Damp, foam or old insulation? Fixed in Herne Bay

What goes wrong in Herne Bay lofts

With 39% of homes detached, eaves on every side need to stay clear so the roof can breathe.

22% of homes in Herne Bay are semis. Their roomy lofts tend to have decades of storage sitting on thin, flattened insulation, often on boards nailed straight to the joists.

Flats are 28% of homes here. If damp is coming through your top-floor ceiling, the freeholder or managing agent needs to agree to work in the loft above.

Private renting is common in Herne Bay (21%). The loft is easy for landlords to forget until damp shows through a ceiling.

43% of homes are owned outright. Long ownership often means a loft nobody has looked in for years, with whatever problems have built up.

Signs that something is wrong up there include cables buried out of sight under insulation, a musty smell as the hatch opens or droppings, tunnels or shredded insulation. Each has a cause we can usually find and fix.

Get your loft looked at in Herne Bay

Loft checks are available across Herne Bay and nearby Herne, Whitstable, Canterbury, Margate and Ramsgate.

Not sure what you’re looking at? A photo through the hatch helps, but it’s optional.

Who lives in what in Herne Bay

Going by the 2021 Census, Herne Bay has close to 11,900 households. The biggest share of homes are detached houses and bungalows, 39%, followed by flats and maisonettes at 28%. Semi-detached houses are 22% and terraced houses 11%. Owner-occupiers: 70%, of whom many own outright (43% of all households). Private renters: 21%. Social renters: 9%. About 52% have three or more bedrooms.

Figures: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021, Herne Bay built-up area, bedrooms approximate. Percentages rounded.