Fixing leaking garage

[ctsamados]

My garage has been leaking for a number of years after some roofers put on a rubber membrane layer on the existing chip board and then refused to rectify the problem when it was pointed out it was leaking and walked off the job.

I've only now discovered where its leaking from, which appears to be where the rubber membrane goes horizontally up the roof and is screwed to the walls that rise up above the roof. I've attached a photo that shows the roof, it also pools water in the middle as the roofers didn't slope it towards the gutter.

I've attached a photo showing the membrane going up the wall forgive the black stripes, that was where I painted the wall with bitumen as I was told the wall might be porous and letting in water.

I've attached a few photos where I've removed the ceiling and you can see the water leaking in through the chipboard and wooden beams.

I'm trying to put a claim in on my house insurance to get the roof fixed but if it's refused is there a way to fix the roof short of getting a whole new roof?

I was thinking of maybe getting roofing felt and attaching it to the rubber membrane and then taking it over the edge of the wall and attaching it on the other side.

Thanks.

 

[noseall]

My garage has been leaking for a number of years after some roofers put on a rubber membrane layer on the existing chip board and then refused to rectify the problem when it was pointed out it was leaking and walked off the job.

I've only now discovered where its leaking from, which appears to be where the rubber membrane goes horizontally up the roof and is screwed to the walls that rise up above the roof. I've attached a photo that shows the roof, it also pools water in the middle as the roofers didn't slope it towards the gutter.
View attachment 368429



I've attached a photo showing the membrane going up the wall forgive the black stripes, that was where I painted the wall with bitumen as I was told the wall might be porous and letting in water.

View attachment 368430
I've attached a few photos where I've removed the ceiling and you can see the water leaking in through the chipboard and wooden beams.


View attachment 368431

View attachment 368432

I'm trying to put a claim in on my house insurance to get the roof fixed but if it's refused is there a way to fix the roof short of getting a whole new roof?

I was thinking of maybe getting roofing felt and attaching it to the rubber membrane and then taking it over the edge of the wall and attaching it on the other side.

Thanks.

Some truly baffling details there. That small parapet wall should not be merging with the small faux pitched roof roof like that. And I cant see a (lead) cover flashing anywhere.
Anything is repairable, but getting it to last may be an issue there, given the way the walls and roof are thoughtlessly cobbled together.

 

[catlad]

I'm struggling to make any sense out of those pictures.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I've only now discovered where its leaking from, which appears to be where the rubber membrane goes horizontally up the roof and is screwed to the walls that rise up above the roof. I've attached a photo that shows the roof, it also pools water in the middle as the roofers didn't slope it towards the gutter.

So, looking at that first photo - is the water ingress, along that far wall, where you have painted the blackstruff, or where the standing water has collected, near the camera position?

 

[ctsamados]

Hi

The water ingress is along all the edges of the roof and seems to be directly below the rubber membrane section that buttes up against the parapet walls. The worst section was the bit that's painted. But it's also now really bad along the far end (not the section with the silly tiled pitched roof). These two bits are the sections I've photographed from the inside and show water on the boards.

I've been thinking a good way to test this theory would be to cover these sections. I have some concrete paving slabs that I'm going to rest at a 45 degree angle over the worst sections along with a tarp and see what happens when it rains.

I'll try and get some better photos but its night here ATM.

 

[Deluks]

The standing water might be a red herring.

What's the detailing where the membrane goes up the wall, from the photo that looks like flashband over the joint (or is it lead?)
If this hasn't been chased into the wall then that's the most likely culprit.

I know someone who had a similar problem, the whole brickwork parapet was covered with roofing felt, which solved the problem but looked crap.

 

[ctsamados]

Hi

Yes I agree.

Its a bit of plastic boxing that the membrane goes into and then it's screwed to the wall. I've attached some photos of it, including corner sections which are wrinkled.

I've also put a couple of photos of the exterior and interior of the garage as someone was saying they were having trouble making it out.

 

[Notch7]

I would start by unscrewing and taking off one of those trims and seeing what has been done

the only way to reliably weather seal an abutment to a vertical wall is with some form of flashing cut into the wall -normally lead flash of some sort

Parapet walls are difficult to detail as you have brickwork above that is external and fully exposed to the weather which then becomes an internal wall -however for a garage a proper flashing should be enough to stop rain, it might not stop a bit of damp though.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Its a bit of plastic boxing that the membrane goes into and then it's screwed to the wall. I've attached some photos of it, including corner sections which are wrinkled.

I would support Deluks suggestion, of water soaking down the parapet wall top. An easy test, would be a long, narrow strip of waterproof material, add some tied on weights to keep it in place, and put it over the top of the wall, so it sheds water directly onto the roof, keeping the wall dry.

 

[cdbe]

Needs some angle flashing trim chasing 25mm into the wall below the creasing tiles and sealing in place with lead mate. You can get a 40mm x 100mm that might span over the incorrectly used trim, if not deep enough trim the long edge to the correct depth and use the wrong way round. You'll need a 9" grinder

 

[ctsamados]

I've actually got some flashing trim when the weather gets a bit warmer and there's not a sheet of ice on the roof, I'll give these suggestions a go. Thanks for the help!

 

[HumbleHelp]

I suggest you clear that water off, clean off from the bottom of the black rubber on the wall up the flashing and up the brick. Seal from the bottom of the wall all the way up to the top of the inside of the wall with a liquid urethane. Not sure of the liquid applied systems you guys have but I've been doing this in historic buildings for 5 years. Works great. Also want to probe your vertical and horizontal seams on your rubber. Go to your building product supplier. And get a liquid urethane and also a fabric to embed in the coating. Easy DIY project brother.