Replies

1. 
   calvin | Jan 05, 2012 12:44pm | #1

   damp-condensation

   If within a couple inches of the ceiling-then probably warm damp air is condensing on that framed behind surface.  Increasing air movement or lowering the humidity in that room might help.  Or, insulating that portion of the garage.  Is there sheeting or drywall on the garage side of that wall?

1. 
   Sharlab | Jan 05, 2012 03:57pm | #2

   thanks for the input

   Thanks for the reply! I have dry wall in the garage. I believe that the builder only had the drywall in the garage and the through there was the insulation batting and then the interior drywall. I wondered if the insulation could have sagged? I was debating just going into thy attic and laying insulation up against the attic walll ot the garage where it meets the house and then hiring someone in the spring to blow insulation throughout the entire garage as I dont want to crawl out on to 2 x 4s....

   We are also going to leave the bderoom door fully open in the daytime and at night leave it open a couple of inches to allow circulation. Further we might try opening the window every day in that room for 10 minutes????????

2. 
   Sharlab | Jan 05, 2012 03:57pm | #3

   thanks for the input

   Thanks for the reply! I have dry wall in the garage. I believe that the builder only had the drywall in the garage and the through there was the insulation batting and then the interior drywall. I wondered if the insulation could have sagged? I was debating just going into thy attic and laying insulation up against the attic walll ot the garage where it meets the house and then hiring someone in the spring to blow insulation throughout the entire garage as I dont want to crawl out on to 2 x 4s....

   We are also going to leave the bderoom door fully open in the daytime and at night leave it open a couple of inches to allow circulation. Further we might try opening the window every day in that room for 10 minutes????????

2. 
   renosteinke | Jan 05, 2012 07:38pm | #4

   You can't fix a problem until you know what the problem is.

   I suspect you have thermal bridging ... that is, the wall there is considerably colder because of direct wood contact, without benefit of insulation. Let's figure out a way to test this theory.

   I'll wager you don't have an IR camera. They're pretty expensive toys. You probably DO have the next best thing ... a paintbrush. Why not paint the wall with a quick coat of that color-changing ceiling paint? With any luck, the color change as it dries will tell you if I'm on the right track. I bet you find yourself looking at the wall as if you suddenlt have x-ray vision, seeing every stud.  Worst case? I'm wrong, and you have a freshly painted wall.

   If that's the case, your solution is to get a layer of rigid foam behind the drywall; your easiest way is likely to cover the garage side with foam panels, then add another layer of drywall atop that. Place your 'nailing lath' horizontal. (I think that's what they call a "Mooney wall").

   If the paint reveals only a cold area along the top plate, your solution might be something as simple as laying fiberglass batts right over the top plate in the attic. If that would block your ventilation, use strips of foam instead.

3. 
   calvin | Jan 06, 2012 10:29am | #5

   open window?

   Don't bother.  No need to cool the house.  Get the air moving and don't breath so heavy in there...............

   do you have plants in the room?

   fish tank?

   Humidifier for more comfort?

   Covering the top plate of that wall would certainly help.  You want to divorce the cold attic/garage from that warm bedroom's framing.   Wood transfers heat and cold pretty easily.

   Do you see any "shadows" of the studs in that wall?  If not, you might get away with covering that top plate.

   And make sure there's nothing covering your heat vent so the air is allowed to easily move about the room.

   A tight fit on the door to the floor can also limit the amount of air movement in a room if there's no return air in that room.  Keeping it open even just a few inches will help move air quite a bit.

4. 
   Sharlab | Jan 06, 2012 07:52pm | #6

   correcting a damp issue

   No plants or aquariums, just two boys. No shadows, just painted. The door does fit tightly as the room is carpeted. No issues with heat vent or return. I will try covering the top plate but was confused by the job, I can't get at the top plate as the roof meets it. Could I just lay styrofoam in there loosely (or battt insulation)? There is no air circulation between the house and garage (no soffit vents that need to be left uncovered) which is why I am afraid of adding more.

5. 
   Sharlab | Jan 06, 2012 07:52pm | #7

   correcting a damp issue

   No plants or aquariums, just two boys. No shadows, just painted. The door does fit tightly as the room is carpeted. No issues with heat vent or return. I will try covering the top plate but was confused by the job, I can't get at the top plate as the roof meets it. Could I just lay styrofoam in there loosely (or battt insulation)? There is no air circulation between the house and garage (no soffit vents that need to be left uncovered) which is why I am afraid of adding more.

1. 
   calvin | Jan 07, 2012 09:40am | #8

   shar

   Well, isolating the framing from the cold is the way to correct the transfer of cold to the interior-where the condensation is becoming evident.

   And, you don't want to necessarily isolate only the attic side, you need to divorce the framing from ALL cold-such as any surface that is to the outside in addition to the top of the plate. 

   This of course isn't easy, but might help solve the problem. 

   More air movement as well as lowering the moisture in the air is another way.  You still have the problem of a cold wall, but the condensation won't be apparent.

   You mention just painted-there's a period of time for all moisture to be driven off a fresh paint job.  Not saying that is a cause, just something that might be adding to the problem.

   Try the open door for awhile-see what happens when the temp drops.

   best of luck.