A homeowner in Finchampstead called me because she noticed a strong musty smell on her landing upstairs. No leaks. No stains on the ceiling. Nothing obvious. She thought it might just be old insulation or maybe a bit of trapped moisture.
But when I went into the loft the problem was clear within seconds.
The felt under the tiles was wet to the touch. The rafters had small dark patches starting to appear. Even the nails were rusted from condensation. There was no leak. No storm damage. The problem was simple — the roof was not breathing.
To make things worse, this house backed onto the woodlands in Finchampstead and was surrounded by tall trees which kept the roof in the shade most of the day. Shaded roofs do not dry out properly and combined with poor ventilation, moisture gets trapped in the loft, creating perfect conditions for mould.
Why Roof Ventilation Matters
A roof space needs airflow. Warm air naturally rises through the house and into the loft. If it cannot escape, it cools and turns into moisture. That moisture then soaks into timber and insulation.
What happens when a roof cannot breathe:
- Condensation sits under the felt
- Timber rafters absorb moisture
- Insulation becomes damp and loses effectiveness
- Black mould spreads across ceiling boards
- The entire loft becomes a health hazard
Why It Is So Common in Finchampstead
Finchampstead has a lot of tree-covered roads and shaded properties, especially around Longwater Road, Nine Mile Ride and California Country Park. These beautiful green areas also hold moisture. When a roof sits in shade all day it takes a long time to dry after rain, meaning moisture lingers longer than it should.
Add blocked roof vents or insulation stuffed right up to the eaves and you have exactly what mould loves — damp air, low ventilation and no sunlight.
Signs Your Roof Has Poor Ventilation
Most homeowners do not realise there is a ventilation problem until it is too late. Here are the early warning signs:
- A musty smell upstairs or in the loft
- Black spots appearing on bedroom ceilings
- Condensation on loft boards or rafters
- Rusted nails or metal fixings in the loft
- Damp insulation
- Mould around roof windows
- High energy bills because insulation has stopped working properly
How We Fix Roof Ventilation Problems
Roof ventilation problems cannot be ignored. The longer moisture stays in the loft, the more damage it causes. At Price Wise Construction LTD we sort ventilation issues properly by:
- Checking airflow through soffit vents
- Installing tile vents or ridge vents if needed
- Making sure insulation is not blocking air paths
- Inspecting the felt and rafters for damp and mould
- Replacing damaged timber where required
- Treating mould to prevent it returning
This is not a quick fix — it needs to be done properly to prevent your roof from rotting silently over time.
Final Word
If you live in Finchampstead or Wokingham, especially near wooded areas, your roof is more prone to damp and ventilation issues. Do not wait for mould to appear on your ceilings before doing something about it. Poor roof ventilation is easy to ignore but expensive to repair once the damage spreads.
As I always tell people:
A dry roof is a healthy roof. Moisture and timber do not mix.