Old mobile home roof problem
Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2012 9:13 am
Hello,
I own a 1969 Bilmore 40"x 20" mobile home. In december I had a roof leak In the bedroom. It has a steel "bubble " roof as the former roofers called it. The ceiling was sagging as well. Upon removal of the false ceiling the I found 2 broken rafters, completely soaked and sagging insultation, a plastic barrier stapled between the false ceiling and the rafter holding large pools of water, and the entire metal underside of the roof covered in water. I pulled the down the plastic to get rid of the water and the soaked insulation. The roof had pooled water on the outside still after a week in a couple of low spots. I ran a dehumidifer in the room and after two days the water was gone and and did not come back. So I guessed that this is a condensation problem because even after 2 rainstorms I never had water again. The 2 rafters I repaired thanks to a search on this site. but this is my dilemma. The insulation was placed inbetween the steel roof and the rafters. I have read on the neccesity of a moisture barrier inbetween the steel roof and the rafters. So I guess the original insulation was a vapor barrier of sorts. What are my options without removing the steel roof on a 50 year old mobile home?
One other question, one each end of the outside vertical wall is what appears to be a vent for the roof (see photo.) I figured it was ventalation for the roof but it is just a vent screwed into the outside wall and not opened at all. Is this just decoration or an oversight by the original builders? Should a hole be drilled to vent the rafters from these points? Sorry for the book but I'm a little wordy when I write.
Thanks for any help, John
[attachment=1]IMG_0116[1].JPG[/attachment
I own a 1969 Bilmore 40"x 20" mobile home. In december I had a roof leak In the bedroom. It has a steel "bubble " roof as the former roofers called it. The ceiling was sagging as well. Upon removal of the false ceiling the I found 2 broken rafters, completely soaked and sagging insultation, a plastic barrier stapled between the false ceiling and the rafter holding large pools of water, and the entire metal underside of the roof covered in water. I pulled the down the plastic to get rid of the water and the soaked insulation. The roof had pooled water on the outside still after a week in a couple of low spots. I ran a dehumidifer in the room and after two days the water was gone and and did not come back. So I guessed that this is a condensation problem because even after 2 rainstorms I never had water again. The 2 rafters I repaired thanks to a search on this site. but this is my dilemma. The insulation was placed inbetween the steel roof and the rafters. I have read on the neccesity of a moisture barrier inbetween the steel roof and the rafters. So I guess the original insulation was a vapor barrier of sorts. What are my options without removing the steel roof on a 50 year old mobile home?
One other question, one each end of the outside vertical wall is what appears to be a vent for the roof (see photo.) I figured it was ventalation for the roof but it is just a vent screwed into the outside wall and not opened at all. Is this just decoration or an oversight by the original builders? Should a hole be drilled to vent the rafters from these points? Sorry for the book but I'm a little wordy when I write.
Thanks for any help, John
[attachment=1]IMG_0116[1].JPG[/attachment