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You don't show any interior pictures but it looks like you have cathedral ceilings? IE, the ceilings are sloped like the roof above? They require special treatment. This article may help explain:
https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/five-cathedral-ceilings-that-work
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Interior images- let me know if these help
Cool house. If you are going through the work of exterior roof removal you should do exterior insulation and remove ventilation. Your slopes are low enough to make ventilation a pain. Look at the article dc linked and use the exterior insulation approach.
You should make sure you document and consider hiring an expert consultant and make a claim against contractor. I dont know where you are but they should be required to be insured and bonded and clearly did not vent adequately.
If it is interior moisture causing the issue a dehumidifier in the mid term is not a bad idea.
I'm generally averse to telling people to lawyer up, but if everything laid out so far is true the professional that is needed is a lawyer.
You will also need two experts in building science, one to fix the problem and one to serve as an expert witness in any litigation. The same person can't do both because it would create a conflict of interest.
I agree, I think litigation is way too often the go to. It may not even be all the contractors fault (sounds like it wasn’t properly vented from get go. But the installation of can lights and overstuffing insulation may have been the cause of mold, and so the remediation aspect might be on them. There is also the Venetian plaster… just a lot of things that could have increased vapor in that assembly. But even if they don’t go litigation route, good to have those experts on hand, and they will make sure it gets done right this time.
Vented low slope roof is hard to get right. Add on there a pile of skylights and shutgunning the ceiling with pot lights, you are really poking the tiger in the eye.
Unfortunately, there isn't a simple fix for your situation. Probably the simplest is add exterior rigid above the roof deck and re-roof. This is a big job and won't be cheap.
P.S. Are you sure it is condensation your are seeing not a roof leak. Looking at some of the pictures, it looks like a bunch of skylights are deck mount, for what I remember those are not meant for low slope.
Former spray foam contractor here …
With that much condensation you are describing, it sounds to me like an effective air barrier was not detailed (a belt) & then no understanding of how to keep the first condensing surface above the dew point (suspenders).
To make matters worse, it sounds like any “venting” is literally “drawing” more moisture laden air to come in contact with the first condensing surface below the dew point …
If all true, you can’t design a worse situation…
Just my 2 cents!
Full disclosure - I am consulting on a mid-century modern (Deckhouse) “deep energy” upgrade
This is a good article too:
https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/the-ratio-rule-for-hybrid-roof-insulation
Hi thanks for your feedback. Do you have any ideas on a remedy or suggestions on experts in the NJ area.
http://www.foam-tech.com/services/services.htm
Pictures of the actual problem will help the people here who actually know stuff judge what is really going on.
I am having trouble understanding the roof construction, if it is not tongue and groove, there cannot be much insulation there.
I think in the end, no matter the problem, the solution will be 4+ inches of foam on top and a membrane
The remaining question is what remediation is required for the situation