1930's semi roof info - guidance needed

riverboat2001

Buying a 1930's semi - detached house, Survey has said chimneys need cowls fitting, moss needs clearing, guttering probably full of moss.
one loose tile and one ridge tile needs reseating.
Tiles are made of machine made concrete tiles
(although through trawling through the forums this isn't that unusual)
As far as the rest of the survey goes nothing major.

So for me it's more about the roof/loft.

The loft has old duvets and sleeping bags as insulation
Signs of woodworm around the loft hatch
There is timber boarding to the undersides of the tiles.
It's a small loft you can't stand up in it.(rooms below curve at edges)

Assuming i get the professionals in for the chimneys and loose tiles,
what jobs could i/ should i be doing in the loft?
I know i need to put insulation down on the floor, and could board it for a small bit of storage space (probably just enough for christmas decorations)
Any thing else?

PS what's the difference between a re-roof and a new roof?

ormus

both terms are used by roofers. the terms can be regional. so be careful.
but a re-roof might mean using a mixture of new and (your) old materials.
a new roof is what it says. usually new felt/battens, slates/tiles. all new.
but you must make sure any quote states exactly what work is being done. in writing.
if you are unsure about anything, ask and get it clarified. before you accept the quote.

riverboat2001

Won't be getting a new roof until i need one, just wanted to know the different terms.

When i watch the TV shows doing lofts they have a solid block that seems to have silver foil on it.
But when you see the stuff in B&Q it's like a roll of fibre?

Any reason for using one rather than the other?

27col

The fibre glass stuff on a roll is easier to install as it can easily be adjusted to fit the joist spacing and various odd corners. If you get the type that has a thin plastic cover over it then it is much less likely to irritate the skin. The solid stuff has to be cut quite accurately to fit and you could be left with a lot of odd sized pieces.

MX5huggy

The solid stuff is polyisocyanurate (PIR) board the big brands being Celotex and Kingspan. It is twice as good as an insulator than glass/mineral fiber wools. So you need half the depth to achieve the same performance but it is more than twice the price. It is used in loft conversions/ room in roof to reduce the required depth so as to maintain as much head room as possible.

muskoka

Err, do something about the woodworm. I 'think' woodworm just loves new fresh wood...

We;ve just bought a 1930's place. Found old woodworm holes by accident whilst stripping some skirting. Upon further investigation, had to replace 1 joist in living room, various floorboards & got the rest of the house to go through. Though we're quite pleased we found it cos we're treating the whole house for it now AND we're very lucky cos we're able to use the commercial stuff, not the stuff you get in the diy shops. Lot of work, but hey well worth it. They can go eat somebody else's house now :j if they survive that is which is very doubtful. And thank god hubby is a chippy by trade, so its not an awesome task for him.

riverboat2001

muskoka wrote: »

Err, do something about the woodworm. I 'think' woodworm just loves new fresh wood...

We;ve just bought a 1930's place. Found old woodworm holes by accident whilst stripping some skirting. Upon further investigation, had to replace 1 joist in living room, various floorboards & got the rest of the house to go through. Though we're quite pleased we found it cos we're treating the whole house for it now AND we're very lucky cos we're able to use the commercial stuff, not the stuff you get in the diy shops. Lot of work, but hey well worth it. They can go eat somebody else's house now :j if they survive that is which is very doubtful. And thank god hubby is a chippy by trade, so its not an awesome task for him.

How much did it cost to treat your place?

muskoka

Not much actually - so far. As the house had some damp, I got in a damp speciaist who was recommended on Which. He cost £144 (but he had to travel quite a lot distance). He confirmed there is no damp (only condensation) at the same time we had just found the woodworm infested skirting so showed that to him & he then inspected the floorboards in living room & thought the woodworm in that area had been & gone, however he advised to lift all floorboards & check joists & as he had turned up late for the appt, he gave us a pack of woodworm treatment stuff (which would mkae up 25 litres of treatment) and he said was worth £30. And that he could sell us more if required. Also, just go to DIY shop & get a garden spray with a wand (£15 B & Q)to distribute the treatment. You only need to lift 2 boards every 4 boards to access all the joists if your only spraying. Hope this makes sense

knowloads

Roof clean £5 sq mtr: new tiles £1 each fitted, cowl £20 (pot). Re=point ridges, £15 mtr
Woodworm, probably long gone if yiu can see escape holes.
Insulation. cheaper to use standard rolls.