extractor vent on slate roof?

[Kaymo]

Hi,
I have an upstairs bathroom extractor to fit. Ideal location is the ceiling above shower which brings me into the loft space and I am thinking it might be better to vent through the roof rather than go through the gable wall (the gable wall being 600mm thick, hard stone!)

Firstly, is there a vent you can get to do this on a slate roof, I've tried searching and I keep finding loft ventilators, rather than a ventilator that a 100mm pipe can be attached to for extracting.

Secondly, would this be easy enough to do diy? Access is relatively easy because I can get up from the extension at that side

Thanks

 

[Vinty]

Used to be the pipe went through the roof and a lead vent slate went over the pipe.

if you have a slate roof ,you need to strip out the slates around the area were the pipe is to go through.
Once the pipe is through the roof pop the lead slate over the pipe and reslate around the lead slate.

 

[Makie]

You can use a Ubbink vent and connect it up with a UB39 adapter.

This will keep your roof looking neat.

http://www.ubbink.co.uk/products/Roofing/Roof-vents-terminals/Slate/Vepac-Slate-Vents.aspx

 

[Kaymo]

Thanks folks, I also found this earlier from screwfix, which seems to be along the same lines. I'd be a bit nervous about removing and refitting the slate as I haven't done that before, so might be best to wait until a dry spell!

https://www.screwfix.com/p/alpha-slate-vent/45984

 

[Leofric]

You need to consider condensation in the extract duct if you are going vertically through the roof. A condensation trap - others on here will know better exactly what to do to avoid 'gurgling' in the fan.

 

[Kaymo]

Thanks Leofric, I am planning on insulating the pipe where it travels through the loft to minimise condensation. Also picked up a tip somewhere else that it is a good idea to use solid pipe rather than the light flexi pipe normally supplied, so that if condensation does build up somewhere in the pipe then its less likely to leak out into the loft.

 

[Leofric]

My house originally had flexi pipe wrapped in insulation going from the en suite ceiling fan to a tile vent which was a pig's ear of a job .The housebuilder changed it to a 100mm plastic pipe running horizontally in the roof space to terminate through a gable wall which was a much better job (been ok for 21 years , touch wood )
Might be worth thinking again about going through your external wall

 

[Kaymo]

Thanks Leofric, the main reason I am not keen on going through the wall is firstly that it is about 2 foot thick mix of stone, much of which is very hard whinstone. I'd also presumably have to either have a ladder or scaffold on the outside to terminate and that side is in a neighbours garden. Going through the roof would bring me out at a part above the extension which would be relatively easy to access on both sides.

 

[^woody^]

Don't worry too much about duct condensation, especially if using one of those ribbed flexible hose-type ducts, as there won't be any condensation of any significance. It's over-hyped and mentioned too often.

Consider whether the chosen external vent is appropriate. There are tile vents for ventilation, and tile terminals for fitting to extract fans. Use the correct one.

 

[Leofric]

See post in Electrics UK ,water in ducting from shower extractor fan.

 

[noseall]

It's over-hyped and mentioned too often

Yes and no. I'm forever reminding the sparkies to shorten the duct so that there is not a 'snake' trailing in the loft and to put back the insulation we put around the pipe.. We have had issues of water traps forming within slack duct, in the past.

 

[Kaymo]

Thanks all.

To be honest I am not worried at all about condensation. As a DIY job in my own house this is something that I can monitor and react to if it happens. I realise this is a different situation for trades when you need to get it right first time to avoid having to make subsequent visits.

One of the main reasons I am planning on using solid ducting is that I need to run the pipe under a floored area in the loft and I would be concerned about damage when pushing/pulling it through that space.

I'm more concerned with getting the roofing part right as this is the part I am less familiar with, having never worked with slate roofs before. I think I will try the part posted previously from screwfix as this has good reviews, but maybe wait until a drier spell in case I have any trouble!

 

[Leofric]

I must have misunderstood ,I thought you were proposing just going straight up vertically with a duct through the roof . Anyway ,good luck with it.