Additional Insulation Asbestos Cement House and Moisture

[Lawrence]

We have a place on Öland, possibly built in the 1940s. Horizontal timber, with asbestos cladding. In the 1970s, additional insulation and an outer panel were added. No moisture barrier. On the inside, newspaper and paper interior walls. We have a slight musty cottage smell, nothing lethal, but we'd like to get rid of it. We have a dehumidifier in the basement, which otherwise feels OK. All linoleum mats are gone, only simple wooden floors are exposed. Does anyone have experience with this, where does the outward migrating moisture go, does it get trapped behind the asbestos, uncertain if it's ventilated there, probably not. Anyone in a similar situation?

 

[BMW fahrer]

...redid an outer roof 2 years ago. I complained already within 6 years after it was built about smell and leakage... my older one didn't want to listen... now that I've taken over the house, I had to fix the problem... yes, it leaked in, straight into the truss bottom... the smell arose when it got warm and the insulation dried.
Sounds like you're describing a similar situation.

Unfortunately, it was very common in the 70s, i.e., from the summer of 1973 onwards due to the "Oil Crisis" that many poorly thought-out insulation additions were made... they had to be redone in the 80s... there was "tons" in the press about all this "construction fraud" at that time. Apparently, your house hasn't been addressed

A lot of work, risk of significant costs. Address it while it's still possible - you likely already have substantial rot damage from what you describe ...