Possible condensation in the roof

[vicky whitworth]

Help! Big panic here. Went up into loft yesterday to retrieve Xmas decorations and there is water dripping from the roof inside the loft space. Everything is soaked. No reason to think the roof is leaking - it isn't confined to one area. It's everywhere. We have been having an extension built and have had no heating in the cottage the whole winter. Now we have an AGA on the go but still no central heating. The windows are running with water inside, plaster is drying, loads of wet stuff has been going on with the building work, plus it never stops raining here in Devon. My question is, could the wetness in the roof be condensation and if so what should I do about it? Feeling very anxious. Many thanks, Vicky

 

[Nemesis]

Yes. Don't panic. Wait until things dry out and the house is warm. Gallons upon gallons of water must go somewhere.


Open a bottle and enjoy Christmas. It's not going to damage much yet. In the new year, start to post more info re insulation, ventilation etc.

 

[MdB]

Is it possible for air to flow from the house into the loft space? (open loft hatches, some sort of ventilation etc.) Warm damp air from the house could be cooling in the loft and causing condensation. New construction work in the house is a good source of this water. Solution, reduce the air flow from the house into the loft and increase the ventilation from the loft to the outside.

If you don't have a route from the house into the loft, then condensation is a lot less likely. Solution - unknown, you have to find the cause of the damp first.

 

[Penners]

The quantity of water that goes into the contruction of a house (or even an extension) is massive. And it's all got to dry out. So just do as MdB recommends and ventilate the loft as much as possible with outside air.

But also try to ventilate the rest of the house as much as winter will allow. Remember that warm air will hold more water vapour than cold air, so ventilating the heated part of the house (but not into the loft!) will accelerate the drying out process.

It's a potentially uncomfortable and expensive process in winter, of course, so the extent of it has to be your choice.

 

[vicky whitworth]

Thank you so much to those that replied to my post. Your re-assuances helped my Christmas to be relaxed and enjoyable - despite the unremitting water everywhere. We now have an impressive black mould cantering up walls in most rooms. The builder returned today (and described the place as 'grim', and has made suggestions for the cause much along the same lines as you guys. So thank you once again. Did someone elsewhere suggest a lack of expertise on this site? Well shame on him. I can't think of a team I'd have more confidence in than you lot. Oh now I'm going all soppy! Vicky

 

[caliwag]

This is one of the commonist problems aired over on Ebuild.
We always give the same answer alluded to here. Apart from drying out new construction you need to extract moisture produced at source...obviously bathrooms/showers etc...open pan cooking on the Aga, and the sin of drying clothes on rads or around the Aga.
I used to do that on our old coal fired one and I dont remember getting any condensation...no central heating and a damp underfloor (Vic terrace).

So, unless you are not venting at source, I cannot see where it is coming from. Over on Ebuild you'll find some suggestions for decent extracts, mechanical heat recovery ventilation and other bits of kit, including dehumidifiers...even temporary. With an Aga in a cottage you just shouldn't get condensation...unless you're on top of a stream.

 

[MdB]

We recently rendered a single wall in our utility room (roughly 2.5m x 2.3m) and a bucket of water went into the mix (and the sand was damp as well). Multiply this up by the number amount of work you have had done and I guess you will end up with many many buckets worth. Imagine what any house would be like if you throw a couple of buckets of water into each room and you can quickly see why you are having damp issues. Heating + lots of ventilation is the solution if you can stand the cold. A dehumidifier may also be useful in your less well ventilated rooms.

Also see the damp FAQ here: http://www.periodproperty.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=6777