"isolating" outside beam?
"isolating" outside beam?
(OP)
Came accross a situation today to which I have no answer (but it's also not my field of expertise).
Anyone cares to comment for possible solutions?
Problems: wall rests on two beams (one for the inside wall, one for the outside wall).
Beams are partly outside the "warm envelope" of the building, and logically attract humidity as it's the coldest place in the building.
Currently humidity comes from a fresh-placed low-cement ratio concrete on which floortiles will be glued, yet the problem will continue to exist afterwards as well...
During construction of the addition:

detail:

Problem:
view from inside the old building towards the new addition:

from the addition, looking at the beams:

possible solutions?
Anyone cares to comment for possible solutions?
Problems: wall rests on two beams (one for the inside wall, one for the outside wall).
Beams are partly outside the "warm envelope" of the building, and logically attract humidity as it's the coldest place in the building.
Currently humidity comes from a fresh-placed low-cement ratio concrete on which floortiles will be glued, yet the problem will continue to exist afterwards as well...
During construction of the addition:
detail:

Problem:
view from inside the old building towards the new addition:

from the addition, looking at the beams:

possible solutions?






RE: "isolating" outside beam?
Can you post a section through the wall?
I was going to suggest that you hire one of the three little pigs, but figured you wouldn't appreciate that suggestion, so I didn't say it.
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
http://mmcengineering.tripod.com
RE: "isolating" outside beam?
House is build without any wood whatsoever or wherever (european style).
That means the steel is the coldest place inside the house (as it's coming from the "outside", as you can see from the first picture), hence the moisture is attracted to the beams (that are now covered by the plaster).
I couldn't really tell whether the three little pigs were a joke or a sarcastic way to tell I haven't shared enough information, so I am not going to comment on that. Gotta love the interwebs for ease of interpretation of written words...
RE: "isolating" outside beam?
RE: "isolating" outside beam?
Is there a way to "isolate" the beam so that the moisture will no longer accumulate there?
RE: "isolating" outside beam?
RE: "isolating" outside beam?
How well did it work, want to know if any settlement cracks or problems occur with this system.
Maybe a burst pipe or leaking pipe in wall or damage in water proofing, maybe around windows etc.
RE: "isolating" outside beam?
and it's half inside the building's envelope, half outside (see first picture: left half = inside, right half = outside). There's the problem...
In the third pic you can see the beams are uncovered (to outside conditions) above the window.
RE: "isolating" outside beam?
Also, this is a complete renovation of the house, there are no pipes in that area. The naked beams feel really cold (as ambient temp is below zero °C, so I'm quite sure it's condensation. I just don't know how to solve it.
RE: "isolating" outside beam?
RE: "isolating" outside beam?
RE: "isolating" outside beam?
RE: "isolating" outside beam?
The section helps here.
Is there a way to vent the space and allow airflow to get rid of the moisture? I see the comment that the beams are now plastered over, so is this even possible now?
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
http://mmcengineering.tripod.com
RE: "isolating" outside beam?
BA
RE: "isolating" outside beam?
venting is possible, but probably won't be sufficient to prevent further moisture inside the house.
@ BA: yes indeed, that's exactly my question from the very first post, how to "isolate" (or as you say, separate) the beams inside <> outside ...
When you say, not easily achieved, that means there must be a (hard) way?
RE: "isolating" outside beam?
BA
RE: "isolating" outside beam?
I was afraid you were going to say that, but I was hoping for a different solution
RE: "isolating" outside beam?
BA
RE: "isolating" outside beam?
It seems like a few inches of insulation and eliminating the flow of humid air against the cold steel should work. Redoing the plaster sounds easier than redoing the steel.
RE: "isolating" outside beam?
RE: "isolating" outside beam?
Brick is pretty transparent to driving rain and the moisture will enter the cavity. It will eventually end up at your beam.
This may not be causing your current issue but may be one in the future.
I would try the spray foam approach for now.