How to keep the sloped ceiling warm?

SimbaSimon

I'm still trying to get to the bottom of our mold problem but I think I'm getting there.

Basically our house is warm enough and humidity is at about the right levels but where there are cold patches in the house is where condensation is forming. The cold patches are around the windows (wooden double glazed) and back patio wooden sliding door. Also we have mold on the ceiling which is sloped and the behind the ceiling is the roof, its also artex'ed which isn't helping.

So to warm up the windows I was thinking of getting some of those rubber strips to fill in the gaps and stop draughts. On the patio door there is some gaps between the inside of the doorframe and wall so these need filling to help keep it warm. But I'm really stuck on the ceiling! How does one keep an artex ceiling warm if its automatically cold and you can't really insulate it? I could paint it perhaps but with the artex I'm not sure if it would help. Any ideas?

keith969

Get rid of the artex, or have it skim plastered over. Then paper over with this:

http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.jsp?action=detail&fh_secondid=10567504&ecamp=trf-005&CAWELAID=421914885

maninthestreet

Is there any insulation between the artex and the roof?

SimbaSimon

maninthestreet wrote: »

Is there any insulation between the artex and the roof?

I don't believe so, they always feel very cold, especially in the morning where no sun shines on that side of the house or at night. Looking at the roof it'd have to be very thin insulation if there were any. We do have a loft above some of the ceiling which does have insulation but this only covers a portion of the ceiling as the roof goes from the top of the house down to the top of the bottom floor floor.

keith969 wrote: »

Get rid of the artex, or have it skim plastered over. Then paper over with this:

http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.jsp?action=detail&fh_secondid=10567504&ecamp=trf-005&CAWELAID=421914885

That looks pretty good and sounds like it would fix the problem. I've got a dehumidifier coming to keep the humidity as low as possible for now and I think we're have to look at getting the artex removed early 2010 and ceiling insulated.

Could you paint over the insulating lining paper once it was done?

keith969

SimbaK2K wrote: »

Could you paint over the insulating lining paper once it was done?

A water based emulsion should be fine - wouldn't try anything oil based as it might dissolve the polystyrene.

27col

If a bit of insulated lining paper could provide any meaningful insulation, why would we be stuffing our roofs with 270mm of insulation material.. If you want to improve the roof insulation you could counter batten it with at least 50mm battens. Put 50mm solid insulation panels between the battens and then re-board the ceiling. Or indeed, take down what is there and replace it, after installing insulation between the joists. Obviously, this last would be messy so probably not a good idea at this time of year.

keith969

27col wrote: »

If a bit of insulated lining paper could provide any meaningful insulation, why would we be stuffing our roofs with 270mm of insulation material.

The OP wanted to know how to prevent condensation, not how to help the Government meet its climate change obligations. That thin polystyrene stuff does help with condensation - I've used it in the past on a cold wall and its surprisingly effective.

27col

I did not realise that you were a mind reader Keith. I never mentioned the Government or its agendas. Most of what 'they' say is best ignored anyway.
My only interest in insulation is to keep my house warm and my heating bills down. Heating and insulation go hand in hand in providing a snug environment, and fighting the fight against condensation. (Whatever that is). I don't get any, so I can only assume that I am doing something right.

keith969

27col wrote: »

I did not realise that you were a mind reader Keith. I never mentioned the Government or its agendas. Most of what 'they' say is best ignored anyway.

I'm not, but you asked why everyone was stuffing 270mm insulation in their lofts... the reason is that the government (or one of its quangos) recommends this amount. Years ago when 50mm was the norm, I don't recall our house being cold or having condensation either.

27col wrote: »

My only interest in insulation is to keep my house warm and my heating bills down. Heating and insulation go hand in hand in providing a snug environment, and fighting the fight against condensation. (Whatever that is). I don't get any, so I can only assume that I am doing something right.

The OP wants a simple, MSE way to prevent condensation on a sloping ceiling where there is no space to insulate above the ceiling. I've tried the polystyrene wall covering in the past, and it worked for me, hence why I suggested it.