Help with Loft - some sort of survey needed? - who do I call?!!

[lynniep]

Our loft has a gale force wind running through it and I'm pretty sure its what keeps the top of the house so cold (and why the heating bills are so high!!) The loft is insulated, but I'm not sure how well, and the exposed pipes are lagged.

I know nothing, seriously nothing about this stuff. Is there someone you can call to come have a look and tell you what needs doing? would that be a builder? or a specialist? a roofer?

I just want someone to tell me how we can improve the cold situation and if theres a hole somewhere hence the wind whistling through there...

A normal builder should be able to identify the problem. Are you sure its not a draft which sounds very loud from downstairs?

thanks Susie. I'm not sure whether its just a draft but its a very loud one! and we found a dead bird up there today and wonder how it got in. I'm just convinced that money is seeping away up there and want to make sure!!

Lofts if unheated are cold spaces and require air flow to prevent condensation problems. You should have about 250mm of roll insulation if its to current regulations.

Sounds like there is more draft than the norm, so may need a roofer if the are missing tiles, pointing required to the hips, drafts thro the flashing etc. He can also have a look at the eaves. The air gap to eaves should equate to a continuous gap of 10mm around the gutters.

captainaffray is right - that is just what I was going to post.
I would add that no draught at all is bad - moisture will tend to condense in the loft space as it is insulated, it will be way colder than the living space below. Draughts, ie ventilation, will dry out the moisture, keeping the loft space dry.