Damp walls??

[yeman]

Hi, we moved a couple of years ago from a terrace house to a detached house that needs lots of re decoration, and in the last 2 winters I have noticed that if we place somthing close to the inside walls the walls can become damp?
for a couple of instances:
1) we had a small bookcase up against a wall but there was a 1/2" gap between it and the wall from the skirting board, there was a damp feelling on the wall behind.
2) we have clothes rail on wheels that was pushed up against the wall so the clothes were just touching and the wall became damp.

I wonder if it is a case of cavity insulation being required?

any advise would be good.

yeman

 

[^woody^]

Its condensation off a cold wall.

By placing the bookcase near the wall you are reducing airflow and subsequent evaporation, so it retains moisture

The clothes absorb the moisture from the near-by wall, so get a little damp.

 

[yeman]

hi Woody
thanks for you reply,
I thought is was the cold wall and warm interior, what can be done to stop this? would insulating the cavity fix it?

Yeman