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Gervais, Oregon
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Neenah, WI
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Joined: Jan, 2007
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Damp attic insulation
[#2] Posted: 01/17/2007 - 4:45:40 PM |  |  |
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Chris,
Is this and older home? say pre-vapor barrier era. It's possibly interior moisture migrating through the plaster/sheetrock up through the insulation and when it hits the top layer it condenses on the fibers and can form a sort of crust if it happens often enough. I see this often in WI.
Jim Weyenberg
HouseMaster Inc
Neenah, WI.
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Gervais, Oregon
Posts: 1258
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 Damp attic insulation
[#3] Posted: 01/17/2007 - 6:46:49 PM | | |
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The house was built in 1973. It had a black plastic vapor barrier over the ground in the crawlspace. It had a plywood subfloor although I don't recall if there was a vapor retarder there or not. And I believe there was no vapor retarder in the ceiling assembly other than the paint. Usually if the moisture is coming from say an exhuast fan venting into the attic its pretty obvious as condensation, mildew and mold tends to emanate from those points. The was general and every where thru out.
Chris, Oregon
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Oak Park, IL
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Damp attic insulation
[#4] Posted: 01/17/2007 - 7:47:14 PM | | |
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Bath vent or not, there's a fair amount of moisture in the home migrating up. People exhale a lot of moisture, cooking, etc. That could be condensing on the cold roof sheathing.
Did the blown-in insulation cover the soffit vents? That would prevent air from drafting through for adequate ventilation, leading to the moisture build-up.
In my own house my soffit vents were blocked from day one. Builder built the soffits solid, then covered the 1x8s with the aluminum vents. Looked like ventilation from the outside!
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Jesse
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Spring Hill (Nashville area), Tennessee
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Damp attic insulation
[#5] Posted: 01/18/2007 - 1:26:31 PM | | |
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Really should not have moisture collecting in the attic area. This is usually a sign of poor ventilation in the attic and or moist air being pumped into the attic via bathroom vent fans.
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Scott Patterson
http://www.traceinspections.com
"Minds are like parachutes they only function when open"
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Gervais, Oregon
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Damp attic insulation
[#6] Posted: 01/18/2007 - 6:23:15 PM | | |
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How should I write it up though?
Provide more ventilation only? What about the damp insulation should I address that?
Chris, Oregon
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Spring Hill (Nashville area), Tennessee
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Damp attic insulation
[#7] Posted: 01/18/2007 - 8:16:35 PM | | |
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Well, first you need to attempt to try and figure out the source of the moisture. If it is related to poor ventilation this is a fairly simple correction. If it is due to venting into the attic then that needs to be addressed and most likely the ventilation needs addressing as well.
As for the moisture laden insulation. If it is wet it will compact and will no longer provide the proper loft and insulation. Yes, it should be replaced. Sometimes batt insulation can recover from being wet, but blow-in does not.
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Scott Patterson
http://www.traceinspections.com
"Minds are like parachutes they only function when open"
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Champaign, Illinois
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Damp attic insulation
[#8] Posted: 01/20/2007 - 10:42:51 AM | | |
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In regards to the damp insulation: Possible mold should be an issue here.
Came across this PDF from The North American Insulation Manufactures Association. There are recommendations form FEMA, and EPA concerning wet insulation. (On page 2)
http://www.naima.org/pages/res...I483.PDF
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Gervais, Oregon
Posts: 1258
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Damp attic insulation
[#9] Posted: 01/21/2007 - 09:32:39 AM | | |
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I have 2 really good books both of which I have read cover to cover and then reread them but like always its like reading the bible. Every time you read it you come up with something new.
The first book is (Water in Buildings - An Architect's Guide to Moisture and Mold) written by William B. Rose published by John Wiley & Sons copyright 2005. The other one is Listibureks Moisture Control Handbook which many here I am sure already familiar with.
I was studing about moisture vapor in particularly in both books when I read a paragraph in the moisture control book concerning fireplaces being really a big house exhaust system assuming you use it.
Well in this house that I started this post with it has an electric cadet heating system and upgraded windows and doors and more insulation. I imagine that the vapor pressure levels are literally thru the roof as has already been suggested permenating thru ceiling assembly and condensing on the upper boundary surface of the added insulation which is now colder then it would have been if they hed not added more insulation.
Has anybody noticed a correlation between the lack of moisture problems in homes with actively used woodstoves and fireplaces vrs ones that just have electric heating systems?
Chris Oregon
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