Just bad ventilation?

[jschulte]

At an inspection today, there was heavy frost and condensation on the underside of the attic sheathing. The ventilation was minimal. Would you think that this is a ventilation only problem, or possibly related to the roof coverings? We've had snow and ice on our roofs for about a month now (which is quite an event down here).

Thanks for any input...

[ekartal6]

Jeff,

Very cold or not, poor ventilation is usually the problem. By the look of your picture I wouldn't be surprised if the the insulation was covering part or all the soffit vents.

Insufficient insulation compounds the problem.

Erol Kartal
Pro Inspect

[Ted Allen]

Originally Posted by ekartal6

Jeff,

Very cold or not, poor ventilation is usually the problem. By the look of your picture I wouldn't be surprised if the the insulation was covering part of the soffit vents.

Insufficient insulation compounds the problem.

Erol Kartal
Pro Inspect

I agree.

This is much more satisfying Erol, as I do not have to worry about the BS and can try to help folks that ask for help, and hopefully get some help when I need it.

[jschulte]

Originally Posted by ekartal6

Jeff,

Very cold or not, poor ventilation is usually the problem. By the look of your picture I wouldn't be surprised if the the insulation was covering part or all the soffit vents.

Insufficient insulation compounds the problem.

Erol Kartal
Pro Inspect

It was a mansard style roof. There were no soffit vents.

That's what I was expecting, just wanted to make sure I am not missing a different cause.

Thanks!

[homebild]

Originally Posted by jschulte

At an inspection today, there was heavy frost and condensation on the underside of the attic sheathing. The ventilation was minimal. Would you think that this is a ventilation only problem, or possibly related to the roof coverings? We've had snow and ice on our roofs for about a month now (which is quite an event down here).

Thanks for any input...

Neither.

This condition is usually indicative of warm, moist air infiltrating the attic from below, and this occurs through wiring openings in the top of wall plates, from poorly sealed access door openings or other penetrations from chases, pipes, flues, chimneys, cables, wires, or other openings from the conditioned space below.

The solution is to seal these openings against warm, moist air inflitration from the conditioned space where it can condense on colder sheathing.

It is an energy loss issue as well.

Lack of ventilation can exacerbate the situation but even in properly ventilated attics, you can get the same symptoms when air infiltration to the attic is not prevented.

[jkormos]

mansard style roofs can be very problematic, heat and moisture are coming into the space probably from the second floor area, a bathroom, laundry room, kitchen, was this the west side of the building ??

[jschulte]

Most of the frost was on the north, but some on the east and west.

The house has been vacant since summer, so no additional humidity had been added.

I'm not sure what the attraction is to this style of roof. It reminds me of Mushmouth from Fat Albert.