The Root of the Roof Problem.
I think it is going to take more than the addition of a thick membrane on the outside of the roof to stop the condensation problem in the attic area of the old middle school building in Blakesburg. I could be wrong, and I hope that I am. Because, if I am right, it is going to cost a lot more to fix the moisture problem than what we have been led to believe.
When the condensation problem was discussed at a school board meeting some time ago, it was generally agreed that the problem was primarily due to warm air in the attic coming into contact with the metal roof in the cold months of the year. Dr. Cook suggested spraying the underside of the roof with a form-type of insulation to fix the problem. However, the architect thought that the membrane would be a better choice and there would be less chance of air reaching the dew point temperature.
With roof moisture problems of ice buildup on the roof or condensation problems in the attic, there are primarily two causes. One is due to insufficient insulation and the other is due to a lack of air circulation in the attic area. Both proper insulation and air circulation are needed. At the time of this discussion, no one was aware that there were a number of fans installed throughout the attic and that the fans either were not working or had not even been turned on for an unknown number of years. In addition, there was no discussion at that time of also removing the thick layer of insulation above the ceiling tiles.
Previously, there had been discussion and approval for removing and replacement of the old ceiling tiles. Again, there had been no discussion of removing the thick layer of insulation above the ceiling tiles. When the ceiling tiles and insulation were removed, the whole attic area and underside of the roof were clearly visible. It was then that it was discovered that there were numerous fans in the attic which no one seemed to have known existed. Maintenance personnel, school administrators and the architects were not aware of the existence of these fans and/or that the fans had not been operating for a number of years.
There are two attic exhaust fans on the south wall of the building. One on each side of the connector between the school and the gym. The fans are just above the ceiling tile level. These two fans, by themselves, were not adequate to properly circulate the air in the attic, and the heavy layer of insulation also impeded the flow of the air around the fans. It is evident, that some years ago, numerous smaller fans were added in the attic to provide the proper air circulation and eliminate any dead air space. Obviously, if the fans are not working or are not turned on, there will be circulation problems resulting in ice forming on the roof or condensation problems in the attic.
When I walked through the building on August 23rd, the exhaust fans on the south wall were not turned on, but all the other fans in the attic were operating. It appeared that most of the attic fans had been replaced with new ones. It was a warm day and the air conditioning was turned on full blast even though the front door was wide open and there were only three people in the building. When I looked up into the attic, I could see occasional cracks of daylight coming in from the sides of the attic (the side walls between the ceiling tiles and the roof are not insulated.)
The addition of the membrane to the roof has been given the green light by the school board, and the work should be completed in November or early December at the latest. New ceiling tiles will be installed, but there are no plans to replace the previous thick layer of insulation above the ceiling tiles.
In my opinion, without a thick layer of insulation above the ceiling tiles, a lot of heat will be lost during the cold winter months which can result in some high heating bills. With all this warm air rising up into the attic, there may still be condensation problems. Whereas the roof may be insulated with the outside membrane layer, the walls or sides of the attic are not insulated. Also, other than the two attic exhaust fans on the south wall, there are no other outside vents in the attic.
Another problem may exist in the warm months when there is air conditioning. It is my understanding that when air conditioning was installed in the building around 1999 – 2001, there was a major condensation problem with the ceiling tiles. Because of the absorbed moisture, the tiles began to look like egg cartons. The tiles were replaced but additional insulation was added above the tiles to correct the moisture problem.
Now that there will not be any insulation above the ceiling tiles, this problem may reoccur. The cool air will come into contact with the warm attic air at the tile level, there will be condensation and the tiles will begin to look like egg cartons.
As I said at the start of this blog, I hope I am wrong.