Condensation in my loft

dumb_blonde

probably a long shot, but does anyone think there would be any comeback to the company that installed the loft installation and put it in wrong(packed to the edges without any ventilation gap)?

truckid

Hi,

I had ordered cheaps rolls of Rockwool which had been on offer, however I am looking for a person/company to install it, DIY is not an option.

Reading the horror stories here, I want to avoid condensation. However, how to pick a reputable company, one that doesn't overcharge and knows how to the job properly.

Is it worth going for a big name company like British Gas, does anybody know of an reputable,inexpensive alternative. Or is it just a case of looking online/yellow pages?

Thanks

IamWood

isofa wrote: »

Got this problem again this year, it's got much worse since the prolonged cold weather, water dripping on everything in the loft, from the felt between the rafters, mainly on the side which doesn't get the sun, mopping it regularly, but it's ruined all our storage boxes, literally running with water. I have a lot of the loft boarded (over thick insulation) plus carpet over the board, and this is all wet in sections too.

It's a modern house about 15 to 20 years old, no cavity wall insulation (was considering it!), and probably no breathable felt. but plenty of loft insulation. Bathrooms are vented with fans, plenty of air getting from the soffits, it's certainly cold up there! None are blocked with insulation, but there is a lot of water droplets all over the felt, gently dripping on the loft contents. I suspect it'll need more than a few vented roof tiles to rectify, I will get an expert in soon. (If anyone knows any roofing experts with skills in this, in Cambridgeshire let me know).

It must be to do with ventilation and lack of outside wind conditions with the very cold weather.

I have the same problem -- the whole roof felt on the north side is complete wet.

I did get some roofers to check the situation. All seem to say it is normal and no much worries. Is this really the case? To install roof ventilation would cost me £700 and won't guarantee to fix the problem.

Have you got yours sorted out? I still have no idea how I can do.

SIRT

Condensation mainly occurs in unvented lofts through change of temperature between a warm room below and a cold loft above ie in the Winter.

In many cases people notice this more after having new loft insulation installed.
If this happens in your roof, the safest and easiest solution is to fit extra ventilation and this is where the first money saving tip comes in:

The best form of ventilation without smashing a hole in a perfectly sound roof and without any need to go outside and onto the roof is to fit a purpose built device which controls the amount of airflow and is internally fitted under the tiles through the felt with mesh guards and baffles to ensure the roof breathes in a controlled way.

I’m laboring this a bit because I know there are other cheap "contraptions" used in loft spaces that can ventilate such as sprung loaded devices, pieces of batten and oval tubes that are all forced between the laps of felt to create a draft.

If your roof has condensation and is sealed - don’t open the laps in the felt, without a controlled device to handle it.

If you do, you may find a cheap solution ends up destroying a perfectly sound roof.

Two things to consider:

1. Infestation : fly’s, wasps, bees can all get into your loft, along with many other nasties!

2. Wind Uplift: If you don’t control the draft created you could see your tiles uplifted in storm conditions.

And this is where my second money saving tip is: A cheap solution now may bring you a financial burden later, as I have witnessed through some of my customers!

I hope this helps?

From an NHBC builder......... More tips to follow.......

Swipe

Spam reported.

SIRT

Swipe wrote: »

Spam reported.

Noted concern and hopefully dealt with it. Thank you

neutron

SIRT wrote: »

The best form of ventilation without smashing a hole in a perfectly sound roof and without any need to go outside and onto the roof is to fit a purpose built device which controls the amount of airflow and is internally fitted under the tiles through the felt with mesh guards and baffles to ensure the roof breathes in a controlled way.

The "purpose built device" referred to did not work for me.
Following extensive dialogue with the designer and supplier of the Lapvent device I had eight fitted as recommended and they have made no difference, I still have condensation on the underside of the roof felt on the north side of the roof. The vents were fitted strictly in accordance with the recommendations including the positioning.
I will now have to consider vent tiles as well. There are no soffits and facias on the 14 year old property as the roof A frame joists protrude beyond the external brickwork and have plastic ventilators between the joists. Many of these on the south side of the roof are compressed and prevent airflow, that is a matter of poor construction, despite two NHBC reports that all is well.
In my experience the costly Lapvent device failed to rectify the problem. I'm still trying to find a roofing expert who really knows what he is talking about.

Gloomendoom

I assume you have made every effort to stop the moist air getting into the loft in the first place.

SIRT

neutron wrote: »

The "purpose built device" referred to did not work for me.
Following extensive dialogue with the designer and supplier of the Lapvent device I had eight fitted as recommended and they have made no difference, I still have condensation on the underside of the roof felt on the north side of the roof. The vents were fitted strictly in accordance with the recommendations including the positioning.
I will now have to consider vent tiles as well. There are no soffits and facias on the 14 year old property as the roof A frame joists protrude beyond the external brickwork and have plastic ventilators between the joists. Many of these on the south side of the roof are compressed and prevent airflow, that is a matter of poor construction, despite two NHBC reports that all is well.
In my experience the costly Lapvent device failed to rectify the problem. I'm still trying to find a roofing expert who really knows what he is talking about.

This is a really interesting reply and one which I hope I might be able to help with. Can you tell me what type of roof covering you have? ie type of tiles? Also have you spoken with lapvent as I have fitted many of their products and know they work extremely well.

lqa

We have just discovered severe condensation in our loft, relieved it isn't a leak, but need to get it sorted, to my knowledge this is the first time in 16 years in our house, a new build at the time.

Now three things have changed:

Evermore crap in the loft

[LIST=2]
Have had cavity insulation

[/LIST]
[LIST=3]
Had a marine fish tank that evaporates about 25 litres of water a week, loft hatch is poor fitting, and the house is open plan.
[/LIST]
Soffits were repaced about 3 years ago
Would a de-hummidifiers help?