wall panelling and condensation

lobbyludd

I'd like to panel under the dado in the lounge in my mid-victorian semi.

However, the main wall is exterior, very cold in winter and I can't have book-shelves etc or anything close to the wall disrupting airflow otherwise it attracts condensation.

will wood or MDF panelling make this worse (but hidden? - i.e. between the panelling and wall) which obviously I don't want or could it make it better by adding an extra layer of insulation?

llandyrnog

Hi, condensation is caused by warm miosture laden area in contact with a cold surface. So the only way to avoid this is to install a layer of insulation to do this. a typical setup would be a 40mm gap and then a timber studding of a width that you can afford to have both in room loss and insulation depth. Obvoiusly the thicker you go the more insulation in place but also the loss of room dimension. Install insulation between the timbers. Install a vapour control membrane onto the studding (eg visqueen ) and then plasterboard and skim. I think you mentioned that you were a mid terrace property so insulatiing the walls to the exterior will also help reduce your heating bills, oh and look out for aGovt inititiave in the new year called the Green Deal which will help for funding this sort of project

tony6403

The thermal conductivity of MDF is low and in my opinion installing panels would not create a problem with condensation between the back of them and the wall.
Any condensation , I reckon , would occur on the room side of the MDF.
However ,I doubt that you would have any moisture problems with your panels - but any excess moisture in your house will doubtless deposit itself on a cold spot somewhere else.

lobbyludd

thanks both - sorry so delayed in replying.
Am taking steps to decrease the moisture load of the house as well. Will try some panelling one area and see how this affects things.

savemoney

I have some panel in my 1920's semi which goes on outside wall under a bay window plus also in porch. I dont have any issues with under bay its painted but in porch which is cold I get very slight damp stain near door it came through the vanish. I painted it this year with primer and two coats of eggshell so far its okay but I do run a dehumifer in there also and have internal door slightly ajar the windows in porch seldom can steamed up there