CHI Posted February 16, 2009 Report Posted February 16, 2009 Not sure what would be the cause of this. New construction, cement siding. Approximately 45 degrees outside, lows overnight in the 30's. The rim joist and sill were soaking wet at nearly all locations in the crawl. You can see water stains on the foundation wall at several locations. The ends of the insulation were dripping wet when pulled back. I'm assuming it has to due with a lack of vapor barrier at the exterior? Anyone got the answer?? Click to Enlarge 43.07 KB Click to Enlarge 57.08 KB Click to Enlarge 35.3 KB Click to Enlarge 48.39 KB
hausdok Posted February 16, 2009 Report Posted February 16, 2009 That's exactly where you'd find condensation in most finished basement houses in a heating climate if you were to cut into the ceiling and explore the rim joist area. An alternative possibility is rain that's leaking in at the sills. Did the siding extend below the sill or did they stop it right at the sill where moisture draining off the drip edge of the siding will wick directly into the sills? Found exactly the same thing two weeks ago on the rim of a crawl behind a concrete porch without any vents. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike
CHI Posted February 16, 2009 Author Report Posted February 16, 2009 The siding did extend past the sill and there hasn't been much rain up our way lately. Is there a solution? If this much moisture is consistent, the joists will certainly rot or become lunch for carpenter ants.
hausdok Posted February 16, 2009 Report Posted February 16, 2009 Yeah, Fix the barrier, make sure you don't have any windows or doors leaking into the walls and make sure the insulation is against the underside of the floors and not flush with the bottom of the joists with a two inch space above it for warm moist air to migrate into from above and head straight for the cold rims. OT - OF!!! M.
CHI Posted February 16, 2009 Author Report Posted February 16, 2009 Thanks Mike. I suppose I'll be hearing from Harbor Homes on this one.
hausdok Posted February 16, 2009 Report Posted February 16, 2009 Tell them to go to the Building Science site and study the concept of "Vapor Diffusion" and that, once they understand it, fire the insulation sub they're using and bring in another to get all of the insulation under all of those homes pushed up against the underside of the floors where it's supposed to be. Look at your first picture - that tells the tale. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike
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