Condensation issues in new Aluminium conservatory

Travelette_2

Hi I'm new here and really hoping some one can help me with advice?!
I recently had a brand new aluminium conservatory fitted on the back of my house opening up into kitchen.
It is 5m x 3m with glass bi fold doors.
I have suffered with severe condensation issues since September to the point there is water dripping down inside of it some mornings and small puddles on floor.
Some days are worse than others.
I never dry washing in it or my kitchen.
I have underfloor heating on all the time from 17 - 22 degrees and it is always in morning so no cooking or kettles have been used.
I have used a humidity detector and the humidity ranges from 80-99% always. The temperature ranges from 6.5 - 13.4 depending on cold outside. The one thing is it happens whether really cold outside or not? So this morning humidity was 99% and temp 14.5 and lots of condensation and again it happened when it was 5.9 and humidity 99% ?
It doesn't always happen but it is at least 2-3 days a week and this was only built in October?
The plaster and render should have completely dried by now so I don't understand why it's so bad? I have done research and other people with brand new conservatories haven't experienced any condensation? Could it be to do with poor fitting or product? I have had some issues with the company who installed it incorrectly at first and had to refit it so this worries me a lot?
Any advice would be so gratefully received.
Thanks
Steffi

System

what are the technical details of the conservatory?
Manufacturer?
U-values of frame/glass/roof
what is in the room?
Is it closed to the rest of the house?

TheCyclingProgrammer

Something not right here. Assuming those RH levels are correct that's near saturation. When we had lots of plastering work done in our house I never saw the RH levels go much above 80% although it was summer and we were able to ventilate.

My initial thought is that the plastering/rendering is still drying which would explain an increase in humidity and if you're not effectively heating and ventilating the conservatory then condensation is inevitable - even the most efficient windows in the world are going to cool below the dew point with current outside temperatures and those levels of humidity especially if the conservatory is not heated (you say you have underfloor heating on all the time but it clearly doesn't seem to be doing a good job of heating the conservatory if its not getting above 14 degrees in there).

Is the conservatory open to the house? What are RH levels like in the rest of the house?

Also you say you've had problems since September but that it was built in October?

Furts

I am trying to sort out a conservatory at present. Terrible condensation issues which all come down to poor design, and even worse installation. Hence your problems might be the same. However you make no comment on ventilation - what was designed in here?

Travelette_2

Not sure if I'm replying in the right place? Hope you can all read this!
The conservatory was put up in Sept but the fitters didn't install correctly and they had to re Install parts of frame and roof as they had drilled holes in the beams to fit nails to attach to main frame which shouldn't have been there and they hadn't installed correctly. It has been a nightmare! I then found out they had never installed aluminium only UPVC so I was their guinea pig.
It has got so bad with over 12 visits to put the installation right that the manufacturer are now involved and helping me rectify all the issues. They are sending their fitters to make good all the problems. It should have taken 10 days to fit and it is now month 6 of this!
I am out but will look at specification for glass etc when I'm home.
There are thermal breaks fitted as I've checked.
I'm the google expert for searches on condensation issues anyway as I've spent the past 5 months searching and today found a thread from 09 with people commenting from here hence my arrival with this new forum post!

Travelette_2

It backs onto kitchen and there is no door between it and kitchen so open plan. It has bifold doors but not open at Winter so ventilation is just the room. There are no trickle vents. It none of the other aluminium conservatories have these either?
It forms the back of my house now so it has a door which is my back door and then the bifolds run the width of house

Travelette_2

Not monitored rest of house maybe I shall now though?! The plastering and rendering were done in October?

Lorian

No door between it and the kitchen?

No wonder you have condensation...

Travelette_2

This is in morning when I first wake up? Why would no door be the issue
Loads of modern houses with aluminium conservatoire ha e them directly opening into their kitchen spaces now? do you mean due to cooking etc?

keith969

Travelette wrote: »

I have used a humidity detector and the humidity ranges from 80-99% always. The temperature ranges from 6.5 - 13.4 depending on cold outside.

If your conservatory and kitchen are open plan, then that's a pretty cold kitchen. And with that level of humidity its not surprising you get condensation.

In my house the humidty is pretty constant at about 40%. So I'm curious as to where all that moisture is coming from. What readings do you get in other rooms?

Furts

Having a huge opening into a heated house/kitchen is expecting too much from an alu conservatory without having designed in both heating and ventilation. Clearly you have heating but it is inadequate be it in design, or installation, because it fails to heat your conservatory.

Without ventilation and heating you have not allowed sufficient time for drying out. Your construction moisture could take 4+ months to go, and it appears it is not being allowed to go - how is it vented away?

You have not commented on exposure, altitude, location, over shading...all of which can have a bearing on your issues.

You may have leaks, and a multitude of issues, but without seeing any photos there is little more I can add. However the problems can be enormous - I have just come in from looking at a defective new conservatory and it is going to cost perhaps £8000 to put it right.