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Hi all
I hope you're all keeping well
This is my first post and I'm hoping to get some advice on a case of extreme condensation in my loft. I've read the various threads I could find, but wanted to get your take on the solutions I've been offered by several roofers before taking the plunge.
I live in a small, two bedroom detached bungalow, that was built around 20 years ago. I moved here last Winter and when I first moved in, I discovered a major issue with condensation in the loft. It was across the entire length of felt, but only on the side that doesn't get any sun in the Winter. It was also more localised above the two coldest rooms in the house - the bathroom and kitchen.
Towards the tail end of last Winter I installed throughout the loft some basic air vents that slide in between the felt folds and open it up to allow airflow. This significantly increased airflow and reduced the condensation problem, but did not eradicate it entirely. Prior to this, the entire half of the roof impacted was dripping wet and my insulation, beams and few boxes I had put up there were drenched. After the vents were installed, it reduced it to a point it was okay and then Spring was on its way. It seemed to dry up and I hadn't paid it any more thought.
I'd since forgotten about it, then last week a damp patch appeared on my ceiling and I popped my head up for a look and again, the felt was absolutely soaked through and dripping. Not as bad as it had been previously at its worst, but still soaking in places. (I'll try to include some some photos in the thread. They're a bit murky, but the lighting isn't the best up there.)
A few things I can rule out as per comments on existing threads:
I can confirm the bathroom is always sufficiently vented after a shower, with the window in fact being kept open throughout most of the day. Same for the kitchen if any cooking is done. I don't use the extractor fans as I believe they not fitted correctly, so any moisture escapes directly out the windows and it clears very quickly. I also always open my bedroom window for a couple of hours in the morning to clear any condensation that may have formed on my windows, but there's never too much.
The side of the house with my lounge/diner and second bedroom are entirely unaffected.
Insulation is not up close to the eaves so there's sufficient airflow around the loft space. In fact, it's very airy up there and you can feel a breeze when you're in there. It doesn't feel stale up there and every person who's been up has commented on the quality of airflow.
I have a combi boiler installed in a cupboard downstairs and the flue seems absolutely fine with how it's installed up into the loft, and is on the opposite side of the roof to where I have the problem.
I don't dry clothes indoors and use a tumble dryer in the garage, that vents outdoors.
Loft hatch seems to be sufficiently insulated etc. Levels of insulation in loft seem fine and nobody has commented otherwise.
So. I've had three roofers out so far and they all have differing opinions and ideas on what needs doing, from solely installing vented ridge tiles, to replacing the felt on the problem side, to a complete new reroof.
The chap who has recommended the vented ridge tiles spent the most time inspecting the roof and loft of anyone who came out. He was initially concerned that the battens and felt would be damaged due to how much water was gathering on the inside. But he took several tiles off and inspected from the outside, but found the felt and battens to be in good condition. However, frustratingly, he stopped short of guaranteeing the vented ridge tiles would solve the problem as he agreed there was already a good amount of airflow in the loft. He said an alternative would be to refelt the entire affected side, which should solve it, as it'd be far more breathable than the old style felt I currently have.
As with everybody, money is a consideration e.g., I have very little haha. If the work needs to be done, I'll get it done, but I don't want to unnecessarily spend especially if there's a potential fix concerning the way I'm living. But at the moment my concern is the insulation becoming saturated and causing further stains on the ceiling, the beams becoming saturated and going to rot etc.
Also. A couple of questions:
Is there a dehumidifier or air circulation device tailored for such situations that could just sit in the loft space and vent air/moisture directly out?
I currently turn my heating off at night and switch it back on when I wake up in the morning. Obviously the temperature of my home is then going from about 20 degrees in the day to half this at night and takes a good few hours to heat back up again in the morning. Would I be better leaving the hearing to run all night in an effort to stop the coldest rooms from getting too cold, since the condensation seems to be above these rooms? Not sure if this would have an impact or not, but it's curious that the issue is mainly above the two coldest rooms that never seem to sufficiently warm up.
What does everyone think? Any advice is gladly received as I'm a hugely anxious individual and this is doing nothing for my inner chi
I hope you're all keeping well
This is my first post and I'm hoping to get some advice on a case of extreme condensation in my loft. I've read the various threads I could find, but wanted to get your take on the solutions I've been offered by several roofers before taking the plunge.
I live in a small, two bedroom detached bungalow, that was built around 20 years ago. I moved here last Winter and when I first moved in, I discovered a major issue with condensation in the loft. It was across the entire length of felt, but only on the side that doesn't get any sun in the Winter. It was also more localised above the two coldest rooms in the house - the bathroom and kitchen.
Towards the tail end of last Winter I installed throughout the loft some basic air vents that slide in between the felt folds and open it up to allow airflow. This significantly increased airflow and reduced the condensation problem, but did not eradicate it entirely. Prior to this, the entire half of the roof impacted was dripping wet and my insulation, beams and few boxes I had put up there were drenched. After the vents were installed, it reduced it to a point it was okay and then Spring was on its way. It seemed to dry up and I hadn't paid it any more thought.
I'd since forgotten about it, then last week a damp patch appeared on my ceiling and I popped my head up for a look and again, the felt was absolutely soaked through and dripping. Not as bad as it had been previously at its worst, but still soaking in places. (I'll try to include some some photos in the thread. They're a bit murky, but the lighting isn't the best up there.)
A few things I can rule out as per comments on existing threads:
I can confirm the bathroom is always sufficiently vented after a shower, with the window in fact being kept open throughout most of the day. Same for the kitchen if any cooking is done. I don't use the extractor fans as I believe they not fitted correctly, so any moisture escapes directly out the windows and it clears very quickly. I also always open my bedroom window for a couple of hours in the morning to clear any condensation that may have formed on my windows, but there's never too much.
The side of the house with my lounge/diner and second bedroom are entirely unaffected.
Insulation is not up close to the eaves so there's sufficient airflow around the loft space. In fact, it's very airy up there and you can feel a breeze when you're in there. It doesn't feel stale up there and every person who's been up has commented on the quality of airflow.
I have a combi boiler installed in a cupboard downstairs and the flue seems absolutely fine with how it's installed up into the loft, and is on the opposite side of the roof to where I have the problem.
I don't dry clothes indoors and use a tumble dryer in the garage, that vents outdoors.
Loft hatch seems to be sufficiently insulated etc. Levels of insulation in loft seem fine and nobody has commented otherwise.
So. I've had three roofers out so far and they all have differing opinions and ideas on what needs doing, from solely installing vented ridge tiles, to replacing the felt on the problem side, to a complete new reroof.
The chap who has recommended the vented ridge tiles spent the most time inspecting the roof and loft of anyone who came out. He was initially concerned that the battens and felt would be damaged due to how much water was gathering on the inside. But he took several tiles off and inspected from the outside, but found the felt and battens to be in good condition. However, frustratingly, he stopped short of guaranteeing the vented ridge tiles would solve the problem as he agreed there was already a good amount of airflow in the loft. He said an alternative would be to refelt the entire affected side, which should solve it, as it'd be far more breathable than the old style felt I currently have.
As with everybody, money is a consideration e.g., I have very little haha. If the work needs to be done, I'll get it done, but I don't want to unnecessarily spend especially if there's a potential fix concerning the way I'm living. But at the moment my concern is the insulation becoming saturated and causing further stains on the ceiling, the beams becoming saturated and going to rot etc.
Also. A couple of questions:
Is there a dehumidifier or air circulation device tailored for such situations that could just sit in the loft space and vent air/moisture directly out?
I currently turn my heating off at night and switch it back on when I wake up in the morning. Obviously the temperature of my home is then going from about 20 degrees in the day to half this at night and takes a good few hours to heat back up again in the morning. Would I be better leaving the hearing to run all night in an effort to stop the coldest rooms from getting too cold, since the condensation seems to be above these rooms? Not sure if this would have an impact or not, but it's curious that the issue is mainly above the two coldest rooms that never seem to sufficiently warm up.
What does everyone think? Any advice is gladly received as I'm a hugely anxious individual and this is doing nothing for my inner chi
