GBA Logo horizontal Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram YouTube Icon Navigation Search Icon Main Search Icon Video Play Icon Plus Icon Minus Icon Picture icon Hamburger Icon Close Icon Sorted

Community and Q&A

Moisture condensing at base of walls – new build

lairdyherbert | Posted in Energy Efficiency and Durability on

Hello, 
Here’s an interesting one. I have a double stud 16″ exterior wall infilled with straw bales on end and dense pack cellulose. The vapor barrier is definitely doing it’s job but the problem is moisture is condensing at the base of the wall (which is actually a raised floor through which the plumbing travels). Admittedly it’s -40c out so conditions are unusually extreme and the mudders just finished so humidity is high, but there doesn’t seem to be any cold air coming through the wall, and I’m at a loss. If I can’t solve it to remediate it I was thinking a strip of green guard along the base of the wall, with the hope that when conditions are less extreme then it would dry out for the few days when it gets wet a year. Thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated!

GBA Prime

Join the leading community of building science experts

Become a GBA Prime member and get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

Replies

  1. GBA Editor
    Brian Pontolilo | | #1

    Hi Laird,

    Have you performed blower door tests?

Log in or create an account to post an answer.

Community

Recent Questions and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |