Damp, foam or old insulation? Fixed in Washington

Common loft faults here

With 29% of households in semis, a lot of the lofts we see in Washington have old insulation that needs stripping out rather than topping up.

Terraced houses are 37% of the housing. In small terrace lofts the eaves get stuffed with insulation, air stops moving and condensation follows. Clearing the eaves usually fixes it.

If you can get into the loft, look out for black spots on the rafters or felt, droppings, tunnels or shredded insulation or spray foam stuck to the underside of the roof. Spot two or more and something is probably wrong.

Get your loft looked at in Washington

Washington, Birtley, Shiney Row and Penshaw, Gateshead, Chester-le-Street and Sunderland: all covered for loft checks.

Mention anything you’ve noticed: damp patches, droppings, foam, a smell. It helps us bring the right kit.

Who lives in what in Washington

Going by the 2021 Census, Washington has close to 23,800 households. By type: terraced houses 37%, semi-detached houses 29%, detached houses and bungalows 19%, flats and maisonettes 14%. 33% own outright and 28% have a mortgage or shared ownership; 12% rent from a private landlord and 27% from a council or housing association. About 69% have three or more bedrooms.

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