Roofer issue

kenzie123

We have a leak through the bathroom extractor fan and called our insurance who came round and told us it was a gap in the stack pipe in the loft, and water is coming through when it rains (although its not been raining)

Called a roofer out today to take a look.

He arrived, looked at the fan but didn't go in the loft, instead went on the roof. After ten mins came back down and said he'd fixed it and we owed him £80. We refused as we only asked for a quote, and he didn't say he what the problem was or what he was fixing.

He went back up and 'un-did' what he had fixed. Now we are concerned he has made it worse, either accidentally or on purpose as we hadn't paid.

He did call back saying he felt bad and would come and fix it for free but at this point we didn't want him to.

Too early to tell what he's done, if anything, but does anyone else think this whole situation is odd?

Do you think he would leave it worse than it was?

So stressful and the original leak still not fixed.

Pennywise

He probably should have shouted down to say he could fix it there and then for £80 to give you the choice, but it was a very small job, and if he'd had to put his ladders away, send a quote and come back again, he'd probably quote more to cover 2 journeys and time twice. Do you really think you'd get anyone else to do it for just £80? I'd have just paid to be honest for a trifling sum like that.

magn8p

While I feel for you for being in such awkward situation, I think you made it worse by simply refusing to pay the roofer.

If I were you, I would have requested the guy to wait for a week or so to make sure the leak is fixed. Generally the call out charges for for handymen are £60 + VAT, so if he had really fixed the issue the £80 he tried to charge was fair.

Once again, that's me. I am sure other members have different views.

kenzie123 wrote: »

We have a leak through the bathroom extractor fan and called our insurance who came round and told us it was a gap in the stack pipe in the loft, and water is coming through when it rains (although its not been raining)

Called a roofer out today to take a look.

He arrived, looked at the fan but didn't go in the loft, instead went on the roof. After ten mins came back down and said he'd fixed it and we owed him £80. We refused as we only asked for a quote, and he didn't say he what the problem was or what he was fixing.

He went back up and 'un-did' what he had fixed. Now we are concerned he has made it worse, either accidentally or on purpose as we hadn't paid.

He did call back saying he felt bad and would come and fix it for free but at this point we didn't want him to.

Too early to tell what he's done, if anything, but does anyone else think this whole situation is odd?

Do you think he would leave it worse than it was?

So stressful and the original leak still not fixed.

Furts

The whole situation could be crazy. So back to OP here. First there is no physical, or logical, connection between a bathroom extract vent and a soil pipe/svp pipe. Two entirely separate concepts and a bathroom extract does not normally go anywhere near a svp.

When wet is dripping from a bathroom extract it is normally from a ceiling mounted one, and this is condensation. This in turn will be an uninsulated ducting, or a sag in the ducting or a condensate trap blocked. If you have a trap it will be connected within the roof space so again nothing to do with leaks.

Regardless of what the roofer has, or has not, done you need to establish what is happening before calling him, or any other roofer, back to your home.

magn8p

I second Furts, just in case it isn't clear, you can inspect the duct from the loft.

If you need to inspect an inaccessible location, you can use an Android endoscope like http://amzn.to/2iVS9mF can help you diagnose the issue. I recently used it to unclog a bathroom drain.

If you aren't sure how to do it, you should of course get a handyman to do it.

All the best.