Replacing the felt with Tyvek felt
Discussion
I live in a semi since 2018 and since I’ve lived there there’s been no one living next door as the owner has been living in Spain, she was elderly and never came back to check on her house. Unfortunately she passed away last year and the house got put on the market. Last week a young lady knocked on the door who’s just bought it and asked if it would be ok to have part of the scaffolding on my property as the roof needs sorting. Basically there’s mould on the ceiling in one of the upstairs bedrooms and has been told the house needs its roof felt changing to remedy it. There’s no leak in the roof.
Now I know breathable felt is preferable to traditional felt but the reason for the mould on one of the bedroom ceilings must be down to no one living in there for 7+ years? My house nor anyone else on the estate has had to have their felt changed.
Now I know breathable felt is preferable to traditional felt but the reason for the mould on one of the bedroom ceilings must be down to no one living in there for 7+ years? My house nor anyone else on the estate has had to have their felt changed.
As ever the correct remedial action depends on a correct diagnosis of the problem. Maybe the roof felt needs changing, but it’s less likely IMO than other possible causes. A house being empty, unheated, is a prime candidate for mould on the ceiling especially in an upstairs bedroom - the ceiling will be cold due to a typical cold roof / inadequate insulation and any moisture in the house will condense there leading to mould. Maybe the felt diagnosis was made without the knowledge that the house had been empty for years.
Maybe go and chat to the neighbour, ask her what evidence the tradesman has for felt being the problem. If it were me I’d clean the mould, decorate the room, put some heat in the house & see if it comes back. Taking the whole roof off to refelt seems a pretty expensive first course of action unless there’s strong evidence to back it up.
Maybe go and chat to the neighbour, ask her what evidence the tradesman has for felt being the problem. If it were me I’d clean the mould, decorate the room, put some heat in the house & see if it comes back. Taking the whole roof off to refelt seems a pretty expensive first course of action unless there’s strong evidence to back it up.
As others have said, it’s not possible to understand if the works are reasonable without more information, but I’d be a bit sceptical, based on what you’ve said.
I would want to know how they are going to deal with any junctions between your roof and theirs, it may not be an issue, but better to have the conversation now.
Depending on your relationship with them, there is no automatic right to erect scaffold on your land and it may be sensible to have a licence in places for this, as it could specify any consideration (though this may not be appropriate for a short period of works), how long the scaffold will be there (including any penalties for exceeding this) and could also refer to a schedule of condition (should they, for example, damage your paving/priceless garden ornament etc).
I would want to know how they are going to deal with any junctions between your roof and theirs, it may not be an issue, but better to have the conversation now.
Depending on your relationship with them, there is no automatic right to erect scaffold on your land and it may be sensible to have a licence in places for this, as it could specify any consideration (though this may not be appropriate for a short period of works), how long the scaffold will be there (including any penalties for exceeding this) and could also refer to a schedule of condition (should they, for example, damage your paving/priceless garden ornament etc).
PhilboSE said:
As ever the correct remedial action depends on a correct diagnosis of the problem. Maybe the roof felt needs changing, but it’s less likely IMO than other possible causes. A house being empty, unheated, is a prime candidate for mould on the ceiling especially in an upstairs bedroom - the ceiling will be cold due to a typical cold roof / inadequate insulation and any moisture in the house will condense there leading to mould. Maybe the felt diagnosis was made without the knowledge that the house had been empty for years.
Maybe go and chat to the neighbour, ask her what evidence the tradesman has for felt being the problem. If it were me I’d clean the mould, decorate the room, put some heat in the house & see if it comes back. Taking the whole roof off to refelt seems a pretty expensive first course of action unless there’s strong evidence to back it up.
My thoughts entirely. Maybe go and chat to the neighbour, ask her what evidence the tradesman has for felt being the problem. If it were me I’d clean the mould, decorate the room, put some heat in the house & see if it comes back. Taking the whole roof off to refelt seems a pretty expensive first course of action unless there’s strong evidence to back it up.
I won’t throw doubt her way as the roofers are booked in already. Just hope they don’t mess my roof up in doing this not worthwhile job. I can understand some perspective buyer hiring an unscrupulous surveyor to chisel the price down but she’s gone ahead and having the work done.
My mate was selling his house recently and he’s quite well off and he makes sure everything is new and well kept and up to scratch in a relatively new build and he had a surveyor come round on behalf of the people who wanted to buy it and the surveyor was being so anal with some of the faults.
Is this the new norm or some young eager beaver going ott?
M138 said:
PhilboSE said:
As ever the correct remedial action depends on a correct diagnosis of the problem. Maybe the roof felt needs changing, but it’s less likely IMO than other possible causes. A house being empty, unheated, is a prime candidate for mould on the ceiling especially in an upstairs bedroom - the ceiling will be cold due to a typical cold roof / inadequate insulation and any moisture in the house will condense there leading to mould. Maybe the felt diagnosis was made without the knowledge that the house had been empty for years.
Maybe go and chat to the neighbour, ask her what evidence the tradesman has for felt being the problem. If it were me I’d clean the mould, decorate the room, put some heat in the house & see if it comes back. Taking the whole roof off to refelt seems a pretty expensive first course of action unless there’s strong evidence to back it up.
My thoughts entirely. Maybe go and chat to the neighbour, ask her what evidence the tradesman has for felt being the problem. If it were me I’d clean the mould, decorate the room, put some heat in the house & see if it comes back. Taking the whole roof off to refelt seems a pretty expensive first course of action unless there’s strong evidence to back it up.
I won’t throw doubt her way as the roofers are booked in already. Just hope they don’t mess my roof up in doing this not worthwhile job. I can understand some perspective buyer hiring an unscrupulous surveyor to chisel the price down but she’s gone ahead and having the work done.
My mate was selling his house recently and he’s quite well off and he makes sure everything is new and well kept and up to scratch in a relatively new build and he had a surveyor come round on behalf of the people who wanted to buy it and the surveyor was being so anal with some of the faults.
Is this the new norm or some young eager beaver going ott?
k off.J6542 said:
You have no clue if the work they are doing is worthwhile or not. Speak to the roofer when he appears and ask if the work he is doing will have any effect on your part of the roof. If you start accusing him of doing unnecessary work don’t be surprised to be told to fk off.
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