Services
Loft Ventilation
A loft needs air moving through it. When it can’t, moisture from the house condenses on the cold underside of the roof. Ventilation gives that moisture a way out.
- Eaves, tile and ridge vents
- Often done with insulation
- No obligation
- Written quote first
About this service
Vents at the eaves, in the roof slope or along the ridge so damp air can leave the loft, and insulation kept back from the edges so it doesn’t block them.
What’s included
- A look at how the loft is ventilated now
- Clearing blocked eaves where insulation has been pushed in
- Eaves vents or trays to hold insulation back
- Tile or slate vents in the roof slope, where suitable
- Ridge ventilation, where suitable
- A written quotation before work starts
We price the job after looking at your loft. You get a written quotation before any work is agreed.
Why a well-insulated loft needs more ventilation, not less
Before a loft is insulated, heat leaking up from the rooms below keeps the roof space relatively warm. Once there is a thick layer of insulation on the floor of the loft, that heat stays in the house, which is the point, and the loft becomes much colder. Warm, moist air that still finds its way up, through the hatch, around pipes and light fittings, meets cold timber and roofing felt and turns to water. A ventilated loft carries that moisture away before it settles.
Signs the loft isn’t breathing
- Droplets or a damp sheen on the underside of the felt or membrane, especially on cold mornings
- Black spotting on rafters or the roof boards
- A musty smell when you open the hatch
- Stained or damp insulation near the eaves
- Frost on the inside of the roof in winter
The usual fixes
The simplest is often clearing the eaves. Insulation pushed right to the edge of the loft blocks the air path from the soffit vents, and fitting eaves trays or vents holds it back so air can get in. Where that isn’t enough, we may suggest vents in the roof slope or along the ridge so air can also get out at the top. The right answer depends on the roof: older roofs with traditional felt behave differently from newer ones with a breathable membrane.
It also helps to stop moist air getting into the loft in the first place: a draught-sealed hatch, sealed gaps around pipes and cables, and extractor fans in bathrooms that vent outside rather than into the loft.
If you already have damp or mould up there, see loft condensation and mould. For more on how this works, read why lofts get condensation.
The process
How it works
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Tell us about your home
Send your postcode and a few details about the property and what you have noticed in the loft. It takes a couple of minutes and costs nothing.
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We get in touch
We call or email to talk through what you need and arrange a time to look at the loft.
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We survey and quote
We check the loft, in person where it needs it, and send you a written quotation that sets out the work and the price.
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You decide
There is no obligation. If you go ahead, we agree a date with you and carry out the work.
Loft Ventilation: your questions answered
Will insulating my loft cause condensation?
Can ventilation be added without going on the roof?
Should bathroom fans vent into the loft?
Is there a charge for the quote?
Ready for a free loft insulation quote?
Tell us about your home and we’ll give you a written quotation before any work begins.