Right I have found a problem in my loft today when I went up there to start a bit of prep for some new insulation, I found damp on the rafters towards the front of the house. Now I'm pretty sure I spotted the problem before I spotted the damp - the old tatty insulation was all pushed up right against the eaves which I know is a big no no cos it cuts the ventilation off.

So my plan is now to remove the damp and to move the old insulation back and re-establish the air flow back to the loft. but what would you recommend to clean and remove the damp with? Would a warm water/bit of bleach be sufficient?

And one other thing... I have ordered enough new insulation to give me the recommended 270mm worth but you think i should just get rid of the old tattered insulation (which doesn't look as bad as it does in the pics after its had a bit of a shake) or just put my new stuff over the top once its had a clean? (giving them a shakes no prob as im putting down a vapour barrier anyway)

I had a very similar thing in my loft - once I had got the air flowing it dried out but I gave it a good soaking of Cuprinol 5 Star

Same here.

Cuprinol 5 star wood treatment

Just don't get it on the felt as it is solvent based (or used to be) and might damage the felt!

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DIY | Donnas dream house

Thanks for the posts

Should of popped on the laptop earlier, been up there and gave the wood a brush with diluted bleach. I've dragged in the old insulation away from the eaves but I had to take the ladders outside to remove a blockage from that side too to get the air circulating again. Seemed like someone previously went to a lot of effort to stop the air ventilation, what a

All that's left to do is order my £3 a roll insulation from NPower and Build Center and jobs'a'gudun!

here's a link if anyone's interested...

http://www.npower.com/web/diyloftinsulation/index.htm

Greetings.
I too have a similar problem in my loft also with damp patches forming on the rafters.I have attributed this to recent cavity wall insulation.To be fair,the condition shown in your photo looks to be worse than in my loft at the moment. Would be interested to know how you went with the bleach clean down.
I have had eave vents installed around the house today, removed the downlighters from the bathroom,(they where knackered anyhow,my 18 and 24 yr old kids cant seem to turn them off). Fitted draft proof strip to loft hatch.
Want to give rafters wipe down with some treatment so any info will be good info,then its just wait and see.
Cheers.

Hi TrickyDicky, my loft is all sorted now.

The cause for me was that the insulation rolls had been stuffed right up to the ends of the eaves cutting off air ventilation. It’s a problem easily sorted tho, just give the existing rolls a bit of a tug back and bobs your uncle as they say.

The rafters themselves were solid and I just thought I would give the affected area a quick scrub while I was up there. I ended up diluting some bleach with water in a spray bottle, only gave it a quick spray and brush tho.

I take it when you say you’ve removed the downlighters from your bathroom you’ve sealed up the holes?

Hello Again.
Downlighters are disconnected. transformers removed etc but lights are still in untill the weekend then its pieces of plasterboard stuck over holes in loft,then plaster over in the bathroom(may have to have full skim over),paint over with anti condensation paint.
Did the bleach solution work ok? or go for the cuprinol stuff?.Kinda hoping that the eave vents fitted that cost nearly as much as the cavity wall will sort out this problem in the long term,it already feels colder up there.But I dont really want to have that lingering around on the rafters.also gotta get rid of some of the junk up there lol!
Cheers.