Roof problem

House_owner

HI, hope someone out there can help! We have a kitchen extension, which has a damp patch on the ceiling.

The kitchen roof is easily accessed, so we have been able to have a look at it. Can find no where on the roof, where the damp could be coming in - no missing tiles, no cracked tiles, the flashing completly sound and secure, no leaky gutters

Wondering if the best thing to do, would just be to paint !!!!!um (sorry, can't spell, hope you know what I mean- its thick and black) paint on the roof to see if that will accidently hit the stop. It is a sloping roof.

Any other ideas?
Thanks in advance - need to get rid of damp patch, because currently trying to sell our house.

ormus

check out the problem from underneath.

cut the damp patch out and see inside the ceiling void.
ie. there maybe a leaking pipe up there?

DVardysShadow

Houseownwer: Do you mean bitumen?

Ormus: He says he has access into the roof.

The 3 basic causes you might find are

• Weather - rain leaking
• Leaky pipe
• Condensation

If there are no pipes, it must be one of the other 2

If there is no leak in the roof and no leaks from pipes, it must be condensation. This is a difficult one to spot. Is there any hardware of any sort in the roof above the damp patch?

ormus

he also says theres nowt wrong on the "outer" roof.

a_j_mair

Often a leak can be knowhere near the damp patch and the dampness/water is running along timbers in th roof and then dripping onto cieling

best thing to do is have a thurer check in the loft space again, check along the length of the timbers where the leak is.

House_owner

Thanks for your advice so far. There is no pipes running above the ceiling. We can not look into the roof void - as there is no access- it is an extension roof - not part of the main roof.
Yes I do mean bitumen

It must be rain leaking because it gets worse when it rains

any other ideas anyone?!

ormus

sounds like your only option is to strip the roof and find out whats happening.
maybe new felting (or some felting) is required.

Inactive

I agree with ormus.

If you try to seal it with bitumen, you will probably put off a few potential buyers.

DVardysShadow

House_owner wrote: »

Thanks for your advice so far. There is no pipes running above the ceiling. We can not look into the roof void - as there is no access- it is an extension roof - not part of the main roof.
Yes I do mean bitumen

It must be rain leaking because it gets worse when it rains

any other ideas anyone?!

Sorry, thought you had access. Ormus is right. Look from the underside, taking out a patch of ceiling. I have known condensation get worse in rainy weather - on a soil vent pipe of all things.

knowloads

There are a few good products instead of bitumen, Fibre laden coatings or liquid rubber. It may have been the snow build up that finds entry where it would not normally show. above the lead flashing etc: You may find that it dries and does not occur again. Ask a roofer to have a look, most do free surveys. Put your arae on replies they may be someone local

House_owner

Thanks everyone for taking the time to give me advice.