New Build roof not insulated - developers dragging heels - can I go to Building Regs?

kunkj

So!

I finally moved into my new build property (yay! And thanks to everyone in the new build thread!). The snagging survey showed that whilst the insulation in the roof was there (two rolls of Ursa Geo uralita) nothing has actually been laid between the rafters. The roof itself is insulated with a Tyvek membrane.

I have raised this with the developer (who have otherwise been great and the house has basically no other snags) and they didn't believe me until i got a ladder so I could take photos to prove it. Its winter and my house has no roof insulation - which is where most of the heat is lost from. I really feel like this isn't okay and the builders should have immediately moved to rectify this as soon as they were told?

I also didn't think a house could pass building regs/have building regs sign off on the completion certificate without someone checking that every requirement including the roof insulation was met. So I was wondering whether I could contact the council directly to complain and that might get the developer moving to sort things out?

Appreciate anyones thoughts and experience I would sort it out myself but that would involve buying a ladder long enough to climb into the loft (I balanced on my tiptoes and reached my arm up whilst on top of a stepladder to get the photos) plus I think that kind of glass wool insulation you have to wear all the proper protective equipment for etc and really I do feel like the developers should be sorting this out. Many thanks!

tim123456789

I don't know how you fix the problem but it is normal for developers to "self certify" individual properties on a large estate. It's not physically possible for a BI to check every single one of them at every part of the process.


You need to contact the local council's building inspector to see how to rectify this

G_M

or spend an hour or two unrolling the Ursa Geo uralita?

Nice cosy house. Sorted!

kinger101

If you own a house, a ladder will be useful anyway. £1 face mask, £1 google, pair of marigolds and some old clothes are protection enough.

Even walk up into their sales office and create a fuss or do it yourself.

G_M

kinger101 wrote: »

If you own a house, a ladder will be useful anyway. £1 face mask, £1 google, pair of marigolds and some old clothes are protection enough.

Even walk up into their sales office and create a fuss or do it yourself.

Using google is free. I understand its funding comes from advertising.

Might be wrong though.

kunkj

tim123456789 thanks for the explanation about self certification, that makes sense! I'm going to try the developers one more time before thinking about giving the building inspector a call.

Thanks too G_M kinger101 although it wasn't really what I wanted to hear! I do have a ladder that's always been enough for anything I've ever needed to do in a house but unfortunately it's not tall enough for the loft! And its quite frustrating when this is something that definitely that the builders should have done, that I'd need to buy another ladder, and extra insulation (what's up there isn't actually enough) plus take the time to do it, plus deal with the 80cm loft height (possibly why the builders never got round to it, sounds very awkward!). Which is why I was hoping to find a way to back myself up when I speak with the builders.

Also was wondering if anyone could clarify whether just the Tyvek is enough for the building regs and I am out of line asking them to finish the insulation? I have spoken with my neighbours and their lofts have had the glass wool insulation fitted but the 'recommended u-value' calculations are a bit above my understanding!

kinger101

I'm confused here. I thought they'd just not unrolled the loft insulation. Rafters are not usually insulated. The tyvek you refer to is probably the waterproof membrane which provides a secondary barrier in the event the roof tiles fail.

The insulation only needs to be directly above the ceiling (270 mm). The loft space itself isn't usually insulated. Indeed, adding insulation here can cause ventilation problems if done incorrectly.

G_M

OK I got my goggles out and looked up Ursa Geo uralita. Can't see 'uralita' but it does seem to be insulation, unrelated to the roof membrane (Tyvek).

http://www.ursa-uk.co.uk/en-us/news/Pages/URSAGEOLaunch.aspx

So yes, it just needs unrolling and cutting to fit between the rafters.

kinger101

I think it has probably been fitted correctly, and OP meant "layers" rather than "rolls".


PS, you owe me £1 now you've used goggle.

hjscores

Kinger - do not fix this yourself. You should still be within the 12 month defects period and if you fix anything yourself then you void the item from any further fix from the contractors.
I would contact building control and ask them about it instead of holding off as it's obviously bothering you.

Hoploz

So the rolls of insulation are sitting there, but no insulation has been laid, between the rafters above the ceiling?

How long since you asked the builder to do it?

I would definitely ask them again to do it. Are there any workmen still on the site? Maybe if you ask around you might come across someone who could actually do it, (accepting they'd need to make a phone call or two first) rather than some remote bod in an office.

But certainly pursue the person in charge of snagging again as well. Normally they have a lot to do!