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What causes roof condensation and how to stop it?
Condensation is one of most common problems and it affects a major portion of homes in the UK. Even though the problem of condensation is more acute in the winter and autumn seasons, condensation can build up in your property at any time of the year. Your attic or house roof space is a prime spot for condensation issues and the damage that can cause can be significant. The issue can be more severe than in many parts of your property as your roof attic is a space where you will most likely spend little time. This in turn means that condensation can build over time and cause a lot of damage to your roof even before you become aware of it.
It is projected that 1 in 5 homes are normally affected with condensation in the loft or attic. If you feel you have a condensation issue in your property, then it is well worth getting it checked as soon as possible to avoid major damage and high cost of fixing.
Signs of condensation that you can identify
Depending on how bad the problem is spotting the signs of condensation can take a little while unless you inspect your attic on a regular basis. Tell-tale signs are water on the underside of tiles and roof membrane or damp spots in your attic. Black spots may start appearing on ceilings and mould spores may spread onto clothes and other furnishings. If you happen to see any of these above signs then you need to take action to prevent the problem from getting worse.
Causes of condensation in attics and lofts:
There are various key reasons why condensation builds up in the roof of your property.
- Loft Insulation
The advantages of loft insulation are pretty well known and it’s completely understandable that property owners would choose to insulate and improve existing insulation in their roof spaces. Insulation reduces the amount of heat loss so it helps your home feel much warmer and this helps keep your bills in check as well, offering a win-win positives. However, the downside of this is that the roof insulation prevents your property from breathing. If there is no proper circulation of air then all the moisture in the air is not able to escape and will therefore condense on the cold surfaces in your roof space. Because of this it is therefore crucial to make sure that insulation is installed correctly in order to avoid this problem.
- Uninsulated Loft Hatches
In the cases where the loft hatches are badly insulated, the moist air from your property will enter the loft space and condense on any cold surface it can find. This water will in turn flow through the inside of the roof and pool on the roof surface before probably seeping into your property below causing damp patched on your ceiling.
Poor Ventilation
Ventilation is most definitely an important aspect when it comes to roof condensation issues. Modern roofs most often tend to include ventilation along both ridges and eaves that help allow air laden with moisture to escape. However, we normally do see some bad installs, where this ventilation is not installed correctly or not installed at all, and as a result the damage caused by the resulting condensation can be really serious. On the other hand, the older buildings do not have the much needed ventilation fitted to the roof. One reason for this is that the more modern lifestyle we now enjoy seems to contribute to a lot more moisture to the air than that of a few decades back, meaning that while previously you may not have had a problem in the property, but now there is. Making sure to fit an appropriate ventilation to the old roofs will solve this problem. Also, similarly, the way the attic space is used can also contribute to condensation problems. For instance, if the roof space is filled to the brim with household junk and boxes then air cannot circulate effectively meaning you will have a condensation issue.
How to prevent condensation in your loft:
In order to prevent condensation forming in your roof these two-stage approach is needed;
Step 1 – Prevent warm air rising into your loft/attic:
If you can prevent moisture laden warm air from rising into your attic then you will take away the key ingredient which causes condensation. Normally, this would include fitting a vapour barrier under your roof insulation to seal your living space properly from the roof space. And as mentioned, you will also need to make sure the loft hatch is well sealed and well insulated. Notably, cheap loft hatched are more of a trouble that they are actually worth, so it is better to get a good one.
Step 2 – Allow your loft to breath:
Condensation happens when the moisture laden air has nowhere to escape to. Hence by preventing much of the moisture laden air from entering the roof space you will be able to significantly reduce the likelihood of condensation. However, this does not mean that it is not necessary to make sure the loft space is adequately ventilated. So firstly, it is important to ensure that loft insulation isn’t pushed hard under the eaves of the roof preventing ventilation around them. And secondly, roof vents should be installed, which will help a lot. There are a variety of options to choose from including roof tile vents, slate vents, soffit vents and fascia vents to name a few.
Consequently, by reducing moisture from entering your roof space and also by ensuring your roof can breath, you can make sure that you have a condensation free roof.
Unifix Roofing Ltd provides an extensive range of roofing services in Stafford and throughout Staffordshire. Our fully qualified and insured team work across Staffordshire. Our customers appreciate the honest advice we provide and high standards we operate to. If you have any kind of issues with your roof or need advice on your roof condensation problem then please do get in touch with us now![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]