Roofer did shoddy work and has now filed court claim against me

[Kinger122]

The ceiling is vaulted inside. I hope those pictures show what you want to see. Let me know if you want any other specific areas and I'll take the pictures tomorrow.

[maddiemay]

f16 seems to be doing a grand job of looking after you, but I'm just wondering if the judge actually saw any photo's, I can clearly see what the issue is now I've seen them, I imagine the judge was about as experienced as me in the roofing department!

[Kinger122]

f16 seems to be doing a grand job of looking after you, but I'm just wondering if the judge actually saw any photo's, I can clearly see what the issue is now I've seen them, I imagine the judge was about as experienced as me in the roofing department!

 

The judge did see lots of photos. he asked the roofer if he thought anything was wrong with what was shown in the photos one by one. The roofer said they were all fine and nothing was wrong. The judge seemed to take his word for it. I am sure if I had paid the expert witness then things may have gone more my way, but I couldn't risk losing 700 pounds if I lost against this roofer.

[f16]

Kinger122. Did the architect do a set of drawings ?

 

There is NO vents !! In my opinion there should be 4 tile vents (mushrooms) and a continuous soffit vent.

 

There also needs to be a 50mm air flow gap between the ceiling insulation and the sarking felt (tilers sheet)

Check with the Building Inspector.

 

Looking at the photos I suspect the Velux windows may be set too low.

There are tiles not sitting flat around the veluxes .

 

The lead flashing along the main wall of the house. Can you get a "close up" of the overlap of one piece of lead to the next ?

One of the edge (verge) would be handy as well.

[Kinger122]

Kinger122. Did the architect do a set of drawings ?

 

There is NO vents !! In my opinion there should be 4 tile vents (mushrooms) and a continuous soffit vent.

 

There also needs to be a 50mm air flow gap between the ceiling insulation and the sarking felt (tilers sheet)

Check with the Building Inspector.

 

Looking at the photos I suspect the Velux windows may be set too low.

There are tiles not sitting flat around the veluxes .

 

The lead flashing along the main wall of the house. Can you get a "close up" of the overlap of one piece of lead to the next ?

One of the edge (verge) would be handy as well.

 

Yes the architect provided drawings for every aspect of my extension. I will try and get a closeup of the lead in the morning. If not then the afternoon. I am not sure if I mentioned this but the roof was leaking where the lead flashing meets the wall of the house in the far corner (the part where the house comes out slightly). Then all of a sudden the leaking stopped in that place. Nothing was changed and I have no idea why the leak stopped.

 

The building inspector initially said vents needed to be there but said nothing when the roof was done without them.

[f16]

The bit where you said the "house comes out" . Is that where the white down pipe is ?

 

Correction Black down pipe grey shoe.

 

Sorry

[f16]

Yes the architect provided drawings for every aspect of my extension. I will try and get a closeup of the lead in the morning. If not then the afternoon. I am not sure if I mentioned this but the roof was leaking where the lead flashing meets the wall of the house in the far corner (the part where the house comes out slightly). Then all of a sudden the leaking stopped in that place. Nothing was changed and I have no idea why the leak stopped.

 

The building inspector initially said vents needed to be there but said nothing when the roof was done without them.

 

Does the architects drawing show vents ?

 

The building inspector is there to look after you (the customer) and to make sure the building conforms to current Building Regs !!!

What is he "playing at" ?

[Kinger122]

The bit where you said the "house comes out" . Is that where the white down pipe is ?

 

Correction Black down pipe grey shoe.

 

Sorry

 

Yes, i should have been more specific near where the black drain pipe is. It was an extension done by the previous owner and extends further than the rest of the you

[Kinger122]

Does the architects drawing show vents ?

 

The building inspector is there to look after you (the customer) and to make sure the building conforms to current Building Regs !!!

What is he "playing at" ?

 

I will dig out the plans tomorrow morning and get back to you. Thank you so much for your help so far. I really appreciate this. I cannot believe the inspector has not noticed all these things

[f16]

I am not sure if I mentioned this but the roof was leaking where the lead flashing meets the wall of the house in the far corner (the part where the house comes out slightly). Then all of a sudden the leaking stopped in that place. Nothing was changed and I have no idea why the leak stopped.

 

Might have "Stopped" at the moment but that's because the rain has not been driven onto the short bit of wall.

Look closely at the lead work.....

 

The "Internal corner" is a "butt joint " with no over lap cover in the corner.

The "Stepped" flashing should continue round the corner and along the back wall.

Then the back wall lead goes over the top to give the cover.

 

Have you rung Velux to see if they provide a site visit service ?

[Kinger122]

Might have "Stopped" at the moment but that's because the rain has not been driven onto the short bit of wall.

Look closely at the lead work.....

 

The "Internal corner" is a "butt joint " with no over lap cover in the corner.

The "Stepped" flashing should continue round the corner and along the back wall.

Then the back wall lead goes over the top to give the cover.

 

Have you rung Velux to see if they provide a site visit service ?

 

Yes I rang them months ago when this whole thing kicked off and they only provided me with that email confirming the windows cannot be installed at less than 15 degrees. They would not do a visit. When you said for me to take pictures of the verges, do you mean the gable ends? I am not so up to speed with all the terminology, sorry.

[f16]

On another point.

The plaster board used on the ceiling. Was it "Vapour barrier (foil backed) or standard stuff ?

 

Yes the gable ends is correct.

Can you give the measurement of the over lap of one tile to the next above it ?

 

Cheers

[Kinger122]

Standard white plaster

[Kinger122]

I'm making a list and i'll do it all tomorrow

[f16]

I'm interested to know what those plans say.

 

Reading a bit between the "lines".

It sounds like you got various "Trades" to do each stage. Ground workers for foundations, bricklayers, "sparky", plumber, plasterer etc.

[Kinger122]

I'm interested to know what those plans say.

 

Reading a bit between the "lines".

It sounds like you got various "Trades" to do each stage. Ground workers for foundations, bricklayers, "sparky", plumber, plasterer etc.

 

I am taking the pictures now. Yes I hired different workers to do the various aspects of the job. That cannot mean the roofer can shift the blame to others can it?

[Kinger122]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]50154[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]50155[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]50156[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]50157[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]50158[/ATTACH]

I'm interested to know what those plans say.

 

Reading a bit between the "lines".

It sounds like you got various "Trades" to do each stage. Ground workers for foundations, bricklayers, "sparky", plumber, plasterer etc.

[Kinger122]

The overlap is as the drawings say, 100mm

[f16]

Hi kinger122

So each piece of lead overlaps the next by 100mm minimum.

Did you get the tile overlap ?

What does the drawings say about "Roof ventilation" ?

 

The only way to achieve 15 degrees is to lower the brickwork on the front and side elevations.

You can't raise the roof at the abutment to the house..... It would "Foul" the windows.

 

Yes I'm surprised he has not "blamed" the Bricklayer. That said he should have checked it would work by fixing the "Wall plate" to the main house

and the first rafter. Check the degree of pitch and point out the error.

 

You mentioned in a post above that you "think you would have won the case if you had got an expert report".

I think you are right but the fact remains that I can't see how any insurance co . is going to accept this roof with all the faults.

[Kinger122]

Hi kinger122

So each piece of lead overlaps the next by 100mm minimum.

Did you get the tile overlap ?

What does the drawings say about "Roof ventilation" ?

 

The only way to achieve 15 degrees is to lower the brickwork on the front and side elevations.

You can't raise the roof at the abutment to the house..... It would "Foul" the windows.

 

Yes I'm surprised he has not "blamed" the Bricklayer. That said he should have checked it would work by fixing the "Wall plate" to the main house

and the first rafter. Check the degree of pitch and point out the error.

 

You mentioned in a post above that you "think you would have won the case if you had got an expert report".

I think you are right but the fact remains that I can't see how any insurance co . is going to accept this roof with all the faults.

 

Hi sorry for the delay,

 

The lead flashing at the back (e.g in the photo where the bathroom window is) the overlap on the lead flashing varies from 100mm to 150mm depending on the place. I have only checked two of the overlaps.

 

The overlap on the tiles I could check was between 80mm and 100mm. (i checked three)

 

The plans say this about the roof:

 

Roof Insulation:

Breather membrane draped over rafters, 270mm rockwool insulation quilt to be laid over and between ceiling joists.

 

Roof construction:

New roof tiles to match existing. Use a proprietary eaves vent system comprising 10mm wide continuous strip ventilator secured to the outer edge of the 9mm supalux soffit board, running the entire length of the roof eaves. Eaves duct ventilation trays to the rafters to restrain the insulation quilt. 10mm HR gutters and 63mm RWPS with 19mm SW fascia boards.

[Kinger122]

I understand what you are saying about "fouling the windows" at the correct pitch. However, what would have stopped the roofer from making a continuous flat section along the length of the roof coming say, 50cm from the back wall. Effectively increasing the pitch of the roof and having a combination of a flat section and pitched roof. Basically like the flat sections around the window but on a bigger scale. I hope you understand what I mean. I cannot say how grateful I am for you help so far.

 

From what I understand about the roof construction instructions, there must be vents at the edges of the roof (eaves) which they have filled in with concrete, and also under the soffit, along the entire length. Unfortunately I do not understand all the words.

 

Is this building inspector pretty incompetent if he has not noticed all these flaws. You haven't even seen my roof in person and look at all the points you have raised. I am just worried this inspector could pass the flawed roof, making me liable to pay this company and having years of headache with this roof. I am feeling like I wish I had never started this extension in the first place.

[Kinger122]

I also found this link regarding the tiles. It talks about verge tiles. Should they have been used?

 

http://www.forticrete.co.uk/media/336839/centurion_fixing.jpg

[f16]

Use a proprietary eaves vent system comprising 10mm wide continuous strip ventilator secured to the outer edge of the 9mm supalux soffit board, running the entire length of the roof eaves..

 

Not fitted. .... Told you that would be the case.

Ring the architect and question tile vents. there is little point letting air in at the soffit vent if it has no where to go.

You don't achieve air circulation !

[Kinger122]

I am almost certain the tile vents are needed. I will probably have to wait till monday to ring the architect. So what does this all mean then? The building inspector cannot pass the roof can he?

 

Unfortunately at court the roofer knew more than me about what a roof should be, and lied saying the roof was fantastic and that he was going to put it on his website. The judge didnt have a clue how to do a roof so took everything he was saying as truth.

[f16]

I also found this link regarding the tiles. It talks about verge tiles. Should they have been used?

 

http://www.forticrete.co.uk/media/336839/centurion_fixing.jpg

 

Yes verge tiles should have been used.

I've got a feeling the tiling should be "staggered joints" as you would get in brickwork.

IE. On brickwork the first course would be complete bricks, but the next course would start with a half brick to create the "bond" (staggered affect).

 

If you look at the photos ALL the joints run in straight lines.

I will read the fitting instructions.

 

Well done for finding this and exactly why I suggested you check the fitting instructions !!!

 

This is going to get very interesting..... Because if that is correct the roof will have to be "Stripped".

 

Don't understand why architect speced. "Rockwool quilt and not Celotex sheet but that is his call.

Did he quote 50mm air gap between tilers sheet and insulation ?