Building Advice Please

Hunter Mahan

I was hoping someone could give me some advice about the following:

I recently had a new house built, started 2 years ago finished about 1 year ago. The problem I have is with the roof, the builder put natural slate on as required by the planning permission. Now once complete, I expressed concern that the slates did not appear to be sitting down properly/flush. But I was reassured by the builder that they would settle down after a while.

Last year a few slates were blown off the roof, and the builder came out after a while and replaced/fixed them.
However this year 3 were blown off in the winter, called builder, he said he would come out. Reminded him a few months later, no sign, and then another 3 slates were blown off this week in moderate winds.

I contacted the builder again yesterday and he said he would be out shortly to fix them. At this stage I informed him that I was worried that this will continue to happen and my car will be damaged or worse still someone would be seriously hurt.

The reply: Well all I can do is fix the ones that are off.

I'm just wondering am I right to be pissed off about this? It's not acceptable for slates to be falling off at this early stage surely?

I'm beginning to think that I need to contact a solicitor and get an engineer's report, or would I be better off spending that money on getting someone else out to fix the roof and cut the builder loose?

Any opinions or previous experiences would be great...

ShiverinEskimo

Slates come off in the wind. It's a fact of life.

I live in an old Victorian Red Brick and we have bangor blue slates all expertly laid etc.

We still lose a few a year. Bought up a bit of a stack of them to keep us going last time.

Hunter Mahan

It's a new build? I'd accept your reasoning in 7yrs time but surely I should be entitled to a roof that is fit for purpose?
I never had a slate off in the house I lived in prior to that for 10 years.

ShiverinEskimo

Was the previous house more sheltered or just as exposed etc?

I'm sure there's others on here that could offer better advice as to what the expected standard should be but in my experience if the wind is strong enough, there's no stopping it from ripping slates up.

North West

I have sold natural slates for the past 20 yrs as a builders merchant rep. I was also trained on all applications and conditions concerning the fitting of natural slates. Did not have trouble with breakage. Can you give me a few facts so I can determine what might be happening ?
What brand are the slates.
What thickness are the slates
What pitch is on the roof.
Are the slates nailed or nailed and clipped.
What size battens on the roof.
What lap are the slates given.
Were the slates graded on site.
What are your site conditions like Windy etc
Once I know these answers I can pin point whats happening and give you my findings.

Regards
North West

BryanF

Hunter Mahan wrote: »

I'm beginning to think that I need to contact a solicitor and get an engineer's report, or would I be better off spending that money on getting someone else out to fix the roof and cut the builder loose?
Any opinions or previous experiences would be great...

what did your architect,engineer or project manager say? at the time, when you raised this concern initially? did you hold back any of the moneys owed connected to the building contract?
if you haven't any off the above come-back you may deal with it your self. tough sh.... im sorry to say

baldlad

Im no expert on this at all,but a friend of mine had a similar problem a few years ago,and in his case,the builder had fitted the slates himself,and had nailed the battens too far apart,so had then not overlapped the slates far enough,and the wind was lifting them off his roof..after many arguements with the builder,he got a local lad in who stripped the roof,re-done the battens at the proper measurement/centres,and this solved the problem.he still had a few lift in very bad weather,but nothing compared to the initial problem..mightnt have anything to do with your roof,and this was told to me in the pub,,so no guarantees on its factual honesty ,ha,,but just something to think on..all d best

jblack

Hunter Mahan wrote: »

I was hoping someone could give me some advice about the following:

I recently had a new house built, started 2 years ago finished about 1 year ago. The problem I have is with the roof, the builder put natural slate on as required by the planning permission. Now once complete, I expressed concern that the slates did not appear to be sitting down properly/flush. But I was reassured by the builder that they would settle down after a while.

Last year a few slates were blown off the roof, and the builder came out after a while and replaced/fixed them.
However this year 3 were blown off in the winter, called builder, he said he would come out. Reminded him a few months later, no sign, and then another 3 slates were blown off this week in moderate winds.

I contacted the builder again yesterday and he said he would be out shortly to fix them. At this stage I informed him that I was worried that this will continue to happen and my car will be damaged or worse still someone would be seriously hurt.

The reply: Well all I can do is fix the ones that are off.

I'm just wondering am I right to be pissed off about this? It's not acceptable for slates to be falling off at this early stage surely?

I'm beginning to think that I need to contact a solicitor and get an engineer's report, or would I be better off spending that money on getting someone else out to fix the roof and cut the builder loose?

Any opinions or previous experiences would be great...

Is the defects liability period over?

Options if it is;

Procure engineer's report on roof, if defective threaten legal action

Get the original builder back again and at this point issue him with written correspondence outlining your concerns for the slates and detail the incidences where they have previously blown off.

If it's just a slate fixing issue and not something more sinister like a pitch or design fault then perhaps get someone else to resolve the issue.