Damp Mouldy Patches On Ceiling

[Kassee]

We have a dormer bungalow, two small bedrooms in the middle of the upstairs, with the attic running around them. The downstairs bedroom has damp mouldy patches on the ceiling nearest the outside wall. Only along on one side. Why would this be ? Could it be the roof, the guttering also seems to overflow on the corner of the property on the same side. Not sure why ? Any advice appreciated.

[Connemmara]

friend had the same damp patches coming from somewhere. Got a fella who said he would charge £85 for coming out to look at the damp. She said money was well spent as he put a gadget on the wall and was able to tell her that it was coming from her guttering. She was over the moon

[Eve]

If not the guttering, is there a slant of the roof over that part of the bedroom? If so then a tile may have come loose (especially with all the adverse weather recently) and caused water to leak through.

Otherwise, is there any plumbing round that area such as water pipes?

[jomifl]

I think you have answered your own question. Have you checked why your gutter is overflowng?

[Kassee]

The guttering has always overflowed at that point. We had new guttering put up and new fascias a couple of years ago and he said there was a ball causing the overflow. But very soon it started happening again. It pours out in heavy rain. Could it be the roots of a tree (son thinks) we have a magnolia tree growing in the front fairly near the property.

[The Builder]

Guttering can often be cause of damp problems. With a bungalow, it's unlikely to be the case. Bungalows do tend to have a wide soffit overhang (distance between outside wall and fascia board/gutter).

Any leakage on the ceiling is more likely to be from the roof covering itself (slates/tiles etc)........ probably about a metre up the roof.

Check also for missing insulation over the affected area. By far, most damp patches are the result of vapour condensing on a cold surface.

If not condensation, then one or two cracked tiles is the likely cause.

[chrisgel]

More likely to be the dead leaves from the tree blocking your guttering,
As Jomifl has said the most obvious place to start is the overflowing gutter.

[The Builder]

How old is the building Kass?

[Gizmonster]

Something else for you to check - have a look at the levels of the guttering.
I'm a window cleaner and I regularly come across troughings over bay windows, that overflow at certain points, due to the troughing not being fitted correctly .... i.e. there are low points in the troughing, where the water can't escape from, 'cos water runs downhill, not uphill :)

[jomifl]

Kassee, check the most obvious/likely and easiest first, then move on to the less likely/ more diffiicult possible causes if the answer isn't found.

[Kassee]

No sure how old the building is, about 50 or 60 years probably. What sort of handiman do I need ? Roofer, insulation expert (in a very narrow attic space), guttering ?

[The Builder]

Just a general local builder, Kass. A good handyman would be fine, if he knows what to look for.

[Kassee]

Thank you