Condensation in knee wall on gable end

[The Money Pit]

With all the tempature swings and rain we have had, my gable end in the knee wall is sweating pretty bad. I'm worried about moisture damage. Is there anything I can do to prevent this?

 

[Torque1st]

Make sure there are no leaks and provide more ventilation.

 

[The Money Pit]

Make sure there are no leaks and provide more ventilation.

No leaks and I've got soffit vents. Anything else to help provent this?

 

[walrus]

Is it heated, insulation?

 

[Torque1st]

No leaks and I've got soffit vents. Anything else to help provent this?

Soffit vents won't do much good without a ridgeline vent or turbines. You need airflow.

 

[The Money Pit]

Yeah, I'm regretting not having my roofer put in a ridge line vent. I've got gable vents on each end but aparently it's not going to be enough. Any products that will help?

 

[Torque1st]

Check the design rules on the packages or on the websites but you may need some number of wind turbines. They work well:

http://www.airvent.com/homeowner/products/staticVents-windTurb.shtml

One other point. If they have the slightest amount of damage thru careless handling they don't work as well. If a contractor installs them and the wobble in the slightest they have been damaged.

They also don't work if they are covered by a plastic bag.... You have seen the moisture that accumulates then. I can't believe people do that but I see it all the time!

 

[blkhonda1991]

Is it heated, insulation?

definitely need this info to assess the situation

 

[idunnosh#t]

You need to insulate that wall.Warm air,high humidity,cold concrete=condensation. Closed cell foam would be my choice. Good luck

 

[Torque1st]

idunnosh#t

I love the user name, thanks for giving me a chuckle tonight!

 

[idunnosh#t]

idunnosh#t

I love the user name, thanks for giving me a chuckle tonight!

Thank you. I'ts Irish. Short for he who knows not what malarky to throw. I'm the only one in the phone book.

 

[little d]

lol, love this thread. like tourque said, ya cant have enough roof vents(that work!) you wouldnt bealive some of what i've seen. your contractor didnt do you any favors, and should have jumped up and down insesting on putting them in. also check and make sure that the insulation is pulled away from the underside of the decking where the rafters meet the celing joist. soffit vents only work if they are venting with out restrictions.

tourque, just thinkin out loud here but i wonder if power vents on the gables would get it done? with out seeing it first hand, i think i'd try this first, if ya got power ya can get to up there.

 

[Torque1st]

I kind of like the "green" way and avoid using power if I can help it. The turbines are easy to install. Most of the work is from the outside. I locate them from inside. Drill a hole at the proper height and between the rafters then stick a piece of coathanger wire out.

 

[Bill K]

A ridgeline vent isn't too hard to retrofit.

 

[jerseywild]

Do you have any pictures?

 

[The Money Pit]

Sorry guys. I've had so many things going on with the hollidays, I completey forgot about this thread. I didn't take any pictures but the area above the garage is finished off with HVAC, insulation and drywall. The area that has the condensation is the vertical gable end unfinished knee wall. I've been sick the past few days and will check things out and snap a few pics while I'm in there.

 

[bazzateer]

Thank you. I'ts Irish. Short for he who knows not what malarky to throw. I'm the only one in the phone book.

Think I've met a cousin of yours named Idunnash#t. There's always an unpleasant odour following him.........