New built house – ridge tile blown off – ridge batten problem

Omegassp

Our house (end of terrace) was newly built. In the 13th month, ridge tiles2 & 3 (together with the ridge unions) (photos A1, 2 & were blown off. We checked from the loft and found that the ridge batten was a bit weird. Some part (about ¼) seemed to be normal which is placed directly on top of the apex. But the rest seems to be of different material and is not placed directly on top of apex. It seemed to be attached to the side of the truss roof peak. (photo C) We could see the ridge roll (with some holes) along only one side (photo D). Besides, the ridge batten seemed to be not long enough. We did not see any batten directly under tiles 1 & 2 (may be 3 as well).

The builder’s roof contractor just replaced the missing tiles, and reinstalled tile 1. We wondered if the ridge unions could be firmly attached to the ridge batten if the batten was not directly on top of the apex. Yet, the contractor insisted that there was no further work required.

Is the ridge batten properly installed? Should the ridge batten be replaced if a number of the ridge tiles are displaced because the same point cannot be screwed in the second time? To save money, can we engage a roof surveyor just to check the ridge and recommend the repair work required?

tacpot12

The different material on the right hand side in the fourth photo appears to be aged PIR/PUR insulation with foil faces. This is definitely not suitable as a ridge batten. It is not possible to get a solid fixing into PIR/PUR insulation - at least not with the sort of screw that can be used to fix a dry ridge system. I'm assuming the material on the left-hand side in that photo is timber, which is what it should be. 

You need to go back to the builder and ask them to have someone check whether it is insulation, and if it is insulation, it needs replacing with timber. I would check the whole of the ridge line before contacting them, in case there are other sections like this. If they won't do this, I would speak to your solicitor. You do have home insurance with Legal Expenses cover? If you do, you have a solicitor on the legal helpline provided by your insurer.  

Omegassp

Thank tacpot12 for the comments. You are right. It looks like timber on the left hand side (photo attached again). We have visited our neighbour’s house (a different house type) with a lower headroom in the attic (photos attached). It seems that it is this roof contractor’s practice not to install the ridge batten directly on top of the apex. This contradicts what we understand about the dry ridge system. That’s why we wonder if the ridge unions can be firmly attached to the batten. Maybe we need a surveyor to check this for us.