Question
Good afternoon! I urgently need advice. We bought a house that was with a roof without waterproofing. I will list what it is: there are rafters, the crates are laid on these rafters, then there is a corrugated sheet, but nothing is provided as a waterproofing. How can I get out of this situation without resorting to the complete dismantling of the roof? I would like to bypass the complete disassembly of the roof. Maybe somehow you can put a layer of waterproofing film between the rafters, and then, for example, put insulation? If there is any solution, I will be very glad to hear the opinion of experts. I will be grateful in advance for any help. (September 19, 2013, Yuri)
Answer
Of course, it’s best to do everything according to the rules of construction from the very beginning, which means dismantling all the roofing material and reinstalling the roofing pie in the right sequence. Some solutions to this problem exist, but all of them cannot be considered absolutely correct. First of all, you can try to nail waterproofing to the bottom of the rafters. There is a significant drawback to this approach. Condensation will build up and then drain onto the Mauerlat and walls.
You can try to fix the waterproofing between the rafter system. In this case, you must be very careful and make a slight sagging of the film.
Such decisions cannot be considered 100% correct, as this can harm the roof system and the entire roof. However, as a temporary measure, such actions are perfectly acceptable. Only in this case it will hardly be possible to make the attic “inhabited” in winter. The attic is likely to remain cold.
It is very important to pay attention to the waterproofing film itself. They are of different types: some pass steam very well, while others, on the contrary, hold it well. Therefore, it is necessary to consult with a specialist before purchasing when choosing this important roofing material.
No less important point will be the process of laying waterproofing. Be careful, properly lay the film, meaning the right side. It is most often recommended to lay the film down with the rough side, then this will prevent condensation.
But still, the best option would be if you invite experienced roofers to help you with advice and deed. It will be much better to invest a little more and reinstall the roofing pie. As they say, “do it once and then never return to this topic”!
Ivan
Hello. Please tell me, I bought a house, one-story, a cold-type attic, I don’t plan to insulate a professional sheet on the roof, there is no waterproofing, how can I solve this problem? Leave it as is or put waterproofing on the rafters from the inside of the attic?