Will new roof stop condensation

Vicki29 · 27 Nov 2021

Hi, I suffer from terrible condensation on my windows in the winter and it’s a complete mystery where the moisture is coming from. I’ve researched it to death and tries every method known to man but still I’m having to Karcher the windows of every room in a morning.

I’ve had to have random roof tiles replaced at various points but every time the roofers tell me that I need a new roof and quite honestly I believe them. The house was built in 1968 very badly. I’m frantically trying to save up but other things keep going wrong ‍

So it’s taking forever.

Anyway, would anyone know whether a new roof and some new loft insulation would sort my condensation out? Or it is unlikely?

Notch7 · 27 Nov 2021

I’m sorry to hear of your problem.

are these bedroom windows?

when does it happen…I would guess on cold frosty mornings, maybe sunny.

what form of heating do you have

do you have heavy curtains?

A 1968 house is likely to have Marley concrete tiles, I’d be surprised if they need replacing, maybe you have something else.

one solution is to put a 60 watt tubular heater on the window board - which will heat up enough overnight behind the curtain.

Vicki29 · 27 Nov 2021

Hi, it’s all the windows. Upstairs and downstairs.

The roofers have said that the tiles are now porous and even shown me one that appeared to be crumbling.

we have blackout roller blinds and normal curtains in the bedrooms and normal vertical blinds everywhere else.

It tends to happen when the weather is colder. Something like end of Sept to March I’d say.

We have central heating and all the radiators were replaced when I bought the house in 2019 but the plumber said it’s a one pipe system (whatever that is).

the old fella who lived here before me boarded the loft and when I say boarded I mean boarded. Literally even the ceiling but I think that there’s likely to be either very little old insulation in there under the boards or none at all.

Diver Fred · 27 Nov 2021

You will get condensation from :-
Breathing.
Do you cook on Gas? That produces water vapour.
Boiling saucepans without lids.
Lack of ventilation.
No open fires which provide a (drying) through draft.
Drying or airing clothes on radiators.
Using a Tumble dryer and not venting to the outside.
Not using extractor fans.

Buy a De-Humidifier and run that regularly.

I guess you do not have double glazing as that will show condensation more than any other surface. If you do have double glazing then the glazing units have blown and need replacing.

It is unlikely that replacing the roof will stop condensation. That will be very expensive for little benefit. A rough finish tile will look 'crumbly' and a hard hand can rub a bit of the surface off so I think the builder who has told you the tiles are failing is a cowboy.

datarebal · 27 Nov 2021

As above , ventilate , extractors , close bathroom door when showering or in the bath.
unlikely a new roof will help downstairs.
And of course don't dry your washing on the rads.

noseall · 28 Nov 2021

Vicki29 said:
Or it is unlikely?

Unlikely. A new roof with adequate ventilation would go some way to solving condensation in the loft.

Tell the roofer who said your tiles are now porous to do one.

Condensation in houses is strictly idiosyncratic and occupancy/lifestyle related. Two identical houses with differing occupancy will have varying condensation issues.

Are your windows double glazed? DGU gap? Maybe look at swapping the windows or DGU's?

JohnD · 28 Nov 2021

Water vapour is lighter than air and tends to rise through the house.

You say you are getting condensation downstairs.

Where is this water coming from?

Do you drape wet washing around? Boil lots of cooking pans?

Or do you have a downstairs shower?

Close the doors overnight and see if any room is particularly damp.

How, and when, do you ventilate the house?

Harry Bloomfield · 28 Nov 2021

wgt52 said:
You will get condensation from :-
Breathing.
Do you cook on Gas? That produces water vapour.
Boiling saucepans without lids.
Lack of ventilation.
No open fires which provide a (drying) through draft.
Drying or airing clothes on radiators.
Using a Tumble dryer and not venting to the outside.
Not using extractor fans.

Yes, all of those things. Boiling with lids not only helps drastically reduce the amount moisture generated, but reduces the amount of gas burnt in cooking veg..

Only a leaking roof - and it would be obvious if it were leaking, will contribute to the moisture levels. Poor insulation in the roof/ceiling, will cause condensation on the ceiling and mould to grow on the surface, which is a serious risk to health. Is that happening?

Single glazing will attract a lot of condensation in this colder weather, even double glazing will attract some. With temperatures around freezing outside, at the moment - even my DG has the bottom inch or so collecting condensation and I do not have any issues here at all. DG being covered with condensation, doesn't mean the DG unit has blown, it simply means you have high humidity - deal with the cause of the high humidity as above. A blown DG panel will steam up between the two panes of glass, on the inside of the DG panel.

JohnD · 15 Jan 2022

JohnD said:
Water vapour is lighter than air and tends to rise through the house.

You say you are getting condensation downstairs.

Where is this water coming from?

Do you drape wet washing around? Boil lots of cooking pans?

Or do you have a downstairs shower?

Close the doors overnight and see if any room is particularly damp.

How, and when, do you ventilate the house?

Did you do these things?

What were the results?

Vicki29 · 15 Jan 2022

Hello John, I think you’ve also very kindly replied to my other thread this morning about my condensation lol.

no the new roof has made absolutely no difference at all ‍

JohnD · 15 Jan 2022

JohnD said:
Water vapour is lighter than air and tends to rise through the house.

You say you are getting condensation downstairs.

Where is this water coming from?

Do you drape wet washing around? Boil lots of cooking pans?

Or do you have a downstairs shower?

Close the doors overnight and see if any room is particularly damp.

How, and when, do you ventilate the house?

Water vapour rises, and diffuses through the house.

Closing the doors will help you see what room it is coming from.

If a downstairs room has it, perhaps there is a leak in that room. It may be under the floor. Or it could be a defect such as leaky bay windows, or damp wall from gutter downpipe, or earth and paving above the damp course.

datarebal · 15 Jan 2022

Life style change

conny · 15 Jan 2022

As stated above, regarding using a shower. I have found that when I have a shower, (twice a day), if I step out to get dry the cabinet mirrors steam up completely. If I grab my towel off the radiator next to the shower door, close the door and then get dry in the shower cubicle, (with the water off obviously), I then step out, get a shave, clean my teeth and discover the mirrors have remained steam free. So, as suggested, you need to discover the source of where the moist air is emanating from. In my case drying outside the shower is contributing to the mirrors steaming up. Every little helps.

datarebal · 15 Jan 2022

Fans not extracting very well

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Will new roof stop condensation

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