Thermalite Insulating Paint.

[needawin]

Anyone ever used this or similar. Is there really a paint that stops severe condensation?

[The Builder]

You caught my attention with the name Thermalite Needy. A large respectable company producing insulating concrete blocks.
The trouble is, these paint people appear to be playing a game. It's called "Thermalate". Nothing to do with the block company.

I guess they'll produce tech. sheets backing up the product. I love new products and systems but this looks like a touch of major "marketing".

As Scotty used to say on Star Trek, "you canna alter the laws of physics, Captain" Condensation occurs when the temperature of water vapour in the air lowers beyong the dew-point and settles out as water on a cold surface. The idea that a thin film of paint can affect this is suspect.
As with everything, it'll come one day, but I'll bet the effect of using this is minimal.
ps Whatever happened to "electric paint" that warms surfaces?

[needawin]

Thanks again for your info builder.
In the affected bedrooms the radiators are on the internal walls. Would it make any difference at all to locate them under the windows on the external walls?

World lining the walls with polysterene help. Or putting in ventilators. Any other suggestions.

[dawest]

I've used it with great success in my bathroom. Completely eradicated the condensation problem on the painted walls and ceiling. I also added it to the paint used to change the colour of the tiles - again great success!!

Originally it came as a sachet of granules but now it seems to come in liquid form. You add thermilate to the paint according to the instructions.
As I was using 2 colours, a bit of maths was needed to calculate the quantity of Thermilate required per litre of paint.

Check out their website. http://tinyurl.com/ap7ovzw
There is good info in the FAQ and also a downloadable brochure (needs Adobe reader).

I'd also leave a window open slightly to allow the warm air/condensation to escape, or as you've suggested, having ventilators installed or lining the walls with polystyrene sheeting then papering over it .

Hope this helps. All the best.

[The Builder]

I would certainly look at installing "trickle vents" in the windows. They're only small vents, but do clear water vapour from the room very well.

I don't think that moving rads will be worth all the work involved. As long as they're in the room, they should do their job.

[needawin]

All good info lads. Many thanks.
I am going to start with installing vents in the bedrooms. Plastic type that the vents can be opened or closed. Two of the bedrooms have chimney breasts, not blocked but have a ventilated cap on them.
Question is, is it better to site them low or high? Low is obviously better visually but I want to get the best result. Any ideas?

[Manymoves]

Hi
I have suffered them same problem as you. I put more vents under the bellcast outside to vent under the floors for the ground rooms. I put the polystyrene sheeting on a square bay window followed by wallpaper and went through one winter. All it was doing was traping in the water and creating mould spots. I have removed it and it is alot better although It has not quite resolved the dirty marks. Vents are better high to remove the heat created by the bodies in the room. Leave the doors open so the air can circulate. Do not put furniture hard againt the walls and avoid putting in front of a radiator. The key thing is to ALWAYS let the air circulate .

[needawin]

Thanks to all that replied.