Damp joists in loft

[Andrewd8323]

Thanks all for input so far.

One additional question: the roofer repointed the chimneys at the time of doing the roof. I’ve attached a picture of them below. What are people’s views on the pointing? Look ok? I ask because the different shades look a bit unusual to my untrained eye. Could this be a source of the problem? I don’t think the chimney was painted with storm dry when it was worked on. If I did this would it protect both the bricks and pointing?

Sorry to hassle - just wondering if anyone has any views on this?

 

[blup]

Your roofer is taking the p*ss, that back gutter has th tiles under the lead, even if its made up with mortar that is the source of the fail.

Blup

 

[blup]

Sorry to hassle - just wondering if anyone has any views on this?

Looks very poor quality, but sort the gutter.

Blup

 

[Matthewmatthew1981]

Hi Andrew.

I’ve recently had my roof done and I’m experiencing similar problems with damp joists (especially when it rains). Have you managed to resolve the issue you had? Did you get any answers from other roofers?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Andrewd8323]

Hi Matthew

I had a lot of water coming in through the chimneys (as shown by the photos earlier in this thread). In the end I had the stacks removed entirely to guarantee that no water could get in through them.

After taking those down I no longer got damp marks on the interior of the property, so my mind moved on to other things and I stopped checking in the loft as often.

I’m therefore not sure whether the dark areas still come and go on the rafters. I told myself that even if they do, this may just be a result of hygroscopic condensation, with my thinking that:
* I know the old roof leaked, and therefore the woodwork probably got wet for quite a long time
* this could have caused salts to come to the surface
* when it rains and there is more moisture in the air, it will then get attracted to the salts.

No idea if the science supports my thinking, but made me feel better.

The other thing that made me feel better is that a surveyor commented that they wouldn’t be alarmed by the numbers I was seeing.

Im pretty sure im now leak free, so once im confident the rafters have dried out from the legacy leaks I’ll probably go up and paint some kind of preservative on