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Roofer replaced soil pipe flashing on slate roof today – gaps around collar & ragged rubber trim loo
Hi all,
Just had a roofer out today to replace the flashing around the soil vent pipe on my slate roof (UK, older house).
They also replaced a few missing/broken tiles while up there and re-bed the ridge tiles but they look fine (I think).
On closer inspection with close-ups, it doesn't look quite right to me:
- Slates around the new lead collar/upstand aren't cut close enough – noticeable gap on the left side, about halfway up the tile, which seems like it could let water run straight in/under.
- The rubber cone/collar on the pipe has a ragged/uneven cut, so it's not fitting snugly all around – visible gap/space in places (see video clip and photos).
- Compared to British Lead Mills QuickSlate install guides/videos, the collar should be cut slightly smaller for a tight, compressive fit with no obvious gaps.
Photos attached (multiple angles + short video of the collar area).
Nothing leaking yet, but worried about wind-driven rain or long-term issues.
Since they disturbed/replaced tiles too, I feel it should be left tidier and more watertight than this. Does this look like reasonable workmanship, or should I ask them to come back and tidy it (re-trim rubber, close gaps, re-bed slates closer)?
Any advice from roofers or folks who've had similar work done? Thanks in advance!
Unfortunately I don't really have much form before but I'm sure it didn't looks as bad.
Comments
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Well, I'm no expert but the placing of the tiles doesn't look a problem. The new lead work looks OK too but that collar looks old and possibly damaged. Did they intend to replace that?
Looks like the lead surround is new but perhaps they reused the old collar (possibly because it was difficult to source a replacement).
It's all down to what you asked them to do I suppose. Oh and your video doesn't work for me.
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I hope they have good dental cover… looks like they used their teeth to do the cutting.
Personally I think I would have avoided the problem by changing the top of the stack to a swan-neck and avoid it penetrating through the roof. Re-slating/tiling over the hole would be easier than making a weather-proof arrangement around the vent pipe.
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I'm no expert either, DDR, but that looks very unprofessional to me.
Why are the tile rows to the right out of alignment? Just why?!
Why have the tiles been cut so poorly around the collar? Why weren't they marked, taken down, cut neatly, and refitted? That lh tile is digging in to the rubber collar.
What on earth is going on with the rubber collar itself? Is that really torn, as it appears? Is that really a new flashing/collar?
What is the vent pipe made from, cast iron?
No idea if it's acceptable in terms of function (I suspect not), but I'm just going to say that if it looks wrong, then it ain't done correctly.
I'd ask another roofer's opinion. If it needs redoing, then I'd ask about S62's idea of doglegging that pipe to avoid the roof entirely. It'll be more work, but worth considering - once done, no more issues.
And surely there are secondhand tiles available that'll better match the existing ones... Or pinch some from the rear if it's a real eyesore.
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As for pinching tiles from rear of property I think by the photo's it is the rear of the house anyway.
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It does look a bodge. They've used a Flexislate, which is EPDM bonded to the lead. The roof looks like it's a really steep pitch, so they might have used the wrong one and made a mess of cutting the collar to get it to fit.
If it leaks, you might not notice at first at it will probably go into the soffit.
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What would you recommend, Stuart? DDR gets another roofer to look at it?
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Another roofer will probably recommend replacing the Flexislate. You are supposed to cut out the size you require from the marks you can see at the top. You could probably get away with a weathering collar over the pipe as used in a traditional lead slate.
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So it's a new lead flashing, with rubber collar, the instructional videos, suggest they should have the a circle out of the rubber and pulled it over the top giving an all-round seamless fit, but instead I've got whatever this is.
They were here to replace broken / missing tiles, re-bed the ridge and change that flashing.
In my mind that meant they should have replaced any tiles they broke when they removed the tiles to do the flashing, I have 5 or 6 tiles on the floor that likely originated from around that pipe previously.
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They are meant to be coming back "later this week" and I've not heard anything about it being tomorrow.
Is there anything specific I should point out or ask for?
initially I just wanted them to stop the jagged bit poking the rubber and stick a tile in the botton left so I don't have a gaping hole.
I found them via checkatrade, so if all else fails, I'm guessing I can raise a ticket with them.
The problem I have is, when I sent the picture to the roofer to say I wasn't happy with it, his response was "what's wrong with it like?"
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You are covered up to £1000 with Checkatrade. If you are a verified customer and give the firm a poor review and a low rating, Checkatrade normally get straight back to you asking for more details.
It looks to me like they put a cross cut in the rubber, rather than cutting out the correct size with a knife. The whole job is a bodge, even the tiles have not be put back properly.
It normally takes about a month to get the grand back from Checkatrade, as they will also ask the contractor for their side to it.
Have you got the receipts or proof of payment?
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