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Hello
i am wondering if anyone has been through a similar experience.
we had an extension done and the builder used tiles not suitable for pitch of roof. He claims he followed the drawings given (the house does look like the drawings). The problem is, the roof is averaging about 10 degrees pitch but the tiles he used can’t go below 12.5. We regularly have damp in heavy or persistent rain.
we are going through proper channels of mediation which have stalled as he still believes he’s done no wrong. The mediation organisation want to use an independent t roof surveyor called RISA to do this. https://www.risaltd.co.uk/
does anyone know if this truly is an independent t process? We’ve had 2 roofers, a builder, the tile manufacturer and the Velux tech team all say the roof isn’t built right and info has been shared with builder. Digital readouts from pitch measured and many other evidence also shared with him.
Im wondering if I’m missing something for him to be happy for the survey to be done given all the evidence shared. Anyone had any experience of a RISA survey as the client? Or builder to be fair….
thanks so much.
Do any of the drawings actually specify the tiles that are to be used or did the builder select the type himself ?
Hi there
Says to use tiles but does not specify which. The builder offered us 2 to choose from (same manufacturer, just one corrugated and one flat) both are suitable for the same pitch.
His roofer suggested the corrugated one so we went with that.
there was never a discussion about pitch other than saying that these are the low pitch tiles to choose from.
I don’t see how a roof survey can find anything different but I’m worried that I’ve missed something and will end up back at square one for my leaky / damp roof.
cheers
Did you (or your architect) have a structural engineer produce detailed specs to which the builder was to build to?
If so, what pitch did they specify?
No experience of indepndant surveyors however the big thing that jumps out at me is.....
What membrane or felt has been used as that's your waterproofing. The tiles are your weatherproofing.
I think you have bigger issues than the pitch of your roof if you have damp inside.
Given the pitch is this a single story extension built abutting an existing wall ? And where on the roof reletive to outside structures are these damp patches (near veluxes or near the pre existing wall or at the wall plate of the new wall ?
Fwiw I have rosemary flat tiles on a roof far Lower than the recommended 35deg pitch and no leaks.
You can get 10° pitch tiles but some manufacturers regard anything less than 12.5° as a flat roof https://www.marley.co.uk/blog/what-is-the-minimum-pitch-for-a-roof-tile-or-slate
Changing the tile spacing can squeeze a lower pitch out but you'd need to check with the manufacturer
I don't know about RISA. I'm assuming that you could still go to county court, but you'll need to check that and depending on value it can be done online
There is a special underlay product that allows you to lay tiles flatter than the spec allows. Cant recall what its called though.
We need to see your working drawings or specification really to get a better idea of what's going on.
trail_rat +1
There's additional underlay/membrane there. I would be looking at other things then just the tiles.
I also would consider walking away - do you really want that builder back on your job?
Are you going through house insurance?
What membrane or felt has been used as that’s your waterproofing. The tiles are your weatherproofing.
As a backup though? A properly installed new roof should be letting very little water through to the membrane. I find it a bit weird that the first thing done to a membrane is perforate it when attaching the the battens. Probably not much of an issue when draped across the rafters, but houses round here have sarking boards. Plenty of spots for water to track nicely along to the nearest nail hole through the membrane.
Who produced the drawings? The root of the problem may not be with the builder but the basic design. If tile type is crucial, the designer should have specified it. Whether a particular tile is suitable depends on more than just the pitch; how exposed is it to wind and where in the country is it as wind speeds vary a lot.
You say the average pitch is 10º - is it supposed to vary? If it's 10º average, some parts must be flatter.