Flat roof

Cliddy09

I have a fairly large extension with a flat roof. Over time it has puddled in one place resulting eventually into a leak in the hallway.

So we decided to get the roof recovered. As the room involved is always cold we decided to go for a "warm roof" I think that was the term. Anyway it involved completely removing the roof down to the original rafters and then rebuilding with decent insulation etc. As I was following the job, it looked professional and we were happy.

Almost immediately it puddled into the same place.
I then got 2 separate explanations (excuses).

1..  "don't worry as long as it evaporates after 24 hours the felt is designed to cope."
Well if it only rained every few weeks this might be ok, but this is the UK it rains often and consequently this puddle is constantly getting topped up and remains a damp patch.

2..  "The original build didn't allow for a sufficient "draining gradiant' ."

Well I've got the original plans from the previous owner and they certainly appeared to have planned for it.
But that's not the point.  Surely if they have ripped the whole roof off it's up to them to install the correct  gradient?  The original build standard is irrelevant??

Although it's under warranty, they showed no inclination to rip it up and start again. Unsurprisingly!

Any opinions.

MysteryMe

I think you are right to expect the cause of the original issue to be rectified. It's not as if they have just removed the existing felt and replaced, what you have done I am assuming would have cost more than that and be an improvement. A product that requires water to evaporate within 24 hours is not fit for purpose in the UK climate as you have already pointed out.  You will need to put your complaint in writing giving all relevant information, I would include images of the puddling, and informing them that you want the matter rectified and a timespan for it to be done. 

If you contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service they will give free advice on what your rights are and how to work your letter.

How did you pay? If you used a credit card for any amount over £100 you have an avenue to make a claim against the credit card issuer under S75 of the Consumer Credit Act however you should exhaust options with the trader first.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/get-more-help/if-you-need-more-help-about-a-consumer-issue/

Baldytyke88

Cliddy09 said:

Well I've got the original plans from the previous owner and they certainly appeared to have planned for it.
But that's not the point.  Surely if they have ripped the whole roof off it's up to them to install the correct  gradient?  The original build standard is irrelevant??

You said it was a flat roof, did you get a quote to add a slope to the roof?

ThisIsWeird

Cliddy09 said:

I have a fairly large extension with a flat roof. Over time it has puddled in one place resulting eventually into a leak in the hallway.

So we decided to get the roof recovered. As the room involved is always cold we decided to go for a "warm roof" I think that was the term. Anyway it involved completely removing the roof down to the original rafters and then rebuilding with decent insulation etc. As I was following the job, it looked professional and we were happy.

Almost immediately it puddled into the same place.
I then got 2 separate explanations (excuses).

1..  "don't worry as long as it evaporates after 24 hours the felt is designed to cope."
Well if it only rained every few weeks this might be ok, but this is the UK it rains often and consequently this puddle is constantly getting topped up and remains a damp patch.

2..  "The original build didn't allow for a sufficient "draining gradiant' ."

Well I've got the original plans from the previous owner and they certainly appeared to have planned for it.
But that's not the point.  Surely if they have ripped the whole roof off it's up to them to install the correct  gradient?  The original build standard is irrelevant??

Although it's under warranty, they showed no inclination to rip it up and start again. Unsurprisingly!

Any opinions.

Could you provide photos, please, especially where this 'flat' roof meets the main house?
Is there anything on the house face that could limit how high the flat roof slope could begin?

MysteryMe

You don't need a significant slope, you just need enough of a gradient for water to drain down to wherever it drains to. A flat roof is not completely flat.

Markmywords

how do you add a slope to a flat roof without ripping the whole thing up ?

ThisIsWeird

Markmywords said:

how do you add a slope to a flat roof without ripping the whole thing up ?

It was all ripped up, right down to the rafters/joists.
Possibly the slope couldn't be increased as much as desired due to some restriction on the house - as with our extension, which has french doors on the upper level which set that upper slope point. 
An insulation-conforming roof is thicker than you expect, so I'm guessing that could the issue. Our roof just drains, but some puddling forms behind the sky lanterns - not really a problem.
Waiting for the OP to explain. It really comes down to how much puddling there is - is there an actual dip in the roof, which would be unacceptable. They sound like a pro outfit, so to have skimped on the slope would have been bizarre.

Cliddy09

Baldytyke88 said:

Cliddy09 said:

Well I've got the original plans from the previous owner and they certainly appeared to have planned for it.
But that's not the point.  Surely if they have ripped the whole roof off it's up to them to install the correct  gradient?  The original build standard is irrelevant??

You said it was a flat roof, did you get a quote to add a slope to the roof?

No I didn't. Subject to being told otherwise any flat roof must have a gradiant to provide drainage to gutters. Any other solution would be called a swimming pool.

Cliddy09

ThisIsWeird said:

Cliddy09 said:

I have a fairly large extension with a flat roof. Over time it has puddled in one place resulting eventually into a leak in the hallway.

So we decided to get the roof recovered. As the room involved is always cold we decided to go for a "warm roof" I think that was the term. Anyway it involved completely removing the roof down to the original rafters and then rebuilding with decent insulation etc. As I was following the job, it looked professional and we were happy.

Almost immediately it puddled into the same place.
I then got 2 separate explanations (excuses).

1..  "don't worry as long as it evaporates after 24 hours the felt is designed to cope."
Well if it only rained every few weeks this might be ok, but this is the UK it rains often and consequently this puddle is constantly getting topped up and remains a damp patch.

2..  "The original build didn't allow for a sufficient "draining gradiant' ."

Well I've got the original plans from the previous owner and they certainly appeared to have planned for it.
But that's not the point.  Surely if they have ripped the whole roof off it's up to them to install the correct  gradient?  The original build standard is irrelevant??

Although it's under warranty, they showed no inclination to rip it up and start again. Unsurprisingly!

Any opinions.

Could you provide photos, please, especially where this 'flat' roof meets the main house?
Is there anything on the house face that could limit how high the flat roof slope could begin?

ThisIsWeird said:

Cliddy09 said:

I have a fairly large extension with a flat roof. Over time it has puddled in one place resulting eventually into a leak in the hallway.

So we decided to get the roof recovered. As the room involved is always cold we decided to go for a "warm roof" I think that was the term. Anyway it involved completely removing the roof down to the original rafters and then rebuilding with decent insulation etc. As I was following the job, it looked professional and we were happy.

Almost immediately it puddled into the same place.
I then got 2 separate explanations (excuses).

1..  "don't worry as long as it evaporates after 24 hours the felt is designed to cope."
Well if it only rained every few weeks this might be ok, but this is the UK it rains often and consequently this puddle is constantly getting topped up and remains a damp patch.

2..  "The original build didn't allow for a sufficient "draining gradiant' ."

Well I've got the original plans from the previous owner and they certainly appeared to have planned for it.
But that's not the point.  Surely if they have ripped the whole roof off it's up to them to install the correct  gradient?  The original build standard is irrelevant??

Although it's under warranty, they showed no inclination to rip it up and start again. Unsurprisingly!

Any opinions.

Could you provide photos, please, especially where this 'flat' roof meets the main house?
Is there anything on the house face that could limit how high the flat roof slope could begin?

This is a before and after photo. Can't get a clear picture of it's join with house, but it's a very straightforward fix with unlimited height available. The new roof was higher than old due to insulation but no issues with that either.

Cliddy09

ThisIsWeird said:

Markmywords said:

how do you add a slope to a flat roof without ripping the whole thing up ?

It was all ripped up, right down to the rafters/joists.
Possibly the slope couldn't be increased as much as desired due to some restriction on the house - as with our extension, which has french doors on the upper level which set that upper slope point. 
An insulation-conforming roof is thicker than you expect, so I'm guessing that could the issue. Our roof just drains, but some puddling forms behind the sky lanterns - not really a problem.
Waiting for the OP to explain. It really comes down to how much puddling there is - is there an actual dip in the roof, which would be unacceptable. They sound like a pro outfit, so to have skimped on the slope would have been bizarre.

I believe they "simply" left off the lengths of angled strips of wood that have to be placed immediately above the rafters to created the slope. There's a proper term for that, but can't remember.  They had them in all their equipment but obviously they weren't angled sufficiently.

ThisIsWeird

Cliddy09 said:

ThisIsWeird said:

Markmywords said:

how do you add a slope to a flat roof without ripping the whole thing up ?

It was all ripped up, right down to the rafters/joists.
Possibly the slope couldn't be increased as much as desired due to some restriction on the house - as with our extension, which has french doors on the upper level which set that upper slope point. 
An insulation-conforming roof is thicker than you expect, so I'm guessing that could the issue. Our roof just drains, but some puddling forms behind the sky lanterns - not really a problem.
Waiting for the OP to explain. It really comes down to how much puddling there is - is there an actual dip in the roof, which would be unacceptable. They sound like a pro outfit, so to have skimped on the slope would have been bizarre.

I believe they "simply" left off the lengths of angled strips of wood that have to be placed immediately above the rafters to created the slope. There's a proper term for that, but can't remember.  They had them in all their equipment but obviously they weren't angled sufficiently.

'Furring' strips, I believe.
There is an external cill visible is the second pic - doesn't that limit the roof height at that point?
Our roof insulation type needed changing to the less-preferred type, and internal ceiling slightly lowered in order to get the min slope under our cill. I'd have preferred more slope, but it's fine - and supposedly warranted for 20 years (it was GRP Flexitec'd)