By Tony Pearson

A common problem we write about in our Building Surveys and HomeBuyer Reports is how the level of ventilation in the loft needs to be increased.

This becomes apparent in the form of mould on the roofing felt:

Or white staining, usually to the top of the rafters:

This is particularly common in properties built in the early 2000’s as well as properties where insulation has been added poorly, in that the vents are blocked. Ventilation is essential as timber is a natural product that doesn’t want to be in moisture at all times as rot and decay can develop over time.

The problem is actually easily rectified; most home improvement stores, as well as online retailers sell vents such as these:

All you need to do is follow the instructions:

And once done, they look like this:

An alternative, more expensive solution is to replace the soffit board to a vented board:

But this is mostly unnecessary as inserting the soffit vents and removing any insulation in the loft so it is pulled back from the perimeter of the roof, will solve the problem.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any queries on this and similarly, we are always approachable for any questions you have on repairs we identify in our reports.