Roof Problem?

[linedancer3]

Hi. Any roofers out there? If so would be glad of some advice! I am getting mould /damp all along the bedroom ceiling above the window where the ceiling meets the wall. We have the window open regularly and I had the gutters cleaned and the tiles inspected-nothing cracked or broken. In the end I called in a local roofer with a good reputation who told me it was because the roofing felt needs replacing because it is not allowing the roof to 'breathe'. Apparently this can be a problem with modern loft insulation etc and also my house is a 1968 semi which hasn't had any major work done on the roof since it was built. I can either have the felt replaced along the edges which is just a patching up job or a new roof (very expensive but apparently worth it in the end). Seems excessive for damp in one bedroom - am I being ripped off? Sorry this is so long but thanks in advance for any help!

[ubasses]

I am no builder, but coincidently have just suffered the same. Mr U lifted some tiles and found the felt cracked all along the front end. His solution was to cut out a good length of new felt, tuck it under the tile battens and fold it down over the old felt. We have not had any problems since.

[linedancer3]

Thanks,that's really helpful. I think that was what the roofer suggested by replacing the felt along the edges . He seemed to think that was just delaying the inevitable and eventually it would all need replacing but I might just risk that and have the smaller job done for now. Thanks again.

[Dogsbody2]

It may be what the roofer says, but I think it is more likely that condensation is forming in that area, simply because the edge is the coldest part of the ceiling / wall. It is the coldest simply because the insulation is less good there and it is closer to the roof tiles.
I'd be inclined to have Celotex/Kingspan put between the rafters in those area as first, making sure the depth of the material still allowed air from the vents you should have in the eaves to pass over the top and ventilator the rest of the roof.

Taking the tiles off a 1960s roof to change the non-porous felt for a modern breathable underlay like Tyvek sounds an overkill to me.

[The Builder]

Most definitely condensation as opposed to a leak. A 1968 house would have no cavity insulation, and the insulation value of the wall construction would be very poor.

Even with a modern, high level of loft insulation, a roofspace needs ventilation. He's quite right in saying that modern breathable felt will fix this, but it is quite a major job as you know.

Fit a few of these in the area above the bedroom. Literally a few minutes work to fit each one..................

http://www.screwfix.com/p/glidevale-versa-tile-vent-grey-110mm/86667?kpid=86667&cm_mmc=Google-_-Product%20Listing%20Ads-_-Sales%20Tracking-_-sales%20tracking%20url&cm_mmc=Google-_-Shopping%20-%20Building%20and%20Joinery-_-Shopping%20-%20Building%20and%20Joinery&;gclid=CMTQvoXGn8sCFcfgGwod2sAA4Q

[linedancer3]

Thanks for the last two answers and the link. Again alternatives to consider which are really helpful. A new roof does seem excessive but I know nothing about roofs and need to trust what a reputable roofer tells me. My problem is that watching all these consumer programmes about cowboy builders etc makes me quite suspicious of tradesmen and whether they are just out to make money, especially a lady on her own. I will definitely look more into the less major solutions and thanks again for your help!

[rosyherb]

We had the same problem (1920s semi house) we have central heating and double glazing, we always had the windows on night vent, it turned out the battens and facets boards had started to rot, we had them replaced with UPVC it cost £100 for the scaffold and £600 for the upvc it took a couple of days. (although the scaffold was up for over a month)