Unforeseen roof problem??

Leedray33

Hi.
I've had a fixed quote for a dormer extension/en suite/remove chimney for £30800. We are near the end and have encountered a problem with the contractor. The price is fixed unless something occurs which is unforeseen.
The lead flashing running alongside the new dormer is apparently 4 inches short along the ridge (about 5metres in length).
I have not asked them for a quote to resolve this, I have left the roofer to speaker to his boss to discuss the next step. His boss has now quoted £980 plus Vat. I know I haven't attached any pics or described the work, but does anyone believe this is unforeseen? Is a roof, which is visible, unforeseen? Plus when the quote was done, they knew we had damp issues, so a roof issue should not come as a surprise or unforeseen. Please help

Furts

"Extras" are always an area to add an additional margin, or claw back a bit from a contract. This is a simple fact of life. If 5m of flashing is being removed and a new lead flashing installed, wedged, pointed, and possibly remedial works to a cavity tray ( I do not know what flashing detail exists) then the price should be paid.

Then consider your role in this. You knew you had damp issues, you had not identified what these were, you had not checked on your existing flashing. Be realistic and give yourself a right telling off over this. You can only take the moral high ground if in advance of the works you contracted the builder to investigate why, and where, and what was the damp issue.

david1951

If it can be reasonably assumed that the lead flashing would be usable at the start, then they are correct to quote extra for fixing it. You pointing out "damp issues" doesn't mean that the builder has to pay for anything and everything that they uncover in this regard. As Furts points out, these issues need to be investigated and written into the contract.

If they could see the flashing, and the problem they now say needs fixing, at the start, then I guess they should have incorporated this into their quote. I don't know anything about lead flashing but presumably this would not be fully visible at the start, so seems doubtful.

On balance, it sounds like you should pay the extra to fix it.