Underfelt/sarking to an unlined roof?

[David Hearn]

Our 1930's semi has a roof which is unlined. Consequently the roof is very dusty (I think from the old tiles + dirt etc). We have no plans to re-tiling the roof - but still would like to do something to stop the dust coming in.

My thoughts were to possibly staple something to the underside of the roof timbers - however I am very concerned about damp - I most certainly don't want to create something where damp/water could end up sitting next to the wood. I would also like it to be a very simple solution (ie. not a full job of insulating between the beams before plasterboarding it or something) - also cost is a big thing.

The end goal is to make the roof signfificantly less dusty than it is, so we can store boxes up there without becoming too dusty/dirty.

I think some discussion happened on this before (as part of a sub-thread of something else) but I can't find it in google, plus, I doubt the whole situation was explained (I think it ended up including lots and lots of work for a simple task).

Thanks

David

[Alan James]

You may have 70 years of dust. I had similar and did a complete clean including under the ceiling insulation. I have found the rate of new dust deposition is actually quite low and doesn't really much affect things in boxes.

As long as you maintain free ventilation in the rafter space stapling a membrane to the rafters shouldn't cause damp, may actually improve things.

Alan

[Conrad Edwards]

How about covering the boxes with plastic sheeting?

[David Hearn]

That is quite possible and may well be the case. I'm planning on boarding out the loft (or at least some of it) - so I could try cleaning as much as I could, and then boarding it up. I don't fancy vacuuming up the loft insulation though (or moving it as that also produces a lot of dust).

What I was thinking of was to possibly do it up to the ridge (or 1 foot short of the ridge) and also about 1 foot short of where it meets the loft floor/joists. That would ensure that its not completely sealed, allows airflow between the rafters yet stops most of it from dropping on the main area of the loft.

I guess the question would also be whether to use something permeable or non-permeable. Permeable would help the airflow (until possibly it got 'clogged' with dust) - though I wonder whether it could actually retain water like a dishcloth!

So - assuming I left a 1 foot gap between the top and the bottom of the lining, any suggestions as to what I should use to line my roof?

Thanks

D