Thankfully it’s not often we’ll come across retrofit spray foam insulation however, it is still important to understand its impact as there are still a large amount of properties who’ve employed this insulation technique in the past.

Spray foam insulation is a polyurethane spray applied foam which sets to form an insulating barrier. It’s available in two different types open cell and closed cell.

Closed … read more

Over the past year or two I’ve recommended remote heating systems such as Nest or Hive to several clients most of whom are landlords suffering with mould / condensation problems in their let properties.

As most will know mould and condensation problems are not just caused by poor ventilation, they occur due to an imbalance between a number of factors such as: moisture production, ventilation, … read more

Condensation Explained

Upstanding the basics between Relative Humidity, Specific humidity, Vapour pressure, Thirst, Boundary layers and Dew point.

Before we begin explaining the above where does water vapour come from?

Simple daily life produces water vapour through cooking, washing, ironing, drying clothes and even breathing, therefore it is extremely unlikely that an empty property will suffer with issues of high humidity, condensation and mould unless … read more

Most people in Britain are interested in finding new ways to increase the energy efficiency of their homes and spend less money on things like gas and home heating oil.

However, homeowners have been reminded to allow the water vapour that builds up during everyday tasks such as washing clothes and showering to escape, otherwise it can cause condensation and mould.

A study published earlier … read more

This article has been reproduced with kind permission from its author Mr Graham Coleman and the Property Care Association (PCA).

Graham Coleman is a Chartered Biologist (C.Biol), Member of the Society of Biology (MSB), a Member of the Institute of Wood Science (M.I.W.Sc) and an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Specialist Surveyors and Engineers (F.Inst.S.S.E). He also has qualification in Chemistry and Botany.

Since … read more

CONDENSATION IN ROOF SPACES IS GETTING MUCH WORSE WITH INCREASED LEVELS OF INSULATION.

It is important to remember that the majority of moisture we produce in our homes is created in a gas form as water vapour. Unlike water in a liquid state, water in a gas state can spread easily causing condensation, which may result in damp and decay to vulnerable building materials and … read more

Over this past winter i’ve been surveying properties on a daily basis suffering from severe condensation and mould issues, both problems which have become a trend over the last decade with new regulations for insulation and glazing and exaggerated further in new builds by air tightness tests.

As of April 2006 a percentage of new builds now require air pressure testing to comply with building … read more