LauraAlgar
Member
- Messages
- 5
- Location
- Norfolk
Asking a silly question I feel I know the answer to already - but keen to hear any ideas or thoughts.
Context
We've an old solid walled clunch and flint property in a large L shape, the front, road-facing part of the property consists of clay pantiles, the rear has cement tiling. Both interiors have failing bitumen membrane, and I intend, when I've done enough prep work etc, to remove the bitumen felt and lime torch the front roof tiles and insulate above the ceiling only as it's an unused attic space. Building regs chap has no issue with it, it's straight forward (relatively speaking) and plenty draughty enough to wick away any moisture.
The rear however is another kettle of fish. When we had the structural engineers look over previous years of weird mods (built 1800s, lots of amendments since the 1960s-00s) they noticed some of the structural support had been cut away to create a vaulted ceiling - suffice to say that was our first part of building work and is now sound - but we haven't the funds to lift the roof from the outside to add a membrane or change tiles. So we're left with an open ceiling and scratching our heads about how to finish it to satisfy either standard regs or argue that it follows Historic England suggestions. The room is in the back of the house so we've just cordoned it off as a no go space until we can figure it out.
My stupid question is whether there's any point to remove the failing bitumen felt, torch the concrete tiles with some strategic areas for ventilation as *some* measure against driving rain and debris (there's currently no water ingress) then counter batten, insulate between with wool, cover with woodwool boarding and lime the ceiling.
I know the cement tiles are sponges but I'm just at a loss of what to do from the underneath with regard to ventilation and moisture management in such an old building seeing as it's vaulted - and we've had the room sat like this for upwards of 12 months.
Any ideas? (please!)
L
Context
We've an old solid walled clunch and flint property in a large L shape, the front, road-facing part of the property consists of clay pantiles, the rear has cement tiling. Both interiors have failing bitumen membrane, and I intend, when I've done enough prep work etc, to remove the bitumen felt and lime torch the front roof tiles and insulate above the ceiling only as it's an unused attic space. Building regs chap has no issue with it, it's straight forward (relatively speaking) and plenty draughty enough to wick away any moisture.
The rear however is another kettle of fish. When we had the structural engineers look over previous years of weird mods (built 1800s, lots of amendments since the 1960s-00s) they noticed some of the structural support had been cut away to create a vaulted ceiling - suffice to say that was our first part of building work and is now sound - but we haven't the funds to lift the roof from the outside to add a membrane or change tiles. So we're left with an open ceiling and scratching our heads about how to finish it to satisfy either standard regs or argue that it follows Historic England suggestions. The room is in the back of the house so we've just cordoned it off as a no go space until we can figure it out.
My stupid question is whether there's any point to remove the failing bitumen felt, torch the concrete tiles with some strategic areas for ventilation as *some* measure against driving rain and debris (there's currently no water ingress) then counter batten, insulate between with wool, cover with woodwool boarding and lime the ceiling.
I know the cement tiles are sponges but I'm just at a loss of what to do from the underneath with regard to ventilation and moisture management in such an old building seeing as it's vaulted - and we've had the room sat like this for upwards of 12 months.
Any ideas? (please!)
L