Attic spaces can tell you a lot about a building. They tend to be the forgotten parts of a building awkward to access and move around in. They often reveal the original construction, later adaptations and sometimes attempts at repairs. The debris from previous work and defunct services are often left behind.
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An important reminder about safety, whenever we go up in a large roof, we generally go as a team. Somebody needs to hold ladders, take notes, point torches. Only step on structural joists and make sure that you assess the strength of any members before you place your full weight on it. Stay balanced, and try to maintain three points of contact, both feet and one hand to hold on to a support. That only leaves you with one hand free to point a camera, poke a damp meter or crew driver into the structure.
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Is this image showing a defect in the ceiling – or is evidence of a careless workman’s foot that nearly went through the ceiling. In this instance it’s a 60 foot drop to the floor.
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Staining on timbers can be an indication of problems – but it could be historic. The problem may have been fixed. In this instance, we can see a bitumen membrane through the sarking, so the roof has been re-slated, probably in the 1980s and probably to repair a failure. It could also be an indication of condensation, as moisture and warm air rises into the loft space and hits the cold underside of slates and leadwork, which results in water running down the timber.
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There can also be some interesting fungi. Is it active or is it dormant?
Fungi requires specific conditions to grow, so moisture readings from the timber can give a clue. Are they crispy or fleshy to touch – (if you can reach them safely)? Are the edges curled up? How deeply is it embedded in the timber? If it is dormant, how do you minimise and manage the risks going forward, to prevent it bursting back into life? There are important maintenance strategies that need to be thought about, planned and implemented to reduce the consequences of an expensive repair in the future.
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Perhaps not the ideal solution to the problem!
Fore warned is fore armed as they say, so don’t cut corners on your fabric survey.
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MAAC studio are accredited conservation architects, PAS 2035 Retrofit Co-ordinators and Principal Designers working with traditional buildings throughout Scotland.
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