loft-felt has water dripping . is this normal?

mrs_baggins

My house was built in 1991. It has tiles to roof and in the loft in between the roof joists there is what looks like felt/bitumen type material.

I was in loft today for about an hour or so and by the trap door I noticed that water or condensation was dripping off this felt. No huge amounts. There was a section about 3 feet long where it was obviously wet as it was a darker colour and in a few places it was dripping onto loft insulation about a drip every 30 seconds while I was watching it. I have never noticed this before and have never been up in loft after its snowed so I dont know if this is nrmal or not. Personally I wouldnt have thoght there should be any kind of drips but want to verify

paiten

I have a similar problem. But mine seems to be dripping from most of the roof. I was thinking that it may be because of the large frost that has been on the rooftop for the last few days/nights as it seems to be worse on the side that doesn't get sun. But it is a bit worrying, I have now left the hatch open so it gets some ventilation. Anyone have any ideas?

simmey

We has a similar problem last year after a really frosty, cold spell, I phoned a roofer we use and he told me he had had lots of calls and it was probably condensation, he came out and confirmed this, he said because we had our central heating on full balst and the roof tiles were frosty it was causing condensation, he advised we had 2 ventilation tiles put in the roof (they look a bit like a periscope on a submarine) we had one on the front and one at the back, we have snow and ice here at the moment and hubby has just been in the loft for our chrismas fairy lights and he says there is no drips or condensation so the ventilation tiles must be working.

NeverInDebt

Sounds like you got condensation

It doesnt help when you have insulation in loft I believe proper way is to have some ventilation in the loft but is often neglected due to cost, older house dont normally have this as they dont have the felt and air gets under the slate,tiles and dries any condensation

SailorSam

There should be some ventilation up there, and that should stop condensation
maybe with it being extra cold, i'd just keep an eye on it for now, but check the insulation isn't pushed too tight into the eves, if you can see a bit of daylight there you should be ok for ventilation, or maybe some roofs have ventilation tiles built in check that isn't bunged up if you have one.

NeverInDebt

http://bbs.scoobynet.com/non-scooby-related-4/474461-loft-condensation.html

iamcornholio

It's very normal in the context of it being between -5 and -20 outside, and the central heating being on full blast.

Even if loft ventilation is fitted - which will be adequate under "average" temperatures, there are limits to it's effectiveness.

Opening the loft hatch will make it much worse as you are introducing even more warm air to condense on the cold felt

mrs_baggins

thank you everyone. weel from your posts it seems like its normal. so thank you all otherwise I would have been forking out god knows how much!

A.Penny.Saved

Loft insulation won't make it worse like has been suggest, it will make the situation less likely as there will be less heat from the rooms below getting into the loft.