ECO+ scheme will increase need to balance roof space ventilation with aesthetics

More discreet ventilation solutions will be required, according to Klober, part of the BMI Group, as improved insulation through the government’s new ECO+ scheme could increase the risk of condensation in the roof space.

In January, the government announced an additional £1 billion of funding to the ECO scheme, to incentivise installation of insulation types including loft, pitched roof, flat roof, and room-in-roof. The new ECO+ is an extension of the existing ECO scheme which requires suppliers to help low income, fuel poor and vulnerable households.

In response to this initiative technical experts at Klober are reminding the industry that better insulation means increased risk of condensation and therefore a need to address roof ventilation. This is particularly pertinent across well-insulated and newer properties where the building is still drying out.

Nick King, Portfolio Manager at Klober has highlighted that more people have wanted to use in-line roof vents this year, to improve the aesthetic of a property: “Prolonged condensation exposure can not only affect homeowner health but also put buildings at risk of costly repairs. As such, there is a need to be a focus on more discreet solutions which deliver on form and function.”

Klober reports that more people are looking to the market’s largest range of roof tile vents for more seamless solutions. In particular, the business has seen an increase in sales for thinner and smaller vents such as its Thin-Line Tile Vent.

Roofing contractors are also advised that planning in advance can help reduce the amount of vent tiles required if close attention is paid to the different technical properties such as ‘free air space’ and ‘ventilation capacity’. This is said to impact the amount required and the spacings they need to be installed at.

Nick adds: “Roof tile vents are a critical component in helping to address condensation issues and a category we have seen much growth in. In more recent months we have started to receive more special requests through to make them as invisible as possible. We even keep some green paint on hand as we’re often asked to replicate a weathered tile to look like moss.”

“It’s good to know that more attention is being placed on the aesthetics of the roof, but it is so important that this doesn’t come at the expense of good ventilation. This is why we invest significantly in compatibility to ensure we have all shapes, sizes, colours and textures to match tile specification. It’s for this reason that we are proud to say we have the largest range on the market.”

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