Contractors installed new flat roof above shower room and kitchen extension with no insulation
Anonymous user 09/03/2024 - 3.11 PM
I've recently had two flat roofs replaced with a 3 layer torched bitumen system. The contractors are competent traders in the NRC scheme.
The garage has been completely reboarded. Though I have some minor issues like external plater and rendering damaged and not made good, it doesn't seem bad to my inexperienced eye.
However, I'm very concerned about the kitchen/ shower room flat roof of approx 4x 3.5. At the first rain after installation (in late May) I discovered a bad leak which ran through the internal edge of the boiler flue into the kitchen. I tried to dry the edges of the cavity with cloths to absorb water on the plasterboard ceiling but the next day the ceiling lights didn't work though when the wiring dried out, they came on again next day. The contractor came out and said one of the adhesive seals hadn't worked so added a larger patch of felt around the flue and resealed the area. I'd noticed some pooling in one area and he said this was just because the board underneath was a bit uneven. I haven't had another leak since.
However, in researching the leaks etc, I discovered that a new domestic flat roof needs to have insulation to current standards/ building regs,with the contractor notifying their association of completion of such a job, who would then notify the council that the work complies with part L.
When I raised this,he denied that insulation was necessary or that bldg regs notification was needed, so there's no way the new roof would be notified. I also raised it with the partner who said he thought there must be insulation already. However, two thirds of the boards were replaced and it must have been obvious that there wasn't. (The old roof was built in 1975). I can also see through the ceiling down lighter cavity that there isn't any insulation. He then said I should have told them insulation was needed, of course my reply was that as competent traders I was relying on them to know and to work to regulations.
So I've got a costly new roof that doesn't comply with building regs which could present a problem when I come to sell. I've also got pooling immediately, which will in time affect the longevity of the roof..and of course the lack of insulation will affect the warmth of the area.
The saving grace is that I haven't actually paid the bulk of the invoice. They have asked me what I want them to do about it, and have offered to come out as soon as they can. But what should I ask for? I now know that it should probably be redone as a warm roof, as the joists aren't big enough to do a proper cold roof insulation.
They didn't quote for or give an option, but I assumed the quote would give me a proper job.
Are you a tradesperson and able to answer this question?
it is compulsory that from October 2010 that you require building regs to sign of any roof work if more than 25% of the roof covering is removed
insulation should be installed up to current regs 270mm, flat roofs can be either cold or warm roofs
although the regs are there there is a bit of give and take according to the depth of the beams as to how much insulation is allowed and still leave an air gap for ventilation,
despite being in force for 10yrs there are still a lot of tradesmen ignore them building regs are only a couple of hundred quid at most your biggest expense can be for the foil backed insulation .
a quote should include exactly what is being done to your roof including if insulation is being upgraded
good luck Alex
Answered21 June 2020
8
Anonymous user
It’s one of them things were to be honest all competent companies know the regs and current standards but some regs especially in regards to having insolation installed drives up the price massively and 9/10 customers don’t want this further cost, furthermore getting building control involved is further costs.
Most companies naively assume customers don’t want to fork out for massive expenses I also full into this naivety I believe most on this platform do as well.
If you felt the rooms were cold you should had asked for insolation to be installed to current regs, you could argue they should offer this but as a business you don’t want to seem like you are trying to get customers to spent more and more it’s a moral thing as not everyone is well off and can afford everything most people have to take out loans and dip into retirement savings etc.
With regards to pooling on the roof if when they quoted they said does the roof pool and you answered no/I don’t know and they couldn’t see it currently pooling I don’t think you can hold them liable they should check to see if there is a slight fall but again a lot of companies will over look this.
I myself if I’m replacing the decking normally always install furrings to ensure plenty of fall as I’m quite anal on pooling as it will cause early failure of the roof.
With regards to know paying the rest of the invoice this is down to you to decide there is a moral argument we are in hard times small businesses are struggling and getting knocked on a job could have a knock on effect with workers not being payed suppliers not being payed and in the extreme putting people under eg bankruptcy.
If you are planning to sell the house I don’t think it will cause any major problems not having gone through building regs lots of people don’t go through regs etc, as long as it looks like a good decent job has been done and it doesn’t get flagged by a home buyers report there shouldn’t be a drama if you’re really unlucky you might though there is always this risk.
You should really do your research before getting work done so you got half an idea of what’s going on before going ahead blame lies on both sides in my option.
Regards
Frankie
BT Roofing Services
Hi if you have had drawing done for the building they must say the thickness of insulation that was needed on the roof
the roofer should have told you to put insulation on the roof. on his quote it will have said what he was going to do to the roof you can still put insulation on the roof by fitting it to the existing roof then put 2 layers over the top
If building regs in place at the time of construction then it should of been signed off as being insulated.
On stripping the roof the contractor should of explained there isnt any and offered to do it for you as an extra.
He wouldn't of known until stripping took place.
