Browse Forums DIY, Home Maintenance & Repair 1 Sep 05, 2013 3:09 pm Hello I got up in my roof space recently (1980s tile pitched roof) because we'd been having problems with noisy critters in the roof space at night. I discovered that the silver paper was in parts all torn down. My question is - would it have performed any useful purpose in keeping out the mice? There are very obvious gaps (where the silver paper is gone) where the tiles meet the ceiling where the mice could get in, lots of sunlight visible. A friend suggested blocking up all the holes in the roof space - but there is one at the end of every tile! So I'm trying to work out if I should replace the silver paper (which I assume has been installed under the tiles as some for of insulation, at some point) or just leave it and put up with the critters in the roof. help much appreciated. My dad was a carpenter and used to deal with all this stuff... but sadly he's passed so I am incompetently trying to sort these things out on my own. Re: silver paper inside my roof 2Sep 06, 2013 4:34 pm It could be sarking (a type of heat reflective insulation) which the mice clearly found delicious! According to wikipedia sarking "acts as additional radiative and convective insulation and provides a condensation barrier". I'd be getting a pest controller out immediately - the most concerning thing about a rodent infestation in your roof is the potential for chewed electrical wires and associated fire risk. Once that issue is sorted out then redress the insulation issue (maybe as well as replacing the sarking you could look at whether any of the insulation between your roof battens needs to be replaced as mice like to use it for nests and/or it could be full of mouse urine/poop constituting a health hazard). Hope that helps Re: silver paper inside my roof 3Sep 06, 2013 10:53 pm I agree with grom, it sounds like you're referring to sarking. Sarking is used for its insulation properties, not to prevent rodent infestation. My concern would be the gaps between your tiles and being able to see sunlight - yes, this is where the mice would most likely be entering and I agree with your friend - these need to be fixed. I would be concerned about rain entering the roof space and causing damage. Personally, I would look at restoring the roof before anything else. Custom European Cabinets - Melbourne Kitchen Specialist PM for business details as website currently being updated! Our Crazy Owner Builder Journey! Re: silver paper inside my roof 4Sep 06, 2013 11:01 pm I agree with the others. Get a pest controller out there, pronto! I had rats in my ceiling, running around at night. 2 winters ago. Got the pest guy out, got some poisons up there and they were gone not long after that. However the smell remains, which I am reminded of, every time I go to change a light bulb, which was why I had all the lights converted to LED's so I don't have to smell it very often!!! They can cause all sorts of damage up there if left unchecked, particularly with wiring. 2 9385 This certainly doesn't look good. I would be engaging with an independent inspector to have a look at this. As for the unscheduled site visits, most builders are quite… 1 28161 traditional gable roof facade - Have you did the dark and light gray color combination in facade with gray stone in facade… 0 4141 |