Poor roofing work

nachos

Hi,

I was quoted for a flat roof replacement and this was carried out this week. The roofer had to come back twice as they did not finish the corner in the photo correctly and again because they had scorched my guttering and downpipe.

My concern now is that the photo I sent to him shows that the osb is rotten at the joint and the membrane is not the whole way along where the flat roof meets a higher up flat roof (and possibly tricky junction with the bungalow roof). I asked him about it and sent him photos and he said it is where the osb was burnt; even if that were the case, the membrane is not across the whole area.

I paid him yesterday in good faith, but I don't really want him back to rectify and he is still stating that this is fine.

Please could I have thoughts on next steps and also if anyone has experience to confirm that the osb does look rotten.

dnpark38

You say you do not want him back so does that mean you are going to get another roofer to fix it?

bjorn_toby_wilde

It hasn’t been finished correctly because the OSB is exposed but it doesn’t look rotten. Hard to tell from a photo but if you try to push your fingernail into it you’ll soon know.

That’s rough work to burn that downpipe. It would have been so easy to undo a bracket and move it out of the way whilst they were torching the felt.

plumb1_2

it looks like torch on felt he’s used, and yes the timber should have been covered, he needs to come back and sort it out.

It’s gonna be a botched job, and I would ask him to replace the section of scorched rwp

nachos

The quote was replacement of the entire flat roof, so I don't think the work aligns with the quote.

The osb they removed was completely rotten and black. The photo shows that the osb at the top is black (where it would be more prone to rot), and if he didn't remove the downpipe, I don't know how he would have put a new osb board all the way underneath the join.

I did get him to come back and he did within half an hour and covered this piece, but it's a botched patch whereas I paid for a new roof. My worry is that the osb is rotten the whole way along this joint and that they took a short cut and cut along where they could and replaced only part of the osb. Unfortunately, I didn't test the osb before he covered it up, so I don't know if it is rotten, it was only afterwards looking at the photos and zooming in that I realised.

I had to get him back a third time as I went up on the roof and the gutter was also completely melted. He has replaced the gutter and downpipe section, but that's a cheap fix, I'm worried about the osb under the joint and I've lost all faith in his word and work.

He said they never remove gutters, which is clearly bad practise as it's not safe and they would not be able to finish the edge properly is the gutter and downpipe was not unclipped.

I don't want him to come back again, I would like a partial refund so I can get someone competent to do the work.

dreamsofpretzels

Since you've paid in full, getting a refund now could be difficult unless you stated you were paying under duress.

If I was the roofer, I wouldn't have any incentive to offer a partial refund after being paid in full as it would be a done deal.

Another company can make good the work but it will cost.

casper_gutman

Isn't the black on the OSB from the tar/asphalt he's used? I agree it's poor workmanship overall though.

WIAWSNB

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81939745#Comment_81939745

Hi Nachos. (Edit below)

Do you have Legal Protection included in your house policy?

I think, from what you have told us, that you are secure in not allowing this 'roofer' a further opportunity to sort these issues. He has demonstrated clear incompetence, and he has been given - how many? - chances to sort the exposed gaps in the roof. His assertion that 'they never removed guttering' is either simply dishonest, and designed to avoid your challenges, or a further sign of inadequate workmanship. I suspect the former, so he is almost certainly lying to you.

What to do? Outline what has taken place in chronological order, and as succinctly as possible. Note down what the tasked job was, and then what took place and on which days.

Add to this brief report all the evidence, such as your photos, texts, messages, or - if verbal - as verbatim an account of each as you can.

Call up your LP for a chat about this. Let them guide you.

Likely you will then need a proper roofer to assess the work, one with supporting credentials. And a quote (you may need more than one) for putting it right. Possibly this may need to be tasked to a surveyor, as they should have the necessary credentials and independence required.

Based on their assessment, the 'fix' may just require a proper patching job to ensure the new roof is watertight. You get this fixed, and sue the original company using MoneyClaim.org, or Small Claims, and chances are the roofer won't even turn up to challenge this. You can easily demonstrate the original roofer's incompetence and dishonesty - missing gaps, poor patching, melted guttering, etc.

I the new roofer/surveyor suspects the original OSB is still in place and compromised, it'll likely need exposing to confirm. This will obviously be a bigger task to fix, so may require you to demonstrate what you expectations for the original roof repair was - do you have this?

Ie, what did you ask the roofer to do - 'fit a new flat roof'? What detail did you specify - new fascias and stuff? What info did you give him regarding the condition of the roof - 'my roof is rotten and leaking, and needs replacing...'?

And, what detail was in his quote? Was it summat like, 'remove all the existing felt and sheeting, check joists for rot and replace if necessary (may incur additional costs), fit new sheeting and three layers of...' etc

Get the facts in order, and call your LP.

Edit: I've re-read your post, and zoomed in on that pic of the blackened OSB.

Can you confirm that the uncovered OSB edge has now been sealed by him? Any chance of a pic?

Zooming in, that blackened patch does look like a scorch mark, and not rot - the board edge immediately below this looks like clean new sheeting.

You say, however, you don't know how he could have replaced this board without first removing the gutter? Could he have slipped this sheet up into place? We can't judge that point from here.

Tbh, provided the patch he applied is secure and watertight, and the roof has now been sealed, and he has replaced the damaged guttering and dp, and you are reasonably confident that the OSB is merely scorched, then I think you should be ok.

But, shoddy, and clearly no pride in his work.