Condensation Issue? Gaps between stonework & window frames?

[fmmc]

Hi folks,
am in a new house approximately a year now and beginning now to focus on all the little issues I ignored last winter as the initial excitement wears off! One of my main 'problems' particularly on cooler nights/mornings is condensation. Condensation is more prominent on some windows and in some rooms than others. The house is timberframe construction
and the outer skin is hallmark stone and I have noticed when looking at the window reveals externally that there is in some cases quite a gap between the back of the stone and the window frame. I'm wondering if this could be contributing to my problem and if so, would anyone offer a view as to how to remedy (fill gap with expandable foam or seal gap with coloured silicone?) Perhaps the issue is un-related and I've other roblems
though. I should add that ventilation doesn't appear to be a huge issue as I've wondow vents in the rooms plus a draft or two more than I'd prefer to have! Thanks in advance.

 

[onq]

Condensation is caused by water vapour in the air condensing on a surface the temperature of which is below the dewpoint for the ambient internal conditions of humidity and temperature.

1. Reduce total amount of water vapour getting into the air by causing less

Most living processes put water in the air.
This can be a lifestyle issue centring on how often you shower, what and how you cook, the levle of heat you have on during these living professes, etc.
Married couples with two young children tend to put a lot more water into the air than a sincle person living alone, regardless of lifestyle.
The everage for a private house with 2.4 children is some like 14 litres(1) a day - this has to go somewhere.
The current trends towards hermetically sealing our houses it makes it less easy for water vapour to transpire through a timber frame construction.


2.Reduce the level of water vapour in the air by ventilating more.

If you're commited to a green agenda it difficult to simply say "open the windows" in the cooler months, but they aren't here yet.
pen the windows on any mildly warm day to fully ventilate the house.
I cannot subscribe to little vents being able to fully ventilate a well-used room.
You need to blow out the cobwebs occassionally.


3. Increase the thermal resistance of the windows

The windows are your rooms' coldest points - ergo you need to check the specification of the windows.
THese should have been specified so avoid a huge differential between a highly insulated wall and a cold window.
There will usually be some difference, but it shouldn't be unusually so and the gaps you describe could be making the window frames unusually cold.
You should have thsi checked out by a BER assessor competent in this mind of remedial work.

ONQ.

[broken link removed]

All advice on AAM is remote from the situation and cannot be relied upon as a defence or support - in and of itself - should legal action be taken.
Competent legal and building professionals should be asked to advise in Real Life with rights to inspect and issue reports on the matters at hand.