Solving Condensation in Timber Garden Buildings

We all use our garden buildings for different reasons, from simple storage sheds to full blown offices, gymnasium’s and hobby rooms.

Unfortunately, the build-up of condensation sometimes leading damp patches, mold or rust can ruin any items within them.

With today’s modern manufacturing, better quality roofing materials and even double glazing, Condensation is an even greater problem than before. 

It is therefore important to ensure you have good ventilation in a building, (even if it is insulated) to prevent damp stale air building up. This is not normally a problem in simple garden sheds which often have a little space around the door and sometimes a space near the roof level (more by accident than design), but even these gaps may not be enough to prevent moisture build up and condensation.

Good ventilation is important to every timber building all year round. In the summer the build-up of heat can make it impossible to even enter a building, along with presenting a danger to animals or items susceptible to heat damage. Then when the weather turns colder moisture can become a problem, as the buildings tend to be closed up for long periods of time allowing moisture within the timber structure itself to turn into mildew and other signs of damp.

A simple fridge or other heat source within the building can quickly turn moist air to condensation when the vapour hits a cold surface like a window or roof window, even the underside of the roof can become saturated with water droplets when the temperature outside is freezing.

Fitting passive ventilation to a building can greatly improve the air quality inside and prevent the build-up of moisture and condensation. It is recommended that any vents fitted are fitted in pairs where one is fitted lower in the side of the wall near the floor and a second fitted at gable height on the opposite side of the building, this will allow for the natural flow of air from the cool air drawn in at the bottom to warm moist air vented at the top.

Our air vent (V2) manufactured from Stainless steel has a weather cowl and is fitted with louvered vents to ensure only air is drawn into the building, it also features the addition of a built-in insect screen which will prevent any unwanted guests.

Fitting is simple. A 60mm hole is drilled and the vent clips in or if required two small fixings screws can be used.

Each vent provides a ventilation area of 2800mm² and is capable of providing up to 36m³ of fresh clean air.