tmcb1234 Posted March 20, 2021 Posted March 20, 2021 Hi, We've noticed our lounge, in our new build, to be particularly cold room of the house. The ceiling of the lounge partly is underneath the upstairs bedroom and partly by a roof (about half and half). Using a temperature gun I notice between a 5 and 10C temp difference between the ceiling which is under the bedroom and that under the roof. The roof itself is smallish in height and has no access/loft hatch to easily look up there. I have tried looking through plasterboard gap where light fitting is but very difficult. Any tips to check and see how I can check if they have insulated up there (and if so what insulation to expect in that small roof)? Pictures attached for clarification.
ProDave Posted March 20, 2021 Posted March 20, 2021 The only real way is to cut a hole in the plasterboard ceiling to have a proper look and then put a small loft hatch in to close the hole. If any work needs doing the hatch will need to be big enough to at least get your head and shoulders through, though there probably won't be enough room to actually climb up there.
epsilonGreedy Posted March 20, 2021 Posted March 20, 2021 Have you compared notes with your neighbour? They might be interested in their own temperature readings from you gun. Could you change the ceiling light fitting to a recessed spot light and have a look at the insulation while this is in progress. I assume there is not any storage upstairs that uses the roof space and a possible access point?
PeterW Posted March 20, 2021 Posted March 20, 2021 I take it this is a new build ..?? I’d be slightly more worried about the green patch in pic 1 ... And you have two ways - ceiling down or slates off. I would personally go from the outside in as it’s less intrusive and easier to fix and I’d also be going toward the right of the patio doors to check if the fire barrier is installed between the two houses.
TonyT Posted March 20, 2021 Posted March 20, 2021 Is it a down lighter that can be removed and a phone popped up to take a video?
Ferdinand Posted March 20, 2021 Posted March 20, 2021 If you have access to a thermal camera it is early enough in the year to spot leaky insulation from outside on a cool day using a thermal photo. Also, remember that new houses can also take some time to dry out. Perhaps up to a year to really stabilise. That does not mean do not investigate, however.
tmcb1234 Posted March 20, 2021 Author Posted March 20, 2021 17 minutes ago, PeterW said: I take it this is a new build ..?? I’d be slightly more worried about the green patch in pic 1 ... And you have two ways - ceiling down or slates off. I would personally go from the outside in as it’s less intrusive and easier to fix and I’d also be going toward the right of the patio doors to check if the fire barrier is installed between the two houses. That appears to be coming from boiler flue. Any tips on that? Or is there something else there? How would I check fire barrier?
TonyT Posted March 20, 2021 Posted March 20, 2021 What’s the distance from the boiler flue to the corner of the wall? isn’t it meant to be a certain distance from an internal corner?
PeterW Posted March 20, 2021 Posted March 20, 2021 24 minutes ago, TonyT said: What’s the distance from the boiler flue to the corner of the wall? isn’t it meant to be a certain distance from an internal corner? Yep - 300 from an internal corner and 150 from a downpipe or soil pipe.... that should have a plume management kit on it to take it upward and turn at 90 degrees to the wall. https://nhbc-standards.co.uk/6-superstructure-excluding-roofs/6-8-fireplaces-chimneys-and-flues/6-8-12-gas-outlets-and-terminals/ 1 hour ago, tmcb1234 said: That appears to be coming from boiler flue. Any tips on that? Or is there something else there? How would I check fire barrier? See above - can you take a photo straight on to this..?? And is this a major developer build with an NHBC warranty ..?? Fire barrier ..?? Will look like either a blockwork wall or a lot of chicken wire stuffed with insulation inside that roofspace on the boundary.
tmcb1234 Posted March 20, 2021 Author Posted March 20, 2021 1 minute ago, PeterW said: Yep - 300 from an internal corner and 150 from a downpipe or soil pipe.... that should have a plume management kit on it to take it upward and turn at 90 degrees to the wall. https://nhbc-standards.co.uk/6-superstructure-excluding-roofs/6-8-fireplaces-chimneys-and-flues/6-8-12-gas-outlets-and-terminals/ See above - can you take a photo straight on to this..?? And is this a major developer build with an NHBC warranty ..?? Fire barrier ..?? Will look like either a blockwork wall or a lot of chicken wire stuffed with insulation inside that roofspace on the boundary. OK thanks for that I will get that reported/sorted. It is a condensing boiler flue that one. has a long pipe in the garage but it is very close to that corner. Developer has BLP not NHBC warranty. Smaller side of things. What kind of insulation should there be in that small roof section? Sellotex/foam board or loose fill/fibreglass mineral?
PeterW Posted March 20, 2021 Posted March 20, 2021 Min 140mm PIR in the rafters or 350mm IIRC if it’s flat laid rockwool.
Bitpipe Posted March 20, 2021 Posted March 20, 2021 3 hours ago, tmcb1234 said: I have tried looking through plasterboard gap where light fitting is but very difficult. Get one of these (or similar) and attach to a laptop. Maybe a 5m one. Poke through hole once you've popped out a downlight and see what you see! https://www.amazon.co.uk/Endoscope-LESHP-Borescope-Inspection-Waterproof-2M/dp/B01N2HHP5T/ref=psdc_6286389031_t2_B00A6K4DCK
Pocster Posted March 20, 2021 Posted March 20, 2021 1 minute ago, Bitpipe said: Get one of these (or similar) and attach to a laptop. Maybe a 5m one. Poke through hole once you've popped out a downlight and see what you see! https://www.amazon.co.uk/Endoscope-LESHP-Borescope-Inspection-Waterproof-2M/dp/B01N2HHP5T/ref=psdc_6286389031_t2_B00A6K4DCK Many hours of fun with these
Bitpipe Posted March 20, 2021 Posted March 20, 2021 1 minute ago, pocster said: Many hours of fun with these We don't want to know what you found or where you found it.
Pocster Posted March 20, 2021 Posted March 20, 2021 Just now, Bitpipe said: We don't want to know what you found or where you found it. Leak in my insulation. Not sure what you were thinking ?
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