insulating/anti condensation paint

rowe1311

Due to condensation problems in our living room we need to redecorate the room. In the past I have bought thermacover insulating additive to add to our paint. I can't seem to get it as cheaply as before from amazon, but now question whether it is worth buying this type of additive at all.

From my own experience the wall that has been painted with the paint is noticeably warmer to touch. Which makes me think it can reduce condensation and there is more mould growing on the ceiling which never got painted. Part of the problem we have is we never use to heat the room so inevitably we would get condensation in there. We desperately need exterior cladding. The living room is particularly bad. It has three exterior walls with single brick walls. It is a really inefficient house hence not being able to heat it properly.

In the meantime before we can get cladding the room needs redecorating, but I need some advice as to whether to buy the insulating paint additive. The cheapest I have found is thermapaint which you can buy as a paint or an additive. From what I have read it doesn't even say how it reduces mould and there are very few reviews so have no idea whether it is any good.

Any advice out there as to whether insulating paint will do anything to prevent condensation and if so, who would you recommend?

Thanks

Seronera

My wife gets involved professionally in building and insulation matters. She was given a sample bottle of Thermal Floor Insulating Primer by the manufacturers rep at a show. Its water based with low VOCs and looks a bit like slightly pink Gaviscon in the bottle.

Does it work? Well to be honest we don't know as we only have one small terazzo floor to try it on and we've not got round to applying it as it means we have to cover the floor afterwards. All my instincts are sceptical, but when all is said and done if you have few options and the cost is modest, what have you got to lose by trying it?

Now if that sounds like a cop out, then I have to hold my hands up and agree it is. The company is/was called Thermilate Technologies and was based in Huddersfield the last time I knew of them, which is at least a couple of years ago now. I have no idea if they are still around.

I know thats not all that much help, but as you have found there is not that much review information out there and I can neither recommend or not recommend the product. Perhaps you should give it a go and report back...but you'd have to do half the floor with and half without to really know....;) Life is never simple is it.:D

rowe1311

Thanks for replying. I would like to believe the claims and try it out, especially if it will reduce mould growth from condensation, but the difference in price for 10 litres of brilliant white dulux paint at £15 and thermapaint at £68 is big so I am hoping to get some ideas from others as to whether it might be worth it.

The anti-mould paint additive at £8.35 is a cheaper option, but I think it is just a fungicidal liquid so doesn't act as a thermal insulator as well. I just have no idea whether it is worth the extra money?

littlesnuggy

Try ACS - my colleague has been in the property industry for over 40 years and swears by their anti-mould paint
http://acslimited.co.uk/anti-mould-paint-and-fungicides/condensation-control-anti-mould-paint/

dampdaveski

Rowie,
anti mould paint additives can be very effective at turning normal paints into anti mould paints, however they have absolutely 0 thermal qualities.

My experience of thermal paint additives (powder that you add to your own paint) is that they are a load of old sh*te!
There is one product that I do use and it's called Suretherm by Nvirol
2 suppliers here
http://condensationproducts.co.uk/aspbite/categories/index.asp?intCatID=110&content=suretherm_thermal_anti_condensation_paint

http://new.nvirol.co.uk/condensation-products/68-suretherm-anti-condensation-paint-5-litre.html

This paint already has the anti mould additive in it and I have found it to work really well.

another thing to consider (and ignoring costs for a moment), if you're in the process of redecorating and you say your living room has 3 outside walls. If you can afford it dry lining these external walls with an insulated plasterboard such as this would work really well, even if you went for the thinner boards
http://www.jewson.co.uk/building-materials/plastering-plasterboard/plasterboard/thermal-plasterboard/products/BGB02302/gyproc-thermaline-plus-tapered-edge-2400-x-1200-x-40mm/

Good luck with it
DD

saveallmymoney

dampdaveski wrote: »

another thing to consider (and ignoring costs for a moment), if you're in the process of redecorating and you say your living room has 3 outside walls. If you can afford it dry lining these external walls with an insulated plasterboard such as this would work really well, even if you went for the thinner boards
http://www.jewson.co.uk/building-materials/plastering-plasterboard/plasterboard/thermal-plasterboard/products/BGB02302/gyproc-thermaline-plus-tapered-edge-2400-x-1200-x-40mm/
DD

This is the thing to do. Even a very thin Marmox board would make a big difference to the wall surface temp.

http://www.insulationexpress.co.uk/Floor-Insulation/Marmox-Multi-Board---The-Original-Marmox-Board.htm

rowe1311

Thanks for all the advice. I think I will go with the anti mould additive instead. It is the mould regrowth that is my main concern, and the thermal qualities less so, as I already question their effectiveness.

We will hopefully in the next couple of years be getting external cladding. There is a government scheme in our area and we are just waiting till our property is eligible for it. I am hoping that will make the biggest difference. As we now heat the room as well as have an air source heat pump that can act as a dehumidifier we hope that condensation problems will be a thing of the past.

changed_username

Mould is growing because the air is too wet so another route you can go is to buy a dehumidifier. There are several quality models which push out warmer air then the dehumidifier takes in (up to 12C).

Mould grows at RH of 68% or more so the dehumidifier would decrease your RH, warm up the room and, if you buy the correct model, provide better air with less dust, dirt and pollen particles.

Just a suggestion. :-)

DryHomes2

byemould wrote: »

Mould is growing because the air is too wet so another route you can go is to buy a dehumidifier. There are several quality models which push out warmer air then the dehumidifier takes in (up to 12C).

Mould grows at RH of 68% or more so the dehumidifier would decrease your RH, warm up the room and, if you buy the correct model, provide better air with less dust, dirt and pollen particles.

Just a suggestion. :-)

Re-decorating will no doubt benefit your living room in the short term. However, as mentioned above, the long term problem is that the air in your home is damp so I feel the best way forward would be tackle this problem head on.

There are a range of things you can install (such as dehumidifiers) to keep the air dry in your home yet also consider self-help options such as ensuring there is a regular supply of fresh air in your home (open windows etc when possible), also mop up any spillages to prevent liquid evaporating into the air and dry clothes outside if possible (if you have to do it inside, dry them in a closed room with the windows open).

Hope these tips help!
(For more advice on these issues, there is a really helpful page on the Dry Homes website - www. dry homes . net)