House with frame erected, frost and moisture inside? Help ??

[catherineb]

Hello everyone! Hope someone can calm a nervous soon-to-be homeowner...

We've recently had our house framed (it's a turnkey house that came in modules and the roof is completed). We've been inside to take a look and there's been lots of frost along the walls. You could scrape off the frost with your fingers. Now the temperature has risen above freezing, and the frost has turned into moisture.

The house was erected in mid-December and has been cold since then. No drying or dehumidification has been done... The carpenters say they'll come to start drying next week, but can it really be good for the frames to be this damp?

The carpenters claim the house is sealed (but we can see it's completely open where the trusses meet the exterior walls...) We were thinking of putting in our own dehumidifier, but it's probably not useful when the house isn't sealed, right? Plus, it's not supposed to be OUR responsibility to cover such a cost when we've bought a turnkey house to avoid having to deal with this...

What do you wise people out there say? Can we be calm and let it stand until next week?

 

[bamyl]

Hello!
Is there any insulation in the walls or ceiling?
When was the concrete slab completed?

 

[catherineb]

Hello!
Is there any insulation in the walls or ceiling?
When was the concrete slab completed?

Hello! There is insulation everywhere and the drywall is in place. The slab was fully poured on 29/11!

 

[Stringfellow Hawke]

Hello all house owners! I hope someone can calm a nervous soon-to-be homeowner...

We've recently had our house built up (it's a turnkey house that came in modules and the roof is fully laid). We've been inside and there has been a lot of frost along the walls. You could scrape off the frost with your fingers. Now the temperature has gone above zero and the frost has transformed into moisture.

The house was built up in mid-December and has been left cold since then. No drying or dehumidification... The builders say they'll come to set it up for drying next week, but can it really be good for the frames to become this moist?

The builders claim the house is sealed (but we can see it's completely open where the rafters meet the outer walls.....) We thought about putting in our own dehumidifier, but is it worth it when the house isn't sealed? Moreover, shouldn't WE be the ones paying for that kind of cost when we've bought a turnkey house to avoid dealing with it all....

What do you wise people out there say? Can we be calm and let it stand until next week?

Strange not to put in heat immediately, it's not good for gypsum which tends to get black mold on the surface when it becomes moist. For the remaining frame, I would say there's no major danger, it will dry.
But generally, as mentioned, it's usually important to get heat on immediately, not least so the concrete can dry before flooring and waterproofing.

 

[bamyl]

Oh, how exhausting! They haven't possibly turned on the floor dryer or heater on the slab, have they?

 

[catherineb]

There is no heat or drying at all. We scraped frost off the surface when we were there last time, but now it will probably be water instead...

 

[Oldboy]

My layman's assessment is that it probably isn't a significant problem.

Our unheated garage has stood roughly the same way for 20-30 years now...
The drywall has gotten some discoloration, and maybe a few mold spots. If they are mold spots, they are so few and insignificant that once a layer of paint is applied over them, it's no longer a problem.

Mold only grows at above freezing temperatures, and at some it grows very slowly.

 

[catherineb]

When you google, there is an incredible amount of information about how susceptible to mold gypsum is, hence our concern. Now our house has been freezing/thawing/freezing/thawing between -26 to +8 degrees since 11/29. It doesn't feel at all like it's OK.

I also think that a garage is different from a residential house, but what do I know.

My layman's assessment suggests that it's probably not a significant problem.

Our unheated garage has been in similar conditions for 20-30 years now...
The gypsum has gotten slight discolorations, and maybe a few mold spots. If they are mold spots, they are so few and insignificant that when a layer of paint is applied on top, it is no longer a problem.

Mold only grows at above freezing temperatures, and even then very slowly.

 

[catherineb]

I don't think mold will develop now either, but if you enclose damp drywall, it might take several years before you start smelling mold, and by that time you'll just need to replace the whole thing. Not exactly what you had in mind when you paid for a new house

 

[Jonatan79]

What does the house seller say about this? Has the construction been at a standstill without ongoing work since mid-Dec?

 

[catherineb]

Yes, it has been at a standstill since around 12/20.

I have spoken with one of the people in charge at the manufacturer and he said there was nothing to worry about and that "the carpenters are coming next week, so it will dry in time for the painters to come."

I have turned to the salesperson we have had the most contact with during the process and he has promised to address this with the concerned parties. So I hope he can help us through this...

 

[Jonatan79]

Ok, the worst that happens is that you have to replace damaged drywall, it might delay things by a few days but I don't think worse than that.

 

[catherineb]

If they don't intend to do it then? :/

 

[Jonatan79]

Keep track of what is happening, take pictures, talk to the site manager and the house seller so there are no misunderstandings.