We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING: Hello Forumites! In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place for our users, discussions around non-MoneySaving matters are not permitted per the Forum rules. While we understand that mentioning house prices may sometimes be relevant to a user's specific MoneySaving situation, we ask that you please avoid veering into broad, general debates about the market, the economy and politics, as these can unfortunately lead to abusive or hateful behaviour. Threads that are found to have derailed into wider discussions may be removed. Users who repeatedly disregard this may have their Forum account banned. Please also avoid posting personally identifiable information, including links to your own online property listing which may reveal your address. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Flat roof fire rating hell
Options
purpleom
Posts: 3 Newbie
Hi,
I'm looking for advice on a problem I don't know how to resolve.
We had a kitchen extension three years ago: an existing 'galley kitchen' one storey extension was expanded with a garden room added and a new much bigger roof. We're now close to exchanging contracts to sell the house but it appears we never got building regs final sign off because the building inspector from the district council didn't see any proof of "fire designation rating of flat roofing felt".
We can't find any paperwork from the roofer - we may have thrown it out, not understanding the significance. I've tried to track down the original roofer to supply the paperwork for it, but unfortunately he has not only retired and emigrated but is currently in a foreign prison after a bar fight that turned nasty...! So we're not going to get any help from him. What I have discovered is his name and the roofing supplies store he bought all his kit from.
The neighbour in the other half of our semi-detatched house had the same kitchen extension at the same time and we met in the middle with a party wall. She had a different roofer and hers side has been given building regs. Looks exactly the same as ours...!
At the moment these seem to be my options for getting this fixed:
1) If I can identify the manufacturer of the roofing felt I can send them a sample and ask them to identify it. To do so I'll need to peel some off (and fix back afterwards) and trying to identify the manufacturer's name printed or embossed underneath.
2) I could approach the supplies shop he used and ask them to check their account during the period he worked on the roof and provide proof of what he purchased. Not sure how much weight this will hold with building regs people as it doesn't actually prove that's what he used for our roof.
3) Get the entire roof (36 sq m) done again :-O This will be a few thousand quid, and all for the lack of a piece of paper!
Can anyone advise - are there any alternatives, or something I'm missing?
Yours in desperation!
I'm looking for advice on a problem I don't know how to resolve.
We had a kitchen extension three years ago: an existing 'galley kitchen' one storey extension was expanded with a garden room added and a new much bigger roof. We're now close to exchanging contracts to sell the house but it appears we never got building regs final sign off because the building inspector from the district council didn't see any proof of "fire designation rating of flat roofing felt".
We can't find any paperwork from the roofer - we may have thrown it out, not understanding the significance. I've tried to track down the original roofer to supply the paperwork for it, but unfortunately he has not only retired and emigrated but is currently in a foreign prison after a bar fight that turned nasty...! So we're not going to get any help from him. What I have discovered is his name and the roofing supplies store he bought all his kit from.
The neighbour in the other half of our semi-detatched house had the same kitchen extension at the same time and we met in the middle with a party wall. She had a different roofer and hers side has been given building regs. Looks exactly the same as ours...!
At the moment these seem to be my options for getting this fixed:
1) If I can identify the manufacturer of the roofing felt I can send them a sample and ask them to identify it. To do so I'll need to peel some off (and fix back afterwards) and trying to identify the manufacturer's name printed or embossed underneath.
2) I could approach the supplies shop he used and ask them to check their account during the period he worked on the roof and provide proof of what he purchased. Not sure how much weight this will hold with building regs people as it doesn't actually prove that's what he used for our roof.
3) Get the entire roof (36 sq m) done again :-O This will be a few thousand quid, and all for the lack of a piece of paper!
Can anyone advise - are there any alternatives, or something I'm missing?
Yours in desperation!
0
Comments
-
Can't you just get a chartered surveyor to look at the roof and certify its fire safety rating? An expense but gotta be cheaper than rebuilding.0
-
You might be able to get an indemnity policy (assuming the buyer's concern is risk of enforcement and not the fire risk itself)."Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance" - Confucius0
-
You might be able to get an indemnity policy
Probably the simplest way of sorting it, provided the OP hasn't had recent contact with building control (if nobody's discussed it since 3 years ago they might be ok).
Before doing anything I'd explain everything to the purchaser and see what they want - it's possible they might not actually be too bothered.0 -
Yeah it depends what the buyer is concerned about.You might be able to get an indemnity policy (assuming the buyer's concern is risk of enforcement and not the fire risk itself).
If he (or more likely his mortgage lender) are worried about the counil turning up to enforce Building Regs - it won't happen. Too long ago.A section 36 enforcement notice cannot be served on you after the expiration of 12 months from the date of completion of the building work.
If he's worried about the fire risk, indemnity policy is not much help!0 -
In all my years as a builder I've never heard of this, is the roof covering of non standard construction.0
-
In all my years as a builder I've never heard of this, is the roof covering of non standard construction.
http://www.bauder.co.uk/technical-centre/design-guides/flat-roof-design-considerations/fire-protection
http://www.buildingregs4plans.co.uk/guidance_flat_roof_surface_protection.php0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 351.1K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.2K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.6K Spending & Discounts
- 244.1K Work, Benefits & Business
- 599.1K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 177K Life & Family
- 257.5K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards