Up to 1 in 5 homes in the UK are affected by bad roof condensation. It’s a problem that often goes unchecked, leaving homeowners with huge bills in installation and construction work to fix the problem. Although it’s a much more prevalent problem in Autumn and Winter, condensation can build up over the warmer months too, which is why it’s a good idea to have your roof checked out before too much damage is done.
Here is some information about the causes of roof condensation, how to spot it and how to avoid it in the future.
What causes roof condensation?
There are a few causes of roof condensation. The first culprit is roof insulation. Whilst it keeps your house nice and warm and reduces heat loss over the colder months, it can stop your property ‘breathing’, effectively making it humid and more prone to condensation. It is important to check your insulation is installed properly to avoid excess moisture in the air.
Uninsulated roof hatches can also cause problems by letting moist air in from the rest of your home. It can enter your loft and condense on any cold surface before seeping through the ceiling. Poor ventilation in general is a huge cause of roof condensation. Older buildings in particular don’t have the necessary ventilation and are more vulnerable.
What are the signs of roof condensation?
To check the effectiveness of your roof insulation, here are some quick tests:
- Go into your attic and test the temperature. If it is much warmer than the outside temperature, it is overly insulated.
- Can you see your rafters on a frosty morning? If not, your attic is melting the frost through the air vents and is too warm.
- Check if your vents are overgrown with moss. This can prevent air escaping your loft.
- Make sure your bird blocks (if you have some) are not obscuring your vents.
How to prevent roof condensation
As we’ve already discovered, good ventilation is key to avoiding roof condensation. Allow your loft to breath by double checking your insulation isn’t pushed directly against the eaves of the roof and installing some longtail eaves ventilation to reduce the amount of moisture in your loft.
You can prevent warm air rising into your loft by reducing the amount of steam produced by domestic activities. Avoid opening the bathroom door straight after a shower, place lids on your pans whilst cooking and try to dry your clothes outside when possible. If you have a vented tumble dryer, make sure that it’s been properly vented to an outside wall or an open window. Make use of any extractor fans you have in your home, for example in a bathroom or kitchen.
Investigate new loft hatches that are properly insulated and sealed off from the rest of the house and when you do use your loft hatch, remember to close it again after.
If you see patches of condensation appearing, always wipe them away. If you have slotted vents in your window frames, make use of them and keep them open when rooms are inhabited. This is the case even in the winter when you have heating on as it can help remove excess water vapour.
For more roof-related posts, check out:
Why getting a roof inspection before buying a home is crucial
What to consider before renovating your roof
Roofing ideas for a modern home
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