Roofing

Cowboy Builder carryout out defective roof works not reachable through WhatsApp

Anonymous user 16/03/2024 - 2.50 PM

I have a problem with a builder. He performed a loft conversion but it appeared the roof aspect was performed to a very poor standard. The works were completed mid August 2022. Within 2-3months later, the roof started falling apart. Gutter downpipe and fascia board falling off (because this was glued), falling tiles, exposed timber battens, leaking roof, no dry roof verge or ridge tile mortar joins bad. I brought most of thse issues to the attentionof the timber who said he was out of the country. He wanted me to sort these out before he paid me. Due to the scale of poor workmanship on the roof, I employed the services of a independent roof surveyor to carry out a roof inspector thouroughly and come up with a report. The roof inspector confirmed all these within the Xmas period. Within Jan-March 2023, I communicated with different roofing companies to give me quotes based on the report. Some of them gave vague quotes while 3-4 others furnished me detailed quotes. There had been back and forth communications with the roofing companies requesting for site visits, detailed works to be done, warranty, client history, timeframe. When I tried to communicate with the builder through WhatsApp, this was unsuccessful. I confirmed through a trusted friend that my number was blocked aftyer asking him to contact him. Initially, he had advised me not to email him as his email is no longer in use (this I don't believe). Although the builder says he's in Germany, I believe he resides within UK. The problem I'm having is how to locate and serve him letters before the court action starts. The costs for repairing the roof professionally is about £15,000 going by the survey report.