loft insulation

[tearinghair]

I think this question may have been asked before......Earlier in the year we put down quite a lot of loft insulation. When I went up into the loft recently it felt distinctly damp. I store out-of season bedding, amongst other things, up there. What is the best way to put this right, please?

[buildersmate]

Maybe if I explained how condensation worked would help you understand this better.
The amount of water that can be stored in the air as water vapour depends on the ambient temperature of that air.
By putting insulation down, you have lowered the temperature immediately above the insulation layer, because more of the heat is now retained in the house - where you want it. However the same amount of water vapour from the house is still getting through the porous plasterboard and insulation and making its way into the loftspace - that's what it is damper.
Your only practical choice is to increase the air flow in there, to help drive out the water-laden air.

[tearinghair]

Thanks, buildersmate. We'll see what we can do.

[PeelerPal]

also if you use space blanket on your rafters, you will automatically prevent the mixture of cold air and wam air rising which cause condensation and boarding over your insulation will also help prevent this from happening

[tearinghair]

Thank you, peelerpal, and I'm sorry for the delay in replying. We do have boarding down. We have now removed some of the insulation to allow a draft through; although it's cold up there I don't think it's damp any more. Many thanks for the advice.

[tearinghair]

Sorry, I meant draught not draft.

[Naomicorlett]

A loft full of draft dodging soliers ??? Maybe they could come and lay our insulation out... it's been in the loft for a month still in it's original rolls. He will do it when he has time ( and no he wont let me do it because I apparently won't do it right ! )

[Naomicorlett]

or even soldiers (sp)