Odd ceiling leak
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Discussion

Cotty

Original Poster:

41,381 posts

300 months

Friday 24th January
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Ok big storm last night but they never usually affect me. At 5am this morning I heard water dripping rapidly onto my bed. Turned the bedside light on and the water is coming thought the ceiling where the light is mounted. Thought ok the storm as done something, nothing I can do but put a bucket under it and deal with it when it gets light.

The leak slowed and stopped. Maybe one ml deep in the bucket. I went outside and looked at the roof to see if I had lost any tiles, everything looks ok. Went up into the loft and can't see any damage or water coming in. I have a water tank in the loft from when I had a normal boiler, I now have a combi, im wondering if there was some residual water in there that has escaped.


sherman

14,464 posts

231 months

Friday 24th January
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If tank isnt needed I would be doing everything I couldcto remove it or make sure its bone dry.

Cotty

Original Poster:

41,381 posts

300 months

Friday 24th January
quotequote all
sherman said:
If tank isnt needed I would be doing everything I couldcto remove it or make sure its bone dry.
If it was that then its empty now.

Baldchap

9,165 posts

108 months

Friday 24th January
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Amy plumbing up there? Water will track along timbers potentially quite some distance. Have you lifted insulation for a look?

alfabeat

1,328 posts

128 months

Friday 24th January
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In very strong winds we get a small leak. 99.9% of the time when it rains it doesn't leak, just when accompanied with very strong winds from an unusual direction. We cannot find where or how it happens, and live with it. It is very rare. We had the same in our old house (mid terrace victorian) over a bay window. Couldn't solve that either and lived with it as it was such a rare occurrence.

So, in your situation, with the absence of any obvious issues, I would leave it and monitor to see if it happens again.

essayer

10,207 posts

210 months

Friday 24th January
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Do you have any air admittance valves (AAVs) in the loft, perhaps at the highest point?

These can stick open and dribble water out

8-P

3,012 posts

276 months

Friday 24th January
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I had water come through the top of a window in the storm this morning. It has never happened before and it’s a 3 year old double glazed unit, weird.

sherman

14,464 posts

231 months

Friday 24th January
quotequote all
8-P said:
I had water come through the top of a window in the storm this morning. It has never happened before and it’s a 3 year old double glazed unit, weird.
I had this a few years ago. A bit of the silicone on the outside had came away.
It was an upstairs window.
I leaned out of the window scrapped out the old stuff and applied some new stuff in a thicker bead.
Havent had any problems since.

tux850

1,934 posts

105 months

Friday 24th January
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Baldchap said:
Amy plumbing up there?
Yeah, I heard she's not quite as good as she claims...

Simpo Two

89,230 posts

281 months

Friday 24th January
quotequote all
sherman said:
8-P said:
I had water come through the top of a window in the storm this morning. It has never happened before and it’s a 3 year old double glazed unit, weird.
I had this a few years ago. A bit of the silicone on the outside had came away.
It was an upstairs window.
I leaned out of the window scrapped out the old stuff and applied some new stuff in a thicker bead.
Havent had any problems since.
Same here. Heavy rain and driving wind - went round upstairs checking windows closed - saw rain coming in Bed 2 - quickly shut window - rain still coming in, WTF? Coming through a gap above the window frame. Next day - ladder and sealant!

GasEngineer

1,487 posts

78 months

Saturday 25th January
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essayer said:
Do you have any air admittance valves (AAVs) in the loft, perhaps at the highest point?

These can stick open and dribble water out
That's a different AAV. It's an Auto Air Vent.

Same point though .;)

essayer

10,207 posts

210 months

Saturday 25th January
quotequote all
GasEngineer said:
That's a different AAV. It's an Auto Air Vent.

Same point though .;)
Oh yes, you definitely don’t want a leak from the other type biggrin

Cotty

Original Poster:

41,381 posts

300 months

Saturday 25th January
quotequote all
alfabeat said:
In very strong winds we get a small leak. 99.9% of the time when it rains it doesn't leak, just when accompanied with very strong winds from an unusual direction. We cannot find where or how it happens, and live with it. It is very rare. We had the same in our old house (mid terrace victorian) over a bay window. Couldn't solve that either and lived with it as it was such a rare occurrence.

So, in your situation, with the absence of any obvious issues, I would leave it and monitor to see if it happens again.
Sounds the same. It rained heavily this morning but no wind, no leaking water.

8-P

3,012 posts

276 months

Saturday 25th January
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
Same here. Heavy rain and driving wind - went round upstairs checking windows closed - saw rain coming in Bed 2 - quickly shut window - rain still coming in, WTF? Coming through a gap above the window frame. Next day - ladder and sealant!
Yep. Spotted various gaps and will fix today

Cotty

Original Poster:

41,381 posts

300 months

Monday 24th February
quotequote all
Had lots of rain overnight and at 6:30am had water dripping from the ceiling light again.
Called out a roofing firm who came and had a look and told me the felt needs replacing, tiles can be reused and would cost £7,3000.

A neighbour under our block insurance policy had a similar problem and it is not covered by the insurance as its classed as wear and tear. Bugger.

RGG

692 posts

33 months

Monday 24th February
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A roofer needs to comment on this -

My understanding is "roofing felt" is not installed for any water proofing function.

It's there as a permanent to reduce the ingress of windborn debris - dust muck etc and to reduce the introduction of insect life etc.

When first built it provides temporary protection to the existing house structure.

So I'm puzzled about the need to replace the felt to cure the leaks.


A professional roofer needs to comment on this if there's one out there?

John D.

19,350 posts

225 months

Monday 24th February
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Felt under a pitched roof is waterproof. It's the last line of defence behind the tiles.

boyse7en

7,634 posts

181 months

Monday 24th February
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John D. said:
Felt under a pitched roof is waterproof. It's the last line of defence behind the tiles.
Which, to me, means that the roof should be watertight even if the roofing felt is knackered.

So replacing the roofing felt is probably a good idea, but the tiles still need to be looked at too, as they should also be weatherproof

Cotty

Original Poster:

41,381 posts

300 months

Monday 24th February
quotequote all
John D. said:
Felt under a pitched roof is waterproof. It's the last line of defence behind the tiles.
That's what they told me. Its a mid 70s property, I have been up in the loft and the felt is old and brittle with some small holes

wolfracesonic

8,258 posts

143 months

Monday 24th February
quotequote all
The felt is waterproof and does act as a second roof so to speak but it’s primary function when introduced was to eliminate wind uplift, i.e to stop the wind lifting (pressure difference between inside and out, I think). Replacing the felt is a re- roof to all intents and purposes, as your man said. 70s build would indicate a large format interlocking tile, it’s possible one of the interlocks is cracked which is pretty much impossible to detect unless you inspect every single tile, or moss build up can prevent water running away, instead it backs up onto the felt where it may find a tear or nail hole. A few times I’ve used some water and drain dye in a watering can, pour it over the suspected area it leaves a more visible stain, ifyou have access to the roof void.