Faulty Roof

BBL2

Our house is 5 years old.  We brought it second hand 3 years ago.  Briefly - We had solar panels fitted to our tiled roof.  This resulted in damage to roof tiles (although prior to this tiles were coming off due to high winds) and daylight showing through the roof.  Contacted solar panel installer, said the fixings used to build roof on construction were not of standard quality and had rusted, so we contacted the builder who referred us to the NHBC as no longer his problem, but he did accept incorrect fixings had been used.  Nobody is interested in helping us or admitting blame.  We did not have holes in our roof until after solar panels were installed, but solar panel company will not do anything as the fixings used to construct the roof are incorrect.  NHBC will not accept a claim.  What can we do please. This has been going on for over a year now and we still have holes in our roof.

eddddy

It sounds like your saying that

• Incorrect fixings were used by the builder on your roof.

• The builder's warranty ran out (probably after 2 years)

• The problem isn't covered by the NHBC 10 year warranty (Have you read the warranty, and do you agree that's the case?)

If that's all correct, unfortunately it sounds like it's down to you to arrange and pay for those repairs.



But it also sounds like you're saying that a solar panel company damaged your roof. Is that correct?

Is the damage a result of having incorrect fixings on your roof? Or is the damage a result of the solar panel company doing something wrong?

If the solar panel company has done something wrong, and won't put right the damage they've caused - then you'll have to consider making a court claim against them.

GDB2222

At what point did the solar panels company know that the roof fixings were rusted? Should they have checked before starting work? 

Did you have a survey done before you purchased the house?

I think you have a choice here. You can spend money on getting an expert opinion on whom to blame, so that you can at least consider whether to sue the right person. Or, you can use that money towards the cost of repair of the roof. Have you had any quotes for that? 

grumpy_codger

What sort of roof/tiles and 'fixings' is it?  I think some fixings can be used as 'belts and braces', but I don't understand how rusting can result in "daylight showing through the roof" if the tiles and the membrane are still in place.

sheramber

grumpy_codger said:

What sort of roof/tiles and 'fixings' is it?  I think some fixings can be used as 'belts and braces', but I don't understand how rusting can result in "daylight showing through the roof" if the tiles and the membrane are still in place.

I think daylight is showing because of the damage done by the solar panels company but they claim the damage happened because of the  faulty fixings. 

grumpy_codger

Yes, this was exactly my point. And if the 'fixings' were faulty when they were installing the panels, they should have said that and, if needed, replaced them, possibly charging extra. 
IMO, it's time for small court actions against the solar panels company.