We moved into a bungalow about 15 months ago and have completely renovated everything, including new gas heating, bathroom, kitchen, windows and doors. The house tends to be damp, so that we can find mould on things in wardrobes or on the backs of kitchen cupboards. We try to combat this with heating and good ventilation. The damp seems to come from the general area that we live in. Low lying, on clay soil with springs in the garden. The RH in the house rarely falls below 70%
My concern is in the roof void, where in cold weather we get damp on the roofing joists. It has been bad enough to have water dripping onto the insulation. The roof was renewed some years ago and the old felt was not removed and I have been told by a roofer that the new felt, just laid on the old is not “breathable”
The walls have had the cavities filled and there is about 4” of insulation in the loft. I had intended to increase the insulation, but have held off as it would make the loft colder and therefore the RH higher
The soffit boards were replaced some years ago, and badly done in that air vents were fitted in the plastic, but not drilled through the existing wood facia boards, that were left in place. Since last winter we have installed air bricks in each gable end and 4 ventilation tiles in the roof. In the cold weather I run a dehumidifier in the loft.
What is the best way forward? More air bricks, fit ridge tiles with ventilation slots (not recommended by roofer as we live in a windy place), replace facia boarding with new that includes more ventilation. At the moment I think that the dehumidifier reduces the moisture level, but seems to be in conflict with improving the ventilation, so that I end up trying to dehumidify the whole world
My concern is in the roof void, where in cold weather we get damp on the roofing joists. It has been bad enough to have water dripping onto the insulation. The roof was renewed some years ago and the old felt was not removed and I have been told by a roofer that the new felt, just laid on the old is not “breathable”
The walls have had the cavities filled and there is about 4” of insulation in the loft. I had intended to increase the insulation, but have held off as it would make the loft colder and therefore the RH higher
The soffit boards were replaced some years ago, and badly done in that air vents were fitted in the plastic, but not drilled through the existing wood facia boards, that were left in place. Since last winter we have installed air bricks in each gable end and 4 ventilation tiles in the roof. In the cold weather I run a dehumidifier in the loft.
What is the best way forward? More air bricks, fit ridge tiles with ventilation slots (not recommended by roofer as we live in a windy place), replace facia boarding with new that includes more ventilation. At the moment I think that the dehumidifier reduces the moisture level, but seems to be in conflict with improving the ventilation, so that I end up trying to dehumidify the whole world