Leaking Conservatory Roof

Bimbilou

I'm fuming! My two year old conservatory - (built by Apple Panels Ltd who have subsequently gone bust) - is leaking. Every time it rains it leaks where the roof joins the exterior wall of our house causing mould/mildew and the mortar to discolour. I approached our DGCOS Insurance Backed 10 year guarantee people, Safeworld Insurance Group who inform me, because we paid with 5 year interest free credit, that our insurance with them is null and void and the responsibility lies with our credit company. I am now concerned that, if that's the case, will our conservatory still be insured for ten years with the credit company - or just the 5 year credit duration? We were not told at the time that by paying with credit, it negated what we thought was a solid 10 year guarantee. I would like to make purchasers aware of this pitfall with this kind of building.

Having had someone to look at repairing the roof today, it turns out the clowns that built it used felt for flashing rather than lead. I am appalled.. and concerned at what it is going to take to fix this problem. 

Aylesbury_Duck

Bimbilou said:

I'm fuming! My two year old conservatory - (built by Apple Panels Ltd who have subsequently gone bust) - is leaking. Every time it rains it leaks where the roof joins the exterior wall of our house causing mould/mildew and the mortar to discolour. I approached our DGCOS Insurance Backed 10 year guarantee people, Safeworld Insurance Group who inform me, because we paid with 5 year interest free credit, that our insurance with them is null and void and the responsibility lies with our credit company. I am now concerned that, if that's the case, will our conservatory still be insured for ten years with the credit company - or just the 5 year credit duration? We were not told at the time that by paying with credit, it negated what we thought was a solid 10 year guarantee. I would like to make purchasers aware of this pitfall with this kind of building.

Having had someone to look at repairing the roof today, it turns out the clowns that built it used felt for flashing rather than lead. I am appalled.. and concerned at what it is going to take to fix this problem. 

As you're now discovering, conservatories are a minefield of an unregulated business.  They're little more than glorified glass lean-tos, with no standards or building control.  They are temporary structures with a 10-15 year lifespan and as long as you understand that when buying one, they can be good value.  

Check your paperwork to see if their claim about the voided guarantee is accurate.  They may just be fobbing you off.  As I understand it you do have rights through the credit provider, so see what they say.  The good news is that it's possible to replace the flashing with proper material.  Just verify for yourself that they did use felt.  No point compounding the problem by taking someone's word for it, there are plenty of dodgy roofers about.