Solar installers damaged my roof

ed110220

Hi all,

as you probably know I've been very pleased with the performance of my PV and batteries.

Unfortunately I have now noticed some staining from damp has appeared in two places on the ceiling upstairs. I went up into the loft and found there had been a leak. As we haven't had much rain since install and I have loft insulation that can soak up water, it has taken about a month to appear. Looking closer I can see they have drilled quite a few holes and missed the rafters and it is here that the water has got in. It rained briefly earlier and within a few minutes water was dripping through the holes.

So, I'm looking for some advice on what to do. The company have been very slow sending my MCS certificate I still haven't got it despite chasing it. I'm thinking I should try to get this first before raising the leak problem or I might not get it. Does that make sense?

Given their attitude, I'm not confident they'll be keen to repair the roof. I did pay half the cost by credit card so would that be a viable way of pursuing it, through a chargeback request?

QrizB

The first thing I'd do is contact the installers, tell them about the problem and ask them to fix it.

If they don't fix it within a reasonable time, then you can look at other options (which could include a Section 75 claim).

Who were the installers? Anyone we might have heard of?

ed110220

QrizB said:

The first thing I'd do is contact the installers, tell them about the problem and ask them to fix it.

If they don't fix it within a reasonable time, then you can look at other options (which could include a Section 75 claim).

Who were the installers? Anyone we might have heard of?

Light Renewables, they've been mentioned on here before. 

QrizB

ed110220 said:

QrizB said:

The first thing I'd do is contact the installers, tell them about the problem and ask them to fix it.

If they don't fix it within a reasonable time, then you can look at other options (which could include a Section 75 claim).

Who were the installers? Anyone we might have heard of?

Light Renewables, they've been mentioned on here before. 

Ah. Them.

Screwdriva

I had my installation by the same company. As have 4 of my neighbours. None of us have experienced the issues you have. 

My advice would be to call the owner and let him know that, unless remedial action is taken, you will initiate legal proceedings. If he doesn't respond or responds without committing to a course of action with dates, I suggest sending him a "Letter before action". 

1961Nick

ed110220 said:

Hi all,

as you probably know I've been very pleased with the performance of my PV and batteries.

Unfortunately I have now noticed some staining from damp has appeared in two places on the ceiling upstairs. I went up into the loft and found there had been a leak. As we haven't had much rain since install and I have loft insulation that can soak up water, it has taken about a month to appear. Looking closer I can see they have drilled quite a few holes and missed the rafters and it is here that the water has got in. It rained briefly earlier and within a few minutes water was dripping through the holes.

So, I'm looking for some advice on what to do. The company have been very slow sending my MCS certificate I still haven't got it despite chasing it. I'm thinking I should try to get this first before raising the leak problem or I might not get it. Does that make sense?

Given their attitude, I'm not confident they'll be keen to repair the roof. I did pay half the cost by credit card so would that be a viable way of pursuing it, through a chargeback request?

How can they miss a rafter? Surely the rail bracket is either screwed to it or it's loose?

Even then, there shouldn't be any water getting under the tiles in normal conditions.

ed110220

1961Nick said:

ed110220 said:

Hi all,

as you probably know I've been very pleased with the performance of my PV and batteries.

Unfortunately I have now noticed some staining from damp has appeared in two places on the ceiling upstairs. I went up into the loft and found there had been a leak. As we haven't had much rain since install and I have loft insulation that can soak up water, it has taken about a month to appear. Looking closer I can see they have drilled quite a few holes and missed the rafters and it is here that the water has got in. It rained briefly earlier and within a few minutes water was dripping through the holes.

So, I'm looking for some advice on what to do. The company have been very slow sending my MCS certificate I still haven't got it despite chasing it. I'm thinking I should try to get this first before raising the leak problem or I might not get it. Does that make sense?

Given their attitude, I'm not confident they'll be keen to repair the roof. I did pay half the cost by credit card so would that be a viable way of pursuing it, through a chargeback request?

How can they miss a rafter? Surely the rail bracket is either screwed to it or it's loose?

Even then, there shouldn't be any water getting under the tiles in normal conditions.

The tiles are lightweight stone/plastic coated metal tiles like this: https://www.britmet.co.uk/ultratile.asp

Instead of lifting the tiles and using hook anchors, they used anchors screwed through the tiles into the rafters. It seems they didn't lift the tiles to find where the rafters were before drilling the pilot holes. So all the anchors are screwed into a rafter, but there's a hole next to some where they have missed. 

QrizB

@ed110220 did you get this sorted out in the end?

Officer_Dibble

I haven't got my MCS cert for a March installation from Light Renewables. I've got a section 75 claim against them at the moment - they just ignore letters of complaint, even refused to accept a letter sent Signed For. Cowboys.