Taylor Wimpey new-build roof defect causing leak – NHBC experience?

dhuk0208

Hi all,

Looking for some experiences or advice from anyone who has dealt with a similar issue on a new-build home.

We purchased a new-build property from Taylor Wimpey around 3.5 years ago. We have recently experienced water entering the loft and bedroom ceiling during periods of rain (water ingress).

An independent roofing contractor has inspected the roof and identified a large hole in the roofing felt/breathable membrane, which in their opinion was likely caused during the original installation (for example, someone stepping through the membrane after missing a joist). The hole also had an additional piece of felt attached beneath it, covering the damage rather than properly repairing it.

The inspection also identified issues with the ridge detailing and dry ridge system.

There was no reasonable way for us to have identified this defect at purchase or during ownership, as it is concealed within the roof structure and only became apparent after water entered the property.

We reported the issue to Taylor Wimpey, but were advised it is outside the 2-year warranty period and should be progressed through NHBC (years 3–10), which we are now doing.

Has anyone experienced similar roof membrane or installation-related defects, and how did NHBC handle it?

Thanks

TroubledTarts

Just follow the process you are under the insurance backed portion of your 10 year warranty after the first two years so this is correct nothing to do with Taylor Wimpey now.

We had an experience where our ceilings were poorly plastered but within the initial 2 years. Builder refused to correct so we lodged a complaint with NHBC and they agreed with us and made the builder do the work.

From what you have said, get pictures for evidence, this should be a reasonable claim on warranty.

Albermarle

The roof membrane is normally really only a secondary protection against water ingress - did the roofer actually mention anything about the roof itself leaking ?

dhuk0208

Thank you both.

The roofer identified issues beyond the damaged membrane, including the membrane not overlapping correctly at the ridge and problems with the dry ridge system.

He also found a large hole in the membrane which, in his opinion, was likely caused during the original installation when someone stepped through it after missing a joist. The hole was concealed beneath an additional piece of felt attached to the underside of the membrane.

My main concern is that, if the roofer is correct, this defect has been present since construction and was hidden within the roof structure, so there was no reasonable way for me to identify it during the initial 2-year warranty period.

It does make me wonder how a defect of this nature could remain undiscovered before handover.

I have photographs, a written report and have now submitted a claim to NHBC.

One concern I have is the NHBC minimum claim value. If NHBC accepts that the defect exists but considers the cost of remedial works to be below the minimum claim threshold, what options would I have at that point?

Has anyone been in a similar situation where a genuine construction defect was identified, but the claim was rejected because the repair cost did not meet the minimum value?

WIAWSNB

Do you have Legal Protection included in your house policy? Good. It shouldn't be needed, but if you sense any reluctance by TW/NHBC to act, then a formal letter should help focus them.

What Albe was pointing out above, is that the membrane is very much a secondary protection system, there to hopefully prevent water from coming through if the outer roof covering fails for some reason. You aren't having water ingress due to the torn membrane, but to a fault in the outer roof covering, and that's what requires addressing, which your roofer does appear to have identified - tho' he only says there are 'issues'.

I would want my roofer to state definitively, and with an extended index finger - this is where the rain is getting through the roof, and this is what needs doing to sort it permanently. And, yes, I'll patch the membrane properly too.

Albermarle

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82021360#Comment_82021360

He also found a large hole in the membrane which, in his opinion, was likely caused during the original installation when someone stepped through it after missing a joist. The hole was concealed beneath an additional piece of felt attached to the underside of the membrane.

As said in the previous post. A hole in the membrane is not the main issue here, just the most visible one. The main issue is that the roof itself must be leaking for water to get in .

mta999

The roof tiles prevent water getting in - the felt us really only there to stop dust etc.

If you have a leak it is not the felt

The only exception might be if you have a high horizontal wind which is blowing rain under the roof tiles in which case it might be coming through the hole in the felt but for normal rainfall it is not the felt

dhuk0208

Again thanks all for your advice, and I agree.

The roofer's report wasn't just about the hole in the membrane. He also identified that the breathable membrane does not overlap correctly at the ridge line and that the dry ridge matting has failed.

His conclusion was that, during heavy rain, water is able to pass beneath the ridge tiles, onto the membrane and then enter the property through the damaged area of the membrane.

So my understanding is that the hole itself is not the root cause of water reaching the membrane, but it is the point at which the water is then able to enter the property.

The roofer did advise that it is difficult to identify the exact point of water entry without observing the roof during heavy rain. He has said he will try to attend during a future period of heavy rain, but as this is weather-dependent and he has existing work commitments, it is difficult to predict when that will be possible.