Pitched roof underfelt & battern problem Information, help and tips on many areas of roofing including trusses, tiling, venting, insulation etc....

[Davey H]

I,ve water coming down the inside of a bedroom wall (adjacent external chimney breast) & damp spots at wall & ceiling junctions, after having various roofers out quoting £100 for a patch job & up to £3000 for a new roof. Having ventured up the ladder during inspection, the problem seems to be rotten batterns & where the felt drapes into the gutter is perished. The flashing (to chimney breast) & concrete tiles seem ok . Any one got any previous experience on fair cost or DIY? Davey H.

[claws]

Hi Dave,

I had a very similar problem in my upstairs bed room a couple of years back, water would come down the inside wall during very heavy rain, and build up some damp on the wall.

I inspected the felt by lifting up a few tiles in a row and could see the felt was perrished. When the rain was really driving at the roof it was getting under the tiles, running down the felt towards the gutter, but getting to the edge which was perrished and then running down the inside of my wall.

I repaired the felt myself. (I'm a basic DIY'er not in any way a professional). I took off the first 3 rows of tiles right across the roof, there was a wooden batton which was easily removed that the tiles hang on, then the felt was easy to pull off and replace with a new roll. All in all the job took a day with two people, and cost about £20 for the felt.

I did not use scaffolding, however it would have been a much easier job, and safer. I'm not sure how much it costs to hire a scaffolding tower for a weekend.

The work solved the problem 100% and the damp dried out over a few months.

Chris.

[Davey H]

Thanks Chris, sounds about right, things have gone on since I posted the message, I've employed a roofer (£1430-roof size 11x7m) to renew batterns & felt from the guttering up to 4 tiles up the roof + re-point ridge & verge tiles, but the extras are starting to appear. The wife gave me the verbal "about how would the kids & I manage without a father"(& checked the life insurance), so put a ban on my DIY attempt, I told her she would be quids in. Thanks again. Davey H.