As previously discussed in Part 1 all properties have moisture build up within their walls. Older properties that may have mast concrete in their construction are more susceptible. These properties may have also been built using materials that are not very breathable such as plastic membranes behind the dry wall. A good way of explaining why properties vary is to compare a house to a good quality jacket. Houses should breathe letting out moist air while keeping it’s inhabitants warm inside. This is the case with all properties and the breathability of a property is carried out by its building materials in its totality. There is not one cause of condensation but a number of factors that contribute to it being an issue in certain properties. As previously mentioned mass concrete is notorious for cold bridging transferring the cold from outside to inside and as a result the inside of the walls are so cold that when moist air touches them the water is released and discharged onto that surface. This is called the dew point. There is a misconception that when you warm up the inside of the house you dry out the air. This is false, when you warm up the air the air can carry more moisture than cold air. An extreme example of this would be a swimming complex where you have a large body of water and warm air temperatures. As a result you will notice that walls, tiles and any cold surface within that area will have a residue of water on them. Houses that do not breathe properly are more prone to condensation.
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