I'm thinking of getting an attic conversion. The roof is welsh slate and in
very good condition, timbers fine, nails ok and ridge tiles etc. However, as
it's the original 1930's roof, there is no felt.

The question is, does it matter if we get an attic conversion. I have asked
all 3 companies who have provided quotes ( all reputable, with good
recommendations) and they've said it should be ok. Any reason why they
should be lying. Is roofing felt a must if you're having an attic
conversion. Can you fit felt without riping off the existing roof, or am I
just asking stupid questions.

TIA

Jon

jon wrote:
I'm thinking of getting an attic conversion. The roof is welsh slate and in
very good condition, timbers fine, nails ok and ridge tiles etc. However, as
it's the original 1930's roof, there is no felt.

The question is, does it matter if we get an attic conversion. I have asked
all 3 companies who have provided quotes ( all reputable, with good
recommendations) and they've said it should be ok. Any reason why they
should be lying. Is roofing felt a must if you're having an attic
conversion. Can you fit felt without riping off the existing roof, or am I
just asking stupid questions.


The primary function of the felt is to provide windproofing and help
avoid slates being ripped off in storms etc.
It is not (as many think) there to keep the rain out!

If you are putting what amounts to a windproof scheme inside, you dont
really need it.



TIA

Jon

The Natural Philosopher wrote:

The primary function of the felt is to provide windproofing and help
avoid slates being ripped off in storms etc.
It is not (as many think) there to keep the rain out!

We have a house on the west coast of Scotland and wind is a real issue
there. If the wind can get into the loft space of a house then it will
exit any way it can. That includes blowing out roof lights and tiles.

Guy
-- --------------------------------------------------------------------
Guy Dawson I.T. Manager Crossflight Ltd

The message
from Guy Dawson contains these words:

The primary function of the felt is to provide windproofing and help
avoid slates being ripped off in storms etc.
It is not (as many think) there to keep the rain out!

We have a house on the west coast of Scotland and wind is a real issue
there. If the wind can get into the loft space of a house then it will
exit any way it can. That includes blowing out roof lights and tiles.

I was under the impression that it was a long standing tradition in
Scotland to board the roof before slating. That was certainly the case
in the only bit of roofing I have ever had a hand in in Scotland. That
was back in (IIRC) 1961 near Strontian. That is too long ago for me to
actually remember if the roof got felt as well as boards but I don't
recall any.

--
Roger Chapman

On 25 Jun, 11:56, "jon" wrote:
I'm thinking of getting an attic conversion. The roof is welsh slate and in
very good condition, timbers fine, nails ok and ridge tiles etc. However, as
it's the original 1930's roof, there is no felt.

The question is, does it matter if we get an attic conversion. I have asked
all 3 companies who have provided quotes ( all reputable, with good
recommendations) and they've said it should be ok. Any reason why they
should be lying. Is roofing felt a must if you're having an attic
conversion. Can you fit felt without riping off the existing roof, or am I
just asking stupid questions.

TIA

Jon

I've always been a believer that in Scotland, where you had 'proper'
slates on sarking, that felt was not necessary at all and that the
presence of it now in Scottish housing is the influence of English
practice where it is necessary for tiles hanging on battens. The
problem with felt and sarking is that any moisture ingress can get
trapped and result in rotting the sarking, together with the major
headache you get with all felt of being unable to assess where a leak
is occurring.

In many ways my opinion was reinforced when working on a barn,
probably 150 years old, where clearly there was no felt and apart from
areas around the skylights, there was no deterioration in the slates,
nails or sarking. We were using it as workshop and did discover that
in a snow storm, fine snow did blow under the slates and land on the
ceiling insulation, but of such little significance that it was more
of curiosity than anything else. What it did show was that there was
airflow through the roof to keep it dry and ventilated.

I'll leave it to Jon to decide quite how that fits in with his
requirements!

Rob

Roger wrote:
The message
from Guy Dawson contains these words:

The primary function of the felt is to provide windproofing and help
avoid slates being ripped off in storms etc.
It is not (as many think) there to keep the rain out!

We have a house on the west coast of Scotland and wind is a real issue
there. If the wind can get into the loft space of a house then it will
exit any way it can. That includes blowing out roof lights and tiles.

I was under the impression that it was a long standing tradition in
Scotland to board the roof before slating.

My grandparents house in Hampstead - they're dead, the house was sold
to give the tax man his fair share - had a wonderful roof. The boarding
in the roof was a thing of joy!

That was certainly the case
in the only bit of roofing I have ever had a hand in in Scotland. That
was back in (IIRC) 1961 near Strontian. That is too long ago for me to
actually remember if the roof got felt as well as boards but I don't
recall any.

The 1960s extension to our house in Scotland is boarded but I'm not
sure about the original 1920s part of the house.

Guy
-- --------------------------------------------------------------------
Guy Dawson I.T. Manager Crossflight Ltd

Roger wrote:
The message
from Guy Dawson contains these words:

The primary function of the felt is to provide windproofing and help
avoid slates being ripped off in storms etc.
It is not (as many think) there to keep the rain out!

We have a house on the west coast of Scotland and wind is a real issue
there. If the wind can get into the loft space of a house then it will
exit any way it can. That includes blowing out roof lights and tiles.

I was under the impression that it was a long standing tradition in
Scotland to board the roof before slating. That was certainly the case
in the only bit of roofing I have ever had a hand in in Scotland. That
was back in (IIRC) 1961 near Strontian. That is too long ago for me to
actually remember if the roof got felt as well as boards but I don't
recall any.

That is certainly the very best practice in windswept areas.

"jon" wrote in message
...
I'm thinking of getting an attic conversion. The roof is welsh slate and
in very good condition, timbers fine, nails ok and ridge tiles etc.
However, as it's the original 1930's roof, there is no felt.

The question is, does it matter if we get an attic conversion. I have
asked all 3 companies who have provided quotes ( all reputable, with good
recommendations) and they've said it should be ok. Any reason why they
should be lying. Is roofing felt a must if you're having an attic
conversion. Can you fit felt without riping off the existing roof, or am I
just asking stupid questions.

TIA

Jon


From all the replies, it appears, as was said by the prospective
contractors, that it's not essential.

thanks all,

Jon

In message , Roger
writes
The message
from Guy Dawson contains these words:

We have a house on the west coast of Scotland and wind is a real issue
there. If the wind can get into the loft space of a house then it will
exit any way it can. That includes blowing out roof lights and tiles.

I was under the impression that it was a long standing tradition in
Scotland to board the roof before slating. That was certainly the case
in the only bit of roofing I have ever had a hand in in Scotland. That
was back in (IIRC) 1961 near Strontian. That is too long ago for me to
actually remember if the roof got felt as well as boards but I don't
recall any.

Our house is NE Scotland, and yes, the roof is boarded, below the
slates. No felt, though. That is not surprising, as the roof has
probably not been touched since the house was built around 1860.
--
Graeme