Penetrating damp or bad roof?

Wheldcj · Post by **Wheldcj** » Sat Jan 23, 2021 10:01 am

Hi everyone.

We have had rainwater leaks entering our leanto in bad weather for some years. Last May we had a new flat roof and unfortunately during heavy rain the rain absolutely pours through in large areas along the length of the house.

Our roofer is suggesting our gable end wall is porous and pointing inadequate.

I reached out to two roofers last weekend. One said workmanship of roof was inadequate but the other suggested it was fine and the issues were with our wall. I don’t know what to think? We have some signs of water leaks above gable window in picture which suggests some entry into cavity. I also had a bricklayer in who said mortar in pointing was fine. Main Roof has been inspected and is ok.

You can see from pictures when it rains our gable brickwork is soaking.

Every remedial action seems expensive so i want to make sure i do it right this time!

wes56 · Post by **wes56** » Sat Jan 23, 2021 12:58 pm

Your photos are skew whiff but better views of the roofs surfaces (porch & gable) and the roof flashings is needed.
Close up of the join between the higher and lower roofs will help.
You can use a camera on a stick if you dont want to climb. Or pic from any upper window.

Wheldcj · Post by **Wheldcj** » Sat Jan 23, 2021 1:04 pm

Thanks, porch roof is old but fine. Here is picture of flat roof and join

kellys_eye · Post by **kellys_eye** » Sat Jan 23, 2021 2:01 pm

To me it looks as if the felt has been run the wrong direction. It should have gone across the width of the roof, starting at the 'bottom' and overlapping as you approached the house wall.

It's a very poor job and one that will require some drastic measures to fix - such as removing the old felt, checking for damp penetration, replacement of any ruined boards under the felt and 'proper' covering with appropriate flashing into the wall.

You will have a much better result with a rubber membrane cover (EDPM) but you will also need to check whether the roof itself has been constructed properly in respect to it being a warm or cold roof (to do with air gaps, insulation etc).

Dave54 · Post by **Dave54** » Sat Jan 23, 2021 2:07 pm

I agree with k-e. If there's a flat roof there, and it's leaking like that, then odds on it's the flat roof.
I'd feel inclined to stick an inspection camera up into the void there to have a look if possible.

Wheldcj · Post by **Wheldcj** » Sat Jan 23, 2021 2:18 pm

Thanks, i think you are confirming what I thought myself. The roofers offer of rectification is to install further lead flashing a course up. To me that is not going to make any difference albeit it won’t do any harm.

wes56 · Post by **wes56** » Sat Jan 23, 2021 6:30 pm

As above, the felts the wrong way and no lead cover flashing.
There's no angle fillet easing the felt past the abutment inside corner - the felt flashing has been simply sloped up, bad practice.
Why has the Cu gas pipe penetrated the roof instead of swerving it on the outside - there's more penetrations further along the roof after a step-down in the flashing.
There are no views of the fascia/eaves or the whole roof so from what i can see i'd agree - strip and redo.

The brickwork or pointing looks sound - if there are doorway or window openings on the gable wall below the roof then they should have had cavity trays installed.

Wheldcj · Post by **Wheldcj** » Sat Jan 23, 2021 7:20 pm

Thanks Wes. Raised all these issues with roofer today. They are denying their work is anything other than good quality. So it looks like small claims court if i am going to get any money back..

kellys_eye · Post by **kellys_eye** » Sun Jan 24, 2021 1:02 am

Wheldcj wrote: ↑Sat Jan 23, 2021 7:20 pm They are denying their work is anything other than good quality.

you might mention to them that you've taken pictures to prove your claim against them. They haven't a leg to stand on!