Light visible 1930's loft.

wes91 · 9 April 2016 at 2:53PM

Hi,

I am purchasing a 1930's property, we are due to exchange in a few weeks so I arranged another viewing and got up in the loft, there is no felt in the loft and you can see the backs of the tiles, I've read this is common with a 1930's property, however my concern is that I can see light in the loft coming from either side of the roof.

Can anyone tell me if this is normal or something I should be concerned about? The loft seems bone dry, no signs of damp etc and also smells very fresh up there.

I can't attach an image or link because this is a newly created account.

Please copy this and paste into your browser to see the image.

gyazo.com/260b1ade8132c7a51d52f08c07a014eb

Any help is much appreciated.

wellused · 9 April 2016 at 3:08PM

I owned a 1930's house without felt under the Rosemary tiles and it too was bone dry although after 50 odd years it was full of dust or more likely soot between the joists.

wes91 · 9 April 2016 at 3:11PM

Could you see light in the loft?

wellused · 9 April 2016 at 3:16PM

I could see light between the tiles.

wes91 · 9 April 2016 at 3:18PM

Did you ever have any problems with water getting in? Do you know if they are meant to be like that?

Thanks,

Wes.

wellused · 9 April 2016 at 3:23PM

I can't remember water getting in but if it did it never caused any problems, as those houses were constructed without sarking felt I believe that it was always possible to see light between the tiles to some extent.

wes91 · 9 April 2016 at 3:26PM

Thank you, you've put my mind at ease. I wonder if anyone else has had the same thing with their property.

27col · 9 April 2016 at 3:50PM

This is quite normal in older houses. The fact that you can see light from various angles does not mean that the tiles are not doing their job.

tony6403 · 9 April 2016 at 11:45PM

Looking at your photo , next door has had a new roof.
This would suggest that the tiles on your house may also have badly deteriorated.
Has your surveyor not picked up on this ?

wes91 · 10 April 2016 at 12:59AM

Hi, next door hasn't had a new roof, it's the same condition and appearance. I think the picture makes it look brighter and newer though. In reality it's the same.

Norman_Castle · 10 April 2016 at 7:31AM

My loft in a house built in 1900 has holes big enough to get your arm through. As they are under the eaves no water gets in. They help ventilate the loft. They were there with both old and new roof. The only problem can be birds nesting. Covering the holes with wire mesh prevents that.