Condensation issue in Split Foyer Home

[edcantu9]

Looking for some help help here. We own a split foyer home. Bedrooms, kitchen, and living room upstairs, finished basement downstairs.

During the winter months if anything like clothing, paper, anything able to hold water is left upstairs on the floor above the "split" part, mold forms and the paper, or clothing item is wet.

I believe its an issue where it splits because in the front there is a section where there is no split and there are no issues there.

I took some pictures of our home from the outside and also in the inside. So the indoor picture is of the cavity. I went downstairs, moved over the drop ceiling tile and looked inside. There is a piece of insulation and plenty of space in there to add more insulation.

Is the issue not enough insulation?

We have lived here for 3 years and I have finally had enough and want to resolve this issue this year. If nothing is left on these areas there are no issues.

By areas I mean edge of the house there there is the split from the basement and upstairs.

Thanks all for advice!

 

[Worsedog]

My off the cuff guess would be that you are getting cold air infiltration from the extended portion. This is causing the floor over that area to be colder than the rest of the house and the moisture is condensing out of the warm area onto the floor.

As far as curing it, you got me.

 

[gregtwojeeps]

Worsedog is right on^^^^ as we just moved from a split foyer and it was built the same way. You have to have the insulation in the cantilevered (overhanging) portion pushed up again the upstairs floor and then turn it down on to the 2 x 4 top plate of the basement wall exterior wall. This will help keep the warm air from the basement ceiling from going out in to cold soffit area, and creating sweating issues. May not cure your problem 100% but it will help. jmo and good luck

P.S. Buy a cheap thermometer/humidity unit from Lowes for 10 bucks and put in different rooms just to see what your relative humidity reading will be. Ideal RH is 40- 50 %.

 

[boobag]

My off the cuff guess would be that you are getting cold air infiltration from the extended portion. This is causing the floor over that area to be colder than the rest of the house and the moisture is condensing out of the warm area onto the floor.

As far as curing it, you got me.

could be, but in the winter the air is usually pretty dry.

could be a long shot, but have you checked your water heater or furnace exhaust pipes to make sure its not leaking into the floor cavity? i've seen pipes come loose in attics before, and get a lot of moisture buildup.

 

[JWVan]

Maybe need a couple pieces of rigid insulation around that band offset. Both vertically and horizontal if possible. This maybe would make a better barrier than you have now.

 

[DC73]

We have lived here for 3 years and I have finally had enough and want to resolve this issue this year.

Do yourself a favor and go visit the Q&A forum at GreenBuildingAdvisor.com

There are several building science gurus who frequent that forum and should be able to give you sound advice. Make sure to tell them where you live as your climate is an important factor in getting the details correct.

DC