Damp walls - should I use foil bubble wrap!?

thenap80

Hi - many thanks for reading this and hopefully you can help me.

Two problems really, but both related.

1. In one of the bedrooms, my sister has notified me of some damp down the side of her bed. (She does not wet the bed!). pulling up the matress I can see dirt that has become visible through being wet I guess. The end of the bed where this has occured is against an external wall.

The end of the bed is directly adjacent to a radiator too. I am thinking, and this is where I need clarification, that the heat from the radiator is seeping into the small gap between bed and wall. The air is then becoming trapped and condensation build up resulting.

Would it be beneficial to put some foil bubble wrap against this wall and reflect heat back into the bed matress? It is not possible to reposition the bed so there is always going to be this gap of about 1 inch between external wall and bed.

2. A second problem, occuring in my own room, again relates to dampness. In my fitted wardrobe, there is a cold and damp senstation in there. I investigated thoroughly today and there is wet against the wall and my clothes that were touching the wall are wet. The wardrobe is against a couple of external walls and so am assuming this is just condensation building up again.

I know it would be beneficial to keep the doors open so ventilation can occur but would like to know if there is any other way of avoiding the damp build up.

Could foil bubble wrap to line the walls inside the wardrobe. If so, is it shiny side to the wall or facing me.

Many Thanks
Barry

latecomer

you could find that the damp is caused by water rather than condensation.

Firstly I would try and find out whether there is a leak in either the roof or the external wall. If you can get access to the loft, check for signs of a leak. Look at the outside of the house and check for any cracks or other problems.

illzlee

this sounds more like condensation.
is the property solid wall? sounds like the warm moist air is meeting the cold surface of uninsulated brickwork and condensation is forming. Would agree the air is trapped next to the bed (same in the wardrobe) but foil wouldn't really help if installed in sporadic places - you will just move the problem.

improve ventilation to the rooms & insulate or stop introducing as much moist air into the house (often via washing/cooking etc..)

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

I put moisture crystals in my wardrobes both the fitted and freestanding as they are all on outside walls.I also leave the wardrobe doors open a couple of hours a day when the window is open.
As for the condensation along the bed,if you can't relocate the bed,then at least pull it away from the wall.You need to keep the rooms well ventilated.
We live in an old property that has solid walls and even though I use moisture crystals and ventilate the rooms for a few hours daily(which is usually sufficient),this winter I've had to buy a dehumidifyer and I got a shock at just how much water it's collected.

ariba10

It does sound as if it is condensation.

I would first make sure there is a gap between the bed and the wall and then get a dehumidifier.

thenap80

Many thanks for reply.

I am goint to try putting a layer of thermal insulation foil bubble wrap along the wall between bed and external wall. Hopefully this will keep the cold from the wall away from the bed. Not sure if this is right but worth a shot. Or will the damp just develop on the foil. Which way would I need to place the shiny side - to the wall or facing the bed?

Furthermore, relating to point two, would insulating the whole of the walls within the wardrobe have a benefit? Probably be about 8 metres worth of roll but I can pick that up for a decent price.

To be honest I've never used the bubble wrap foil before. Does it even work!!!

Many Thanks
Barry

fannyadams

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/greenproperty/4044985/How-to-cut-fuel-bills-Wrap-up-tight-for-a-frugal-New-Year.html
8 If there's one thing you spend your money on this year it should be: Make sure your gutters, downpipes and drains (or soakaways) are doing their job properly. The most serious damage to properties is caused by water, and all water on earth comes down from the sky. Half an hour maintaining gutters can save hundreds of pounds in future repair bills.

blue_monkey_2

You could also give this a try if you have staining to get rid of:

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/38631/Building/Building-Chemicals/Thompsons-One-Coat-Damp-Seal-750ml

We have the same problems, move the furniture/fitments away from the walls and make sure that the air can get in and circulate so nothing is against the wal. Clean the damp off with a strong bleach and water mixture, put it on, leave for 5 minutes and wipe it down, it'll stop the damp re-occuring for a while (done mine 3 months ago and it has not come back).

You could use the paint on problem areas and repaint but still leave a gap for the air to circulate, we get ours on the walls that back onto outside walls - it is nothing to do with guttering or the like, it is just where the warm air gets trapped on the colder bits of the walls.

Just beware if it is on your sisters mattress, throw it out and get/freeycle another because of the mould spores. I had to throw our put you up bed away because the damp got to it. I think we have had it in almost every house we have lived in, the older houses are worst - something to do with them not having cavities or something and being made of brick. You just have to adjust where you put your furnitire so try not to put wardrobes or big cupboards against external walls as they cannot really be moved to let the air in.

HTH

debs2327

hi ya we have the same problem in our house and weve been told its not our guttering our house is also a solid wall house and i was thinking what i could do to get rid of it the worst place is in out daughters bedroom up on the celing and started to go down the walls (walls facing my back garden )we are going to decorate soon but dont want it to come back as soon as weve decorated ,

blue_monkey_2

Use the Damp Seal paint (Homebase and Wickes sell it too if you want to see the tins befaore you buy) and then you can pait over it when you redecorate. Make sure you let the air circulate around the room, if you are going to place big items of furniture in the room then make sure these back onto internal walls and you will not ge a problem. The damp seal from screwfix will cover the stain or you can scrub with bleach.

johnlon_2

Also got a cold outer wall with a wardrobe built against it and condensation on the wall/shelves.

I put bubble foil on the wall of just one shelf and the dampness on that shelf is now history.

Tonight I'm doing all the other shelves.