Roof Problems

[Revs_Addiction]

Hi All,

I need to pick the collective PH grey matter, regarding all things roof related!

So there I was up in the loft last night getting the crimbo decorations when I felt a drop of water on my bonce....

Hello I thought, that doesn't bode well, so I looked up and this is what I saw:





It's in patches all over the roof, so I can't believe it's a broken or loose tile, as it's not restricted to one spot, (it's also on both side of the roof)...

So any ideas what's wrong, and more importantly, how it can be fixed? I'm worried as it's soaking into the joists

Is it normal to get 'seepage' like this when it's piddling down outside?

For information the house is about 25 years old, so the roof should be good for a while yet surely!!

Any ideas folks?

Thanks in advance!

[rhinochopig]

Have you lagged your loft and not left any vent gaps resulting in condensation on the membrane?

[robinhood21]

rhinochopig said:

Have you lagged your loft and not left any vent gaps resulting in condensation on the membrane?

^^^ My first thoughts too.

[darronwall]

robinhood21 said:

rhinochopig said:

Have you lagged your loft and not left any vent gaps resulting in condensation on the membrane?

^^^ My first thoughts too.

mine too

[Revs_Addiction]

Thanks for the input chaps!

I've not lagged the loft since we've been here, I shall have a look see what the previous owners have done. How many gaps should there be, and how big??!

[roofer]

Condensation, some tile vents should cure it.

[NiceCupOfTea]

Indeed - blocking up air bricks will lead to condensation in the roof.

Also, is it possible that there is a leak in a ridge tile and the water is dripping down?

I feel for you, we have roof problems at the moment and have not managed to pin a builder into coming and fixing it yet (been trying since May FFS!)

[King Herald]

It is caused because the felt is hard and cold, and warm air rises up from the house, causing condensation.

My dad once stapled polythene over the felt to stop it dripping, and nearly drowned the house out with rivers of water.

A warm air leak from your loft hatch, or insufficient insulation on the loft floor can also cause the same thing.

[Busamav]

That is definitely condensation.

Eaves vents and a couple at high level will cure it

[deeps]

Standing in the loft, if you look down to the eaves, has the insulation been bunched up?

Are there any vents in the soffit (behind the fascia boards) when you look up from outside the house? If there are, you need to pull the fibre glass insulation back or tap it down, so the air from the soffit vents can flow from one side of the loft to the other. If there aren't any, you need to fit some. They're cheap and easy to fit.

Also, there's one other slight fault looking at your photo, although it's very common and isn't necessary, but it's something you have to do these days to comply with reg's. So a puzzle - first to name it wins a badge

[Busamav]

the galv ms straps not secured to each truss ?

[Promised Land]

deeps said:

Also, there's one other slight fault looking at your photo, although it's very common and isn't necessary, but it's something you have to do these days to comply with reg's. So a puzzle - first to name it wins a badge

Lateral restraint strap should be nailed onto the horizontal 4x1 and not onto the trusss, this happens a lot as the bricklayers tend to nail them to the trusses so they can build the gables when it gets windy, the carpenter/nhbc/site agent (delete as approp) didn't pull it, but nowadays that would be a red item.

Any carpenter worth his salt though would've nailed them on when he strapped the roof up and left the 100mm gap for the blockwork.

ETA. That is a wall plate strap anyway and not a lateral restraint strap as it barely reaches the third truss.

Edited by Promised Land on Sunday 14th December 18:33

[deeps]

Promised Land said:

Lateral restraint strap should be nailed onto the horizontal 4x1 and not onto the trusss, this happens a lot as the bricklayers tend to nail them to the trusses so they can build the gables when it gets windy, the carpenter/nhbc/site agent (delete as approp) didn't pull it, but nowadays that would be a red item.

Any carpenter worth his salt though would've nailed them on when he strapped the roof up and left the 100mm gap for the blockwork.

ETA. That is a wall plate strap anyway and not a lateral restraint strap as it barely reaches the third truss.

Edited by Promised Land on Sunday 14th December 18:33

A badge for that man

Although there isn't always a piece of 4x1 bracing in the right places, in which case they should have noggins cut between the trusses, and the straps fixed to them. That one is too short as you say, and no noggins above it.

I've been on new builds where they've missed the straps out completely (and it hasn't been picked up by NHBC) or (very common) over spaced them. They're supposed to be every 2.5m if I recall correctly.

Edited by deeps on Sunday 14th December 19:09