Ventured into my loft

[Thatspellstrouble]

Whilst I tend to avoid looking at areas that potentially can be expensive, (because if you can’t see it then it doesn’t need fixing!) I thought I’d venture into my loft to see how well insulated it is.

My first view is this purloin which doesn’t look too healthy.. is that rot? Can I catch a break?!

 

[Matt Green]

That would be mildew. You have an impermeable bitumen roof lining that will allow water to condense on it and drip onto the timbers. Increasing ventilation will help if you can, otherwise just clean it off if it is bothering you or might give a surveyor cause for concern.

 

[a twig]

I would also poke the timber and see if it is actually wet / damp.

Some of my old roof timbers looked like that when I had the roof re-done but it was largely old staining from a previous failure, the timbers were solid and bone dry.

 

[fallschirmjager]

Maybe could do with some air circulation. I have installed vents in my roof soffits due to the humidity in my loft.

 

[Stevers]

There's all that insulation up there stopping the warmth, but not the moisture from modern living. All that insulation may also be blocking any ventilation that there might have been at the eaves. In the days before roofing felt, wind would whistle between the slates, and ventilation would not have been a problem. When the roof was felted ventilation should really have been added at eaves and ridge. Moisture levels at this time of year could be high, but condensation is unlikely to be present. You might want to take another look during a cold spell to see how things are then.

 

[Lacan07]

As Twig has indicated old timbers can't be deceptive, I have roof timbers that for all the world look wet but are in fact dry. Its best to grab hold and have a feel. Id say those timbers look older than the surrounding work.

 

[Kearn]

Initial response on what’s shown would be staining. The purlin certainly looks old, whereas a re-roof has replaced the commons on top. However, the same appearance is visible on both, so historic staining feels less likely to me than something more recent that the newer commons….

 

[88v8]

That would be mildew. You have an impermeable bitumen roof lining that will allow water to condense on it and drip onto the timbers. Increasing ventilation will help if you can, otherwise just clean it off if it is bothering you or might give a surveyor cause for concern.

Agree.
I inherited that same bitumen liner in one of our attics.
I cut some holes in it near the ridge.
The eaves are ventilated, or rather they are now after I pulled back the loft insulation.

Hopefully a simple fix.

 

[AxPop]

Some of mine look like this. Poked them with a screwdriver and they’re as hard as nails. It was mostly magnesium sulphate making it look worse.