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ali
Senior Member
Joined: 07 Nov 2007
Posts: 491
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 Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 12:54 pm Post subject: What's better? Soffit vents or roof tile vents? |
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Our loft has condensation issues and we were told by a surveyor we needed more air vents but as it was just a casual conversation, he didn't specify which kind and at the time, I didn't think to ask.
There was a roofer in the next street so I stopped him and asked him his opinion. He reckoned soffit vents were better as they were more unobtrusive than the tile vent type and as you would put more of them in (he suggested 4 along the front and same at the back) then the airflow would be better.
Opinions please guys? Does this sound about right?
I don't quite get how a soffit vent will let out the rising warm air as it's not very high, whereas a tile vent is higher and the warm air would head for there iyswim?
The area of loft above my son's bedroom in particular, is quite bad and the condensation forms around a third of the way up the roof then drips down through the loft flooring and last year it even leaked through the plasterboard ceiling of the bedroom underneath.
Will soffit vents really do the job? |
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leebwk
Senior Member
Joined: 01 Dec 2006
Posts: 847
Location: Oxford
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| Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 7:36 am Post subject: |
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Hi Ali,
I would have soffit vents installed firstly as this will be the easiest method and cheapest and should take no longer than half a day, if your other half is a competant DIYer then this can done by him as long as you have a decent ladder buy the circular screw in type and a hole cutting bit to suit, space the vents at about 450-500mm intervals (centrally).
You can purchase all you need from any good merchants or even screwfix for less than £60,were as tile vents will cost about £60-£75 and you will need about 4 plus fitting
Please be aware that some soffits are Asbestos you can still tackle this job if you wear a paper tyvec suit and a P3 mask
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peter c
Senior Member
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
Posts: 333
Location: Suffolk
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| Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 9:06 am Post subject: |
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Ali I fitted soffit vents to my house this year. As Lee says it only took me about half a day. Just make sure you buy the right size hole cutter, some are 70mm and some are 76mm. Guess who didn't buy the right size 
Peter C
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Tryanything
Senior Member
Joined: 18 Aug 2007
Posts: 1535
Location: Essex
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| Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 10:45 am Post subject: |
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cheaper and quicker would be Soffit vents, will give a good cross flow of
air as long as there not blocked by the loft insulation
Also maybe up the thickness of your loft insulation, l think loft insulation for building regs is now 275mm
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ali
Senior Member
Joined: 07 Nov 2007
Posts: 491
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| Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 9:00 pm Post subject: |
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[quote="leebwk].... if your other half is a competant DIYer [/quote]
Sorry. 
Had a different roofer up who says tile vents are better. 
He's going to bring them round next week to show them to me. I'm thinking it might be a good idea to get the soffit vents in but also put in 1 or 2 tile vents too? Surely that would cover everything and would ensure a good air flow and also would make sure any warm air escaped?
We have a suitable extending ladder so could do the soffit vents myself but I'd not want to do the tile vents, lol.
Thanks for the replies guys.
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