Hello All, I hope someone can help me with my worries.
I moved into my house which is a semi detached with extension added at one end just over a year ago. I understand it might be normal to get a bit of condensation in the loft now and then but what I'm seeing now is worrying. Last winter we had the only house with no frost on the roof so I knew the loft insulation was poor. During the summer I topped up what was existing with 170mm roll out insulation. The majority of the loft had tongue and groove chipboard which I took up and relaid after adding the extra insulation. I left the edges clear to allow ventilation. Since then the house has been warmer and the bills seem to have reduced.

I have just been up to get the Christmas decorations down and there is a lot of water drips (condensation) on the felt some of which has soaked into the roof joists making them a bit damp too. There are some areas where I can put my fingers between the felt strips and the wood and tiles feel wet which is a concern. There are several areas (shelves, boxes of stuff) in the loft where water has obviosly collected which are damp and even wet, I hope from condensation and not leaks but I'm not sure?

I hope there's no connection but the ceiling around the loft hatch and landing plus the wall fromceiling to top of stairs is developing cracks through the paint which I hoped were to do with settlement but the house is 1965 and the extension which is sound was attached approx 5 years ago.

If anyone can give me some advice or set my mind at rest I would be grateful. I'm a keen DIYer but not an expert builder so please help!

heeelllooo and welcome comedydrill

my guess would be you have a leak off sorts and the ventilation cant cope

causes off course can be numerous leak in roof
not enough ventilation
extractor fans throwing moist air into the attic deliberatley or accidentilly
warm air leaking into loft through hatch/down lighters/ holes round pipework ect

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we are all ------------------still learning

Thanks, I must add that I have 5 down lights going into the bathroom that are exposed in the loft. 3 are pucker and 2 aren't heat protected so I haven't insulated over any of them and only left the original inadequate insulation above that ceiling. I fitted an extractor fan for the bathroom but this sucks from the bathroom through the ceiling and loft but leads to outside and not into the loft.

I have also added insulation to the loft hatch but not around the edges which weren't insulated when we moved in. The condensation is along the whole length of the loft on the underside of the felt.

Should I be able to put my hand through the felt and touch the underside of the roof tiles and wood they are secured to, there are bowed areas of the felt that allow this?

Could the cracks in the landing paintwork and ceiling plaster be atributed to condensation or just increased traffic in and out of the loft (the walls are dry)?

So many questions I know but I would like to know as much as possible before I decide to get a builder in, I don't mind paying if the work needs doing but until I know if my insurance would cover this type of work I'm scared to get anyone in in case I get ripped off or landed with a huge bill that I can't afford. Is there anything I could try to see if the condensation goes away or reduces to a more acceptable level?

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

getting a builder in at this stage can cost you money unnesiserily

he may suggest work on the roof that needs doing but may not be the cause because he simply wont know until all the other possible causes have been sorted

on a windy day do you feel a draught in the attic with the hatch shut??

do you get a draught through the down lighters on a windy day ??

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we are all ------------------still learning

The loft is cold but there is no draft up there when windy or through the down lighters.

Thanks

I have checked and there doesn't seem to be a draft anywhere, has anyone got any advice? I would be grateful of any help?

Well I’m a builder and here is some FREE advice, lol. Seen lots and lots of these, my dads was the worst one & he was at fault because like many of the lofts I look at, people unwittingly "stuff" loft insulation down into the eaves area, over the wall plate, as they can feel a draught, where in 1965, they used to leave a 1" continuous air gap in the soffit boards. It is meant to be draughty up there. Maybe you could take a look and get back on here before I go on about below ridge venting.
Hope this helps.
P.S
The old tar felt (now F1 sarking felt) is meant to be laid "slack" so as wind driven rain getting under the tiles/slates will find its way out down the middle of the rafters and therefore away from the nailed batten area.

Thanks Chris,

I shall take another look and make sure there is sufficient gap all around. I'm relieved about the felt needing to be a bit slack. I suppose the wooden batten (which is soaked in the areas I can touch) will dry out in the summer? Is that ok? What about the roof supports being a little bit damp, not all of them just a couple? Could that have been caused by the condensation collecting?

Regards,

hmmmm..... your roof timbers should be dry mate lol, try to get some cross flow ventilation through the top of your gaff before moving on to the next stage.

Chris,

Cross flow ventilation? Is that when ventilation tiles are used at front and back to let the air flow through?

If not what do you recommend?

Sort of, but usually from across the length of your fascia boards front & back, one of thse days i'll post some pics of how to put some vent tiles/slates in as this seems to be a popular problem. Let us know how you get on mate.

And cover those "exposed" downlights in the loft...they will warm up the air in the loft & won't be helping with the condensation...

...http://www.aico.co.uk/firecap_loftcap.htm

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Verwood Handyman
I Know it says I'm On-line, but I might have just left myself logged in, whilst I'm out....

I need to know if my guess at the prob was near target....... where he gone? lol

Chris can you post the slate vent pics cheers.

I haven't got any yet lol, need a job that has same probs or no breathable felt to come in, then again, stopped doing smaller jobs so may be a while!
I have a brilliant tip on how to cut a hole in your underfelt & still make it waterish proof, not sure how I can get it across though? This is what you would need to do if using a venting tile, flue outlet etc.