I looked at a repair job last week. Customer has a 10′ high sky light shaft in Master bedroom. The paint is peeling off in sheets. She says they have had it painted several times and problem comes back. She tells me it has been painted with oil over original latex paint, part of problem. They added a exhaust fan hoping it would help.
I was suggested to drywall over exhisting and start fresh with new latex paint. It was also suggested to add a layer of tyvek between layers of drywall. I also suggested putting switch for fan on a timer and letting it run for a while after using shower.
My question is : will adding tyvek do anything to help problem or could it cause any problems?
Replies
1) Where is the skylight? Master bedroom or master bathroom - title says bath, post says bedroom.
2) Where is the fan? in the bath ceiling/wall or in the shaft?
This info would help.
Jim
Never underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.
Sorry posted at end of long day. The skylight is in Bathroom. The fan is located on wall of skylight shaft. There is also a fan in ceiling of bathroom in normal positioning between shower and toilet.
>> fan is located on wall of skylight shaft << best place, additional fan lower is a bonus. Timer on the fan switches is a good idea, for the one in the shaft especially.
I'm with Dan and Piffin, peeling paint is the symptom of a moisture problem most probably caused by condensation.
A trip to the attic is in your future to check insulation on the attic side of the shaft, routing / seal of vent fan hoses and to see if there is any evidence of a rainwater leak at the skylight.
Another area to check - is the fan housing sealed to the SR? Tyvek tape, foam, caulk will all work.
I don't think Tyvek between layers of SR will do anything. A fresh layer of SR and an appropriate primer would help the new paint.
Wouldn't it just be typical if the guy who put the exhaust fan in the shaft removed / messed up a bunch of the shaft insulation and then vented the fan directly into the attic??
Jim
Never underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.
Edited 7/17/2007 7:41 am ET by JTC1
The paint is possibly being pushed off the wall by moisture. What's on the backside of the current shaft and is the area below the unit to roof sealed up (air) well?
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I didn't get into the attic to check it out,I would assume I can get to the area since someone did at one time to install fan.
The Tyvek will do no good and probably no harm.There is obviouslky a problem with moisture, but where the moisture happens is an open question. Could be no insulation or seal on back side of this shaft wall in the aticc letting moisture get to back of the SR. Where do those fans blow to and do they have sealed duccts?
Could be a leak around the skylight itself.Gotta find the source and deal with it before dealing with painting.
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I'm guessing that moisture is condensing in the attic around the well. Is the vent fan vented all the way outside or just to the attic?
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That's the way I am leaning
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Tyvek isn't a vapor barrier.
Is the window well insulated behind the drywall? It may be that condensation is forming on the attic side.
The whole thing is flaky. A 10-foot high light shaft in a bathroom is asking for trouble -- humid air will rise in it and condense onto the sides, while any moisture in the attic will try to get back the other way.
The shaft needs to be heavily insulated all the way to the roof, and have a well-insulated skylight. Even then it could be trouble.
It would help if there were some forced airflow through the shaft. Adding a heating/cooling supply or return connection at the top of the shaft would create some airflow and alleviate many of the problems. And the vent fan should be a duct fan with a large inlet near the shower and a small one near the top of the shaft.
Any paint used should be fungus-resistant or have fungicides added.
It appears that the fan vents to the outside, I'm going to suggest to the owner we re-insulate the shaft in attic. I also seal joints in duct work and seal around the fan itself.
I wasn't sure about the tyvek myself,didn't seem like it would do a whole lot,just don't want create more problems.
Seems like they have been having this problem for a while and no one can solve it. If I can fix it,which I'm sure I can ,it might lead to a kitchen remodel.
Thanks for all you responses,I'll keep you posted
I would tear the energy monster out and put a solatube in with the incandescent light option.
As already mentioned....the shaft needs to be well insulated and you'll need an exhaust fan right above the shower and one at the top of the light shaft......both of adequate size and vented to outside world. You'll also need to make sure there is adequate intake air for the exhaust fans (3/4" space at bottom of door to the bathroom). Without adequate intake air, no exhaust fan can work effectively.
If there are teenage kids (or teenage adults) taking endless LONG HOT showers........ good luck.
If the drywall is currrently saturated enough to throw off the paint, you'll have to allow it to dry out adequately before you try repainting again. Painting wet/damp drywall will most likely result in yet another peeling problem.
Edited 7/18/2007 12:24 am ET by HootOwl
Edited 7/18/2007 12:41 am ET by HootOwl
I'm not convinced that moisture is causing the paint to peel. Of course the thing needs insulated anyway, but I'm thinking new drywall over poly sheeting for a fresh start with good paint is the answer.
When paint comes off in sheets, moisture is almost always the problem.So do you have an alternate thought as to what the problem actually is?And if you don't think the problem is moisture, why suggest poly to protect against moisture?
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When paint comes off in sheets you generally have two problems -- an adhesion problem and a moisture problem.It would be good to know where the separation is occurring. If the latex is separating from the oil then likely there was poor preparation of the oil prior to painting with latex. If the oil is separating from the paper then priming was likely improper. If the paper is separating then the drywall needs to be replaced.
So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin
Attic,attic,attic
Skylite vaults are almost always insulated poorly, IMHEIf you didn't have time to do it right the first time, how come you've got time to do it over again?
That's a given. Even if nominally insulated, the corners are not going to be well sealed, or the insulation will be stretched tight around them or some such.
So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin
I have skylights in both of my upstairs bathrooms. Paint is peeling in both but the guest bathroom shower is almost never used. I have chalked it up to intense heat. Earlier this year, I had the fiberglass insulation removed and had both spray insulated. I just climbed to start the prep and paint process. I could only she take about 5 minutes. Because it was probably over a 100° in the shaft, which is only about 6 feet tall. I will continue my work tomorrow morning when it's cooler and see how it works long term.