Roofer Duties/Responsibilities

fealeranger

Hi Folks,
I am very curious as to the duties of a roofer.
1. Is he responsible for installing Velux windows?
2. is he responsible for the Fascia and Soffit? (not sure of this one)

I am asking as the guy I got for my roof gave me his list of material but it didn't include Velux windows or the Fascia and Soffit on it.

Are these points that I should be asking about included in the price or what is the story? I assumed the velux windows would be installed by the roofer as he has to cut the roof and and set the flashing for this.
If the roofer does not install the Velux windows then who does it?
I don't want extras on the price so I need to be set straight on this. I assumed the roof quote would include the Velux windows installed.

Kerrigooney

fealeranger wrote: »

Hi Folks,
I am very curious as to the duties of a roofer.
1. Is he responsible for installing Velux windows?
2. is he responsible for the Fascia and Soffit? (not sure of this one)

I am asking as the guy I got for my roof gave me his list of material but it didn't include Velux windows or the Fascia and Soffit on it.

Are these points that I should be asking about included in the price or what is the story? I assumed the velux windows would be installed by the roofer as he has to cut the roof and and set the flashing for this.
If the roofer does not install the Velux windows then who does it?
I don't want extras on the price so I need to be set straight on this. I assumed the roof quote would include the Velux windows installed.

Yes he should be installing the Velux. I`d have a word with him about it because it sounds like he might ask you for extra to do it when it should be included in the original price. Again,talk to him.

The fascia and soffit might be a different story...what type of fascia and soffit is going on?

If it`s metal with seamless gutters then that`s not his job however if it`s timber or plastic then he should be doing it. Once more...talk to him.

rayjdav

To be straight, what did you agree at the outset, in writing?
If this is a self build, NEVER assume.
If he is working from drawings, he will allow opes for the Velux unless specifically agreed the supply/install too.

Re fascia and soffitt, unlikely he is doing this but once again, what was agreed at the outset? This is usually done by specialist contractor but many can do it, but it's extra to standard chippie duties.......

Get out your original quote and read it, and more importantly, understand it, as it's you who will be paying for it.

DOCARCH

First thing I suppose is to clarify what you mean by 'roofer'?

Is he the guy just putting on felt, battens and slates/tiles? Or, is he building the roof, i.e. doing the rafters, joists, etc., + the above (roof finishes)?

jakko86

If he is slating it then he has to install velux windows and if he looks for extra id be telling him to hit the road!!if he argues this ask him how he had planned on slating the roof or leaving out the opes if he was planning on getting extra for installing the velux windows?? F&S however is not his job unless you stated otherwise, he will fit his timber fascia and soffit batten for the f&s contractor to finish after.

jblack

On the assumption that this is a self build effort and you have no written contracts with anyone:

There is no obligation on your "roofer" to install velux windows, in the absence of a specific arrangement I do not see why you assume a roofer would be responsible.

jakko86

Are you serious? if thats the case there is no obligation on you to pay him. he cant complete the roof(slated) if velux windows are not put in by him i have priced and roofed many houses and velux windows are part of the job and if your roofer disputes this the best thing you can do is get rid of him and get someone who knows what they are doing and not someone out trying to make easy money.And then if it is not hes job to fit windows whos job does he maintain it is?? Not exactly good for business to price a roof and try and look for extra money to put in velux windows if you have priced roof including slating. If he has priced for roofing alone then opes will be cut out as in plans and its the man slating fits windows.simple as.

DOCARCH

jblack wrote: »

There is no obligation on your "roofer" to install velux windows, in the absence of a specific arrangement I do not see why you assume a roofer would be responsible.

I'd sort of agree with this. From experience, the 'builder' usually installs the Velux with its associated flashings, prior to roof finishes, the 'roofer' then finishes around the Velux as required.

jblack

jakko86 wrote: »

Are you serious? if thats the case there is no obligation on you to pay him. he cant complete the roof(slated) if velux windows are not put in by him i have priced and roofed many houses and velux windows are part of the job and if your roofer disputes this the best thing you can do is get rid of him and get someone who knows what they are doing and not someone out trying to make easy money.And then if it is not hes job to fit windows whos job does he maintain it is?? Not exactly good for business to price a roof and try and look for extra money to put in velux windows if you have priced roof including slating. If he has priced for roofing alone then opes will be cut out as in plans and its the man slating fits windows.simple as.

Not simple as at all - you probably do not have an entire contract, meaning that you will have no right to withhold payment for non-completion. If you sack him you may be exposed to either a quantum meruit claim, or perhaps even a contractual claim for wrongful repudiation. This might sound all a little OTT for a simple roofing job but that (from the facts presented) is the position.

You may not see it as good for business, but you are the project manager and you should have every piece of work quantified and interfaced.

fealeranger

Just to clear things up a little. Firstly this is a selfbuild project. The drawings I gave the roofer and everybody else involved never changed and included the Vleux windows. I did ask the question of what was included in the roof and the answere was I quote "The roof is the roof". I did ask if the RSJ and velux windows were included so I am taking it as they are. What I'm going to do is ask him if he is doing them. If he says they are not included in the price, I will get somebody else to put them in a deduct them from his price or clear him and get another guy in to finish the job. I did price around for the roof and my guy is not the cheapest price I got but he is good and was given thumbs up by many people who used him. The other quotes all included the Velux windows so I am taking this as a given and going ahead as above. I may not have a contract but he does not have one either. This guy would be the first roofer I have heard of who does not install Velux windows if it turns out that way.

jblack

I'm still unsure of what you're defining a roofer as:

Is it slates, flashings, torch on etc; or

Is it roof carpentry such as batons, valleys rooflights etc; or

Is it a combination of the two?

The assertion that a roofer is always responsible for rooflights is incorrect, it is usually done by the contractor or by his carpenters. As you are self build I don't see why your carpenters wouldn't be doing this, but that is not to say that if the roofer acknowledged and agreed to do the rooflights that he is not responsible.

jakko86

I am a roofer and i have worked for many contractors and self builders and i ALWAYS install the windows and if i said sorry that will be extra on the price i am certain i would be out of work long ago!for someone to say a builder installs them in a roof is completely incorrect as they have to be installed as the roof is being slated as your flashings go under the slates and cant be all done first and also you dont cut out a big hole in your felt and let water run in through your velux and into your house when it is not sealed properly.If you call yourself a proper roofer your tasks should include

1. cutting and constructing the roof (or truss set erection)
2. lat&felting
3. leading valleys and chimneys and casing the cap if neccessary and slate trim.
4. slating or tiling including fitting velux windows!
5. Ridge capping.
6. finish fascia and soffit (optional)

Any roofer who cant carry out these tasks or chooses not to isn't worth his salt!

jakko86

Best thing to do is just ask him was there a reaon he has left out the velux windows it may just be a case he would not want them on site until he is ready to fit them. sometimes its best to leave your slate and window order until roofer is ready for them as they are too expensive to leave around the site in case of theft or damage.**you dont want your slates getting wet in packaging unless they are natural**

fealeranger

Thank you jakko86. When I was pricing the roof it was as in the drawings which included the Velux windows. Why would you let them out of the price if they were clearly there. If you priced the blocks would you let out the DPC or the lentils and sills:rolleyes:. I had a few chancers already but I cleared them and this guy will get the same if he starts any extras or sundries. The price is for the roof and the roof includes windows. I would not settle for anything less than that. Thanks for the different views guys. Good to know how people see this area of the build.

jblack

jakko86 wrote: »

i ALWAYS install the windows and if i said sorry that will be extra on the price i am certain i would be out of work long ago!for someone to say a builder installs them in a roof is completely incorrect as they have to be installed as the roof is being slated as your flashings go under the slates and cant be all done first and also you dont cut out a big hole in your felt and let water run in through your velux and into your house when it is not sealed properly.If you call yourself a proper roofer your tasks should include

1. cutting and constructing the roof (or truss set erection)
2. lat&felting
3. leading valleys and chimneys and casing the cap if neccessary and slate trim.
4. slating or tiling including fitting velux windows!
5. Ridge capping.
6. finish fascia and soffit (optional)

Any roofer who cant carry out these tasks or chooses not to isn't worth his salt!

Again here the poster is implying a term that a roofer is responsible for the installation of rooflights, this is not the case.

OP, if you went through the drawings, made the roofer aware that it was part of his scope, this was acknowledged and you can prove this - then you are correct and if the roofer refuses or tries to charge extra then you may be entitled to withhold payment or terminate. You may also be entitled to threaten damages against him for loss resulting from delay.

However, if you did not then I would strongly argue that there is no responsibility on the roofer.

The above quoted poster's assertions are fine and this is obviously the way he or his company works. They sound like conscientious roofers, however having run sites for over 10 years where I worked with dozens of roofing contractors, it is not common at all for the roofer to install rooflights, in fact on larger projects we would ALWAYS have this included in the carpentry 1st (opes) and 2nd fixes (installation).

jblack

jblack wrote: »

Again here the poster is implying a term that a roofer is responsible for the installation of rooflights, this is not the case.

OP, if you went through the drawings, made the roofer aware that it was part of his scope, this was acknowledged and you can prove this - then you are correct and if the roofer refuses or tries to charge extra then you may be entitled to withhold payment or terminate. You may also be entitled to threaten damages against him for loss resulting from delay.

However, if you did not then I would strongly argue that there is no responsibility on the roofer.

The above quoted poster's assertions are fine and this is obviously the way he or his company works. They sound like conscientious roofers, however having run sites for over 10 years where I worked with dozens of roofing contractors, it is not common at all for the roofer to install rooflights, in fact on larger projects we would ALWAYS have this included in the carpentry 1st (opes) and 2nd fixes (installation).

I sound like I am having a rant but I am only trying to help. If you're going to get rid of him make sure you get a strong provable indication that he is not willing to perform.

jakko86

so if the roofer is not responsible after cutting out the opes?who is? i know on big site roofers just do main roof structure to latting and felting? so the slaters do the windows i presume?on self build sites or private houses this is not the case.