Ventilation

[Guest JonesyBhoy]

what are other members thoughts on ventilation at floor level..?? do they feel this is a must..??

 

both my lofts are roughly just under 7 feet at the front sloping to 6 at the back... and both half open at the front (ie) top half old fashioned mesh and spars.. one loft has a 2inch gap all along the back at the top and the other a 4 inch gap..

 

there is never and smell of pigeons.. and to myself it seem a lovely fresh flow of air...

 

now recently Ive noticed the odd black dampness spot on the roof.. and there's no leaks or anything like that..

 

Ive asked a few fanciers and all seem to agree its because the air isn't being drawn out... is that because there is no air flow coming in at the bottom then rising up and out at the back..????

[Guest LOFTMAN12]

Most people dont like to comment on ventilation as they all have different ideas.I take it there is not a gap at the top of the front and there is a couple of boards above your window. Warm air rises and cold air falls.So it seems that the warm air is not getting out and is up against the roof that is cold so condensation forms.Try taking a board of the top at the front to let the warm air out.JMO

[Guest JonesyBhoy]

no mate the loft is completley open from half the way up the front to the top.... and has a 2inch gap all along the top at the back...

 

there is no ventillation whatsover bellow waist height.. as when i built my lofts the neighbouring allotments were having trouble with rats knawing thru vents etc..

 

i have no bother will any aillments.. im delighted with the condition of my birds.. and i always think the ventillation in the loft is excellent..

 

just bothering me why there is black damp like patches apperaing... also they stand out a lot more as the loft os painted pale green inside...

[Tony C]

Is the inside of the loft roof also painted? If so I believe the black dampish looking patch is caused by condensation from the warm breath of the pigeons hitting a cold non-porous surface.

[Guest JonesyBhoy]

yeah with pale green emulsion... so the littlest spot shows up

[E4fed]

what are other members thoughts on ventilation at floor level..?? do they feel this is a must..??

 

both my lofts are roughly just under 7 feet at the front sloping to 6 at the back... and both half open at the front (ie) top half old fashioned mesh and spars.. one loft has a 2inch gap all along the back at the top and the other a 4 inch gap..

 

there is never and smell of pigeons.. and to myself it seem a lovely fresh flow of air...

 

now recently Ive noticed the odd black dampness spot on the roof.. and there's no leaks or anything like that..

 

Ive asked a few fanciers and all seem to agree its because the air isn't being drawn out... is that because there is no air flow coming in at the bottom then rising up and out at the back..????

 

I can see where 'loftman's' thinking is coming from, warm air rises and becomes trapped at highest point in the loft ... But i guess the loft is in Glasgow and its pretty cold at the mo ? with the amount of open space on your loft I cant work out how the air is even getting hot enough to rise to the roof. You should be trying to create a gentle air flow through the loft yours is just open to the elements. To create a gentle air flow cover the whole front of the loft but leave a 2 inch gap along the top. Cold air will then enter via the back and fall to the floor creating air flow which will replace the warm air that has exited via the gap at the highest point in the roof space at the front.

[Guest JonesyBhoy]

I can see where 'loftman's' thinking is coming from, warm air rises and becomes trapped at highest point in the loft ... But i guess the loft is in Glasgow and its pretty cold at the mo ? with the amount of open space on your loft I cant work out how the air is even getting hot enough to rise to the roof. You should be trying to create a gentle air flow through the loft yours is just open to the elements. To create a gentle air flow cover the whole front of the loft but leave a 2 inch gap along the top. Cold air will then enter via the back and fall to the floor creating air flow which will replace the warm air that has exited via the gap at the highest point in the roof space at the front.

 

this current weather and the fact there was over a foot of snow frozen on top of the loft for a few weeks has certainly been a contributing factor..

 

as the loft has been up for just over two years.. and its the first ive ever seen signs of a liitle dampness or condensation..

[E4fed]

Check out http://pigeonracingpigeons.com/2010/04/11/loft-ventilation/ or just google Racing pigeon loft ventilation there is some useful stuff out there, at least food for thought

[Guest JonesyBhoy]

thanks mate

[E4fed]

There is a PB article "What do we know about Ventilation?" on this site too. But dont read when tired it will surely send you to sleep!!

[yeboah]

Loft ventilation can become quit a complex subject when really it is pretty straight forward

The main question is how many pigeons are housed per section ,if the pigeons housed are at excepted levels a proper overhang at both front and back of pent loft should be more than enough i have built lofts for many top fanciers and not one has asked for low level vents ,michael van lints fantastic loft designed on the stile of husken van reel had low level vents which were only ever used in exceptional conditions quit simple they are only a cause for drafts .

[PATTY BHOY]

http://pigeonracingpigeons.com/2010/04/11/loft-ventilation/

[Guest JonesyBhoy]

i have 18 birds hens in an 8 x 6 section.. with access to an 8 x 5 aviary, and 14 cocks with has access to two 7x6 sections.. just leave the dividing door open...

 

each loft has a four foot over hang at the front.. and one foot at the back...

 

no water, snow etc has ever got in...

 

but there seems to be a build up of some kind of condensation on the roof... and the floor seems a liitle damp..7

 

i have no ventillation below waist height tho... and im wondering if lower ventialtion would cause the floor to be a little drier and then draw out thru the gap at the back stopping the build up of condensation

[yeboah]

i have 18 birds hens in an 8 x 6 section.. with access to an 8 x 5 aviary, and 14 cocks with has access to two 7x6 sections.. just leave the dividing door open...

 

each loft has a four foot over hang at the front.. and one foot at the back...

 

no water, snow etc has ever got in...

 

but there seems to be a build up of some kind of condensation on the roof... and the floor seems a liitle damp..7

 

i have no ventillation below waist height tho... and im wondering if lower ventialtion would cause the floor to be a little drier and then draw out thru the gap at the back stopping the build up of condensation

You should not have any ventilation problems with the number of pigeons that are housed ,without seeing your lofts i can only suggest that there is a slight leek allowing water to penetrate otherwise all should be ok .

[Guest JonesyBhoy]

You should not have any ventilation problems with the number of pigeons that are housed ,without seeing your lofts i can only suggest that there is a slight leek allowing water to penetrate otherwise all should be ok .

 

can i just add wehn you mentioned draught.. so basically me loft is over 3 feet open athe front and 4 inch at the back... and there never feels like a draught... the doos are bang on and i always feel happy with the change of air.. and there is no smell of pigeons...

 

i do have onduline roof on half inch ply... maybe that is sweating..????

[Guest peter4pm]

i think others are suffering up here in glasgow ...i too in one loft have condensation on my roof due to the snow on the lofts felted roof and the heat of the birds...dont get me wrong , it doesnt help matters when the place that built the hut used this crappy shiny surficed chipboard substance for the roof...

i've mentioned this before that if its roofing felt you have on the roof, it can only handle so much then it cant handle no more and the extreme weather weve been having says it all..

 

Even when i scrape my boards underneath the perches each day..they dont dry properly and are still damp due to the droppings ...but what can you do when the weather outside the loft is cold , damp and wet ...you just have to deal with it ....thats scottish weather forya.

 

best to have coroline sheeting on the roof it helps alot ...somthing i will be doing shortly

[Guest JonesyBhoy]

i think others are suffering up here in glasgow ...i too in one loft have condensation on my roof due to the snow on the lofts felted roof and the heat of the birds...dont get me wrong , it doesnt help matters when the place that built the hut used this crappy shiny surficed chipboard substance for the roof...

i've mentioned this before that if its roofing felt you have on the roof, it can only handle so much then it cant handle no more and the extreme weather weve been having says it all..

 

Even when i scrape my boards underneath the perches each day..they dont dry properly and are still damp due to the droppings ...but what can you do when the weather outside the loft is cold , damp and wet ...you just have to deal with it ....thats scottish weather forya.

 

best to have coroline sheeting on the roof it helps alot ...somthing i will be doing shortly

 

ive got coroline mate,, but its sraight on to ply.. in hindsight i should have felted the ply then out the coroline on

[Guest peter4pm]

yea mucker felted roof then the coroline sheets on top ...dont worry we all make mistakes eh

[Guest JonesyBhoy]

yea mucker felted roof then the coroline sheets on top ...dont worry we all make mistakes eh

 

aye generally mine are wi fast women and slow horses...

[geordie1234]

yea mucker felted roof then the coroline sheets on top ...dont worry we all make mistakes eh

yip thats correct because when its frosty the underneath of the sheets frost up then melt onto your roof

[Guest JonesyBhoy]

yip thats correct because when its frosty the underneath of the sheets frost up then melt onto your roof

 

you think i could fill the spaces with insulation..??

[sammy]

what are other members thoughts on ventilation at floor level..?? do they feel this is a must..??

 

both my lofts are roughly just under 7 feet at the front sloping to 6 at the back... and both half open at the front (ie) top half old fashioned mesh and spars.. one loft has a 2inch gap all along the back at the top and the other a 4 inch gap..

 

there is never and smell of pigeons.. and to myself it seem a lovely fresh flow of air...

 

now recently Ive noticed the odd black dampness spot on the roof.. and there's no leaks or anything like that..

 

Ive asked a few fanciers and all seem to agree its because the air isn't being drawn out... is that because there is no air flow coming in at the bottom then rising up and out at the back..????

YI MUST HAVE A WEE LEAK AT A NAIL HEAD THATS CAUSING THEM BLACK MARKS

[Guest peter4pm]

be best to remove the sheeting and felt the roof then reaply the sheets ..my opinion

[cemetary]

After you remove the sheets, put the felt down, re apply the coroline sheets,shouldnt have any problems after that.

 

I have coroline on ma hut roofs and they are the best thing ave put up.