Solid Hardwood, Engineered and Laminate Flooring - Condensation on skylights and hardwood help!
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fidoprincess
05-01-07, 02:19 PM
Well thanks to this forum's advice, I picked out the wood and we were all set to go with the installation of the 3/4 inch solid prefinished hardwood. At the last minute, I decided to do the entire house (except the bedrooms) including a "playroom/sunroom". This room has 3 large 4X6 domed skylights and 3 sliding glass doors across one wall opening to the back yard. It is long and narrow at 10X30' so the one whole wall is virtually glass sliders. I know it will look great with the hardwood floors and just tie the whole house together because many of the main rooms open up into this area like the kitchen and the dining room and the hall as well as the den. There is just a powder room in the area though, no bath or shower contributing to the moisture.
I realized this morning that all 3 skylights are dripping condensation! I noticed it before and at one point, we had a leak and replaced one of the with the double pane, dark tinted dome but that drips just as much as the single ones.
Is there anything that I can do to stop the condensation to be able to put the hardwood floors down?
The subfloor is 3/4 plywood but it is about 2 feet off of a poured concrete slab. There was no moisture barrier put down over the concrete when the subfloor was built and there is no way to access the area to do it now without pulling up the subfloor. The room was added on later and there is no venting to the outside. There are 3 vents from the interior wall under the main part of the house but none under that room that go directly outside.
It was never a big deal before but with all this talk of moisture cupping the wood, I'd better figure this out ahead of time to avoid any disasters. Short of constantly running a dehumidifier, are there any solutions? I called the skylight company and they recommend replacing (naturally!) at the low low price of $3K but can not guarantee that would stop the condensation either plus they can't even get out here to take a look for at least 2 weeks.
Thanks once again in advance for any help, thoughts or ideas you can give me. I really want my hardwood floors!
I realized this morning that all 3 skylights are dripping condensation! I noticed it before and at one point, we had a leak and replaced one of the with the double pane, dark tinted dome but that drips just as much as the single ones.
Is there anything that I can do to stop the condensation to be able to put the hardwood floors down?
The subfloor is 3/4 plywood but it is about 2 feet off of a poured concrete slab. There was no moisture barrier put down over the concrete when the subfloor was built and there is no way to access the area to do it now without pulling up the subfloor. The room was added on later and there is no venting to the outside. There are 3 vents from the interior wall under the main part of the house but none under that room that go directly outside.
It was never a big deal before but with all this talk of moisture cupping the wood, I'd better figure this out ahead of time to avoid any disasters. Short of constantly running a dehumidifier, are there any solutions? I called the skylight company and they recommend replacing (naturally!) at the low low price of $3K but can not guarantee that would stop the condensation either plus they can't even get out here to take a look for at least 2 weeks.
Thanks once again in advance for any help, thoughts or ideas you can give me. I really want my hardwood floors!
fidoprincess
05-01-07, 08:00 PM
Well it seems either my post was too long or I am really out of luck!
Any ideas? Anyone? Do you think punching a vent through would make a difference? The front is a long concrete step but at one end I could do a vent in the front and another one on the side of that same end about 6 feet away but the far end is completely encased in concrete. I would have 2 vents at one end of the 30 foot room direct to the outside and then 3 additional to the inside and across open to the front vents. Worth trying or suck it up and replace the skylights?
Any ideas? Anyone? Do you think punching a vent through would make a difference? The front is a long concrete step but at one end I could do a vent in the front and another one on the side of that same end about 6 feet away but the far end is completely encased in concrete. I would have 2 vents at one end of the 30 foot room direct to the outside and then 3 additional to the inside and across open to the front vents. Worth trying or suck it up and replace the skylights?
Carpets Done Wright
05-01-07, 08:15 PM
It is telling me, you have a lot of moisture available in the air, and the skylight is getting below dew point temperature. Get rid of the humidity. or put a bucket under the drip.
fidoprincess
05-01-07, 08:37 PM
Yes! I know I have to get rid of the humidity but am just not sure how! Thanks so much for replying. It is not just one drip but 3 large skylights dripping all the way around. No way the installer will even put the floors in at this point.
So will venting under the subfloor help or do I need to replace the skylights or both? Any opinions, hints, tips would be great.
So will venting under the subfloor help or do I need to replace the skylights or both? Any opinions, hints, tips would be great.