No insulation (and no space for it) = damp

FreeBear

He doesn't need to go in to the loft - It can all be done from inside the room.

ThisIsWeird

MouldyOldDough said:

We have a roofer coming to  have a look early next week

hopefully they will be able to help

unfortunately - I am disabled and unable to do "anything"

MOD, if this turns out to be as Stuart suspects, then your roofer will be a waste of time.
That sloping roof is uninsulated. Whatever else, you surely want it insulated? The best way to do this has been pointed out - remove the existing plasterboard on the sloping part. This is a simple task for a competent handyperson or general builder, or even a plasterer. (In fact, a 'spread' may be your best bet, as they'll be used to fitting insulation and over boarding it. And it'll need a skim in any case.)
Yes, it'll be a bit messy, so if you can, vacate that room for a few days. Make sure they put plenty of decorator's sheets on the floor.
Once the p'board has been removed, then IF it's a leak from the outside, it should be very obvious, and almost certainly traceable. Then you call a roofer
If it ain't a leak, then you don't need a roofer at all. Adding insulation as suggested will then sort your issue. 

MouldyOldDough

ThisIsWeird said:

MouldyOldDough said:

We have a roofer coming to  have a look early next week

hopefully they will be able to help

unfortunately - I am disabled and unable to do "anything"

MOD, if this turns out to be as Stuart suspects, then your roofer will be a waste of time.
That sloping roof is uninsulated. Whatever else, you surely want it insulated? The best way to do this has been pointed out - remove the existing plasterboard on the sloping part. This is a simple task for a competent handyperson or general builder, or even a plasterer. (In fact, a 'spread' may be your best bet, as they'll be used to fitting insulation and over boarding it. And it'll need a skim in any case.)
Yes, it'll be a bit messy, so if you can, vacate that room for a few days. Make sure they put plenty of decorator's sheets on the floor.
Once the p'board has been removed, then IF it's a leak from the outside, it should be very obvious, and almost certainly traceable. Then you call a roofer
If it ain't a leak, then you don't need a roofer at all. Adding insulation as suggested will then sort your issue. 

I'm beginning to wonder whether it is caused by a leak by the facia boards - which were replaced 15 years ago - they are UPVC and don't have any vents in them !!

I can't see properly because they are hidden by the guttering - but if they are not sealed properly at the top, rain water could get in.

The roofer still hasn't been yet - hopefully next week ?

stuart45

The fascia doesn't get sealed at the top. There's different methods of ventilation for the roof, depending on whether you've got flush or overhanging eaves. With overhanging eaves the vents can go in the soffits. 

FreeBear

See image below - There should be a strip of plastic or felt under the tiles that cover the top of the facia boards. This would stop any water getting in behind the facia and soaking the timbers.

GDB2222

Sometimes, plastic fascias are added on top of the wooden fascias. Then the gutter is screwed back, but the felt that’s supposed to overlap into the gutter is now too short.

stuart45

If you think about pre-war roofs without any felt, the eaves tiles or slates just sat directly on the fascia boards without any issues. The felt running over the top of the fascia into the gutter was more about getting any water that got through the tiles further up the roof which ran down the felt and into the gutter, rather than driving rain getting in over the top of the fascia, which doesn't happen.

ThisIsWeird

MouldyOldDough said:

I'm beginning to wonder whether it is caused by a leak by the facia boards - which were replaced 15 years ago - they are UPVC and don't have any vents in them !!

MOD, aren't the fascia boards below these stains? Water can follow tortuous paths, but rarely defy gravity

stuart45

ThisIsWeird said:
Water can follow tortuous paths, but rarely defy gravity

Apart from rising damp. Sorry, forgot it's a myth that was invented in1962 according to Peter Ward.

FreeBear

stuart45 said:

ThisIsWeird said:
Water can follow tortuous paths, but rarely defy gravity

Apart from rising damp. Sorry, forgot it's a myth that was invented in1962 according to Peter Ward.

Rising damp does exist, but not to the extent that the PCA would have you believe. I know of only one case - The wall was built out of some very soft reds with lime mortar, and sitting in saturated soil with water pooling at the base.