce the amount of water vapour being produced in the house (clothes drying?, efficient bathroom fans that suck properly?) or put insulation on the wall.
The latter is possibly easier to achieve if somewhat more expensive. You could vertically batten the wall, put say 30mm of Celotex/Kingspan rigid foam installation between the battens, plasterboard over then redecorate that wall. Would scarcely know it was there.

[weeal]

ventilation is also important, sealed double glazing units add to condensation problems which is why newer style windows have the vent bars in them

[bravejordy]

I don't know if this would work for you but one simple but effective method is lining the affected wall with kitchen foil before wallpapering. I used this method in one of the bedrooms of my old house and it worked a treat.

Hope this helps.

[weeal]

bravejordy thats a good idea, also you can buy that thin foamy stuff that you apply under wallpaper as it 'warms' the surface of the wall to help prevent condensation, I lined my whole porch with that before papering and it was even warm to the touch

[bravejordy]

Cheers weeal, I don't suffer from condensation in the house I'm in now, except for black blotches that used to form on the ceiling of the bay window in the living room. Again I used the kitchen foil method before covering it with Anaglypta paper and it solved the problem.

[buildersmate]

'Thin foamy stuff'' equals Celotex or Kingspan, which is sandwiched between outer layers of silver foil. This is the commercial product - but I suppose you can make our own if money is tight and your labour is free.
You have to combine some 'thin foamy stuff' with a layer of silver foil. Notwithstanding the above response from Bravejordy that says it worked for him, silver foil on its own merely reflects heat back into the room; condensation is caused by water vapour in warm moist air touching a cold surface; the water vapour then turns to water droplets. Silver foil on its own without insulation on the other side of it is still cold - so water still condesnes onto it.

[crisgal]

would you put the foamy stuff on first or the foil?

[buildersmate]

The 'thin foamy stuff' goes on the cold side, so the outside of the wall.

[sigma]

Thanks for all your answers.It looks like Celotex is the way to go as it's not expensive and should take the wall temperature above the dew point.

[dibna]

you need to insulate that part of the wall. you need to put battons up insulate in between plasterboard with silver backing on one side,what is happening with it being a single wall, warm air inside is drawing the cold through the brickwork causing damp