Leaking through top of bathroom and toilet window surrounds

[Andrew John]

Hi, there was a downpour last week and we had a substantial leak which appeared to be coming through the grouting of the tiling at the top of the window surround in the bathroom, and similarly through the top of the window surround in the toilet, which is next to the bathroom. On the 1st floor of a two storey house, pitched roof. The attic seemed to be dry. There was some dripping from the inside of the gutter, but no overflow from the outside of it. There is a soil-pipe vent emerging from the roof, located between the bathroom and toilet windows, so I thought it might be the flashing. A roofer came round and said it would be the felt. He said there was streaking down the fascia board both front and back (not that clear to me, even in the photo). Would need scaffolding front and back and then they would remove the first three feet of the tiles, and hopefully it would be possible to replace that much felt. Otherwise they would have to replace all the felt. Said that in the last 15 years they have used something more durable (sorry I forget exactly what) for this last three feet before the eaves, and that this was a very common problem in older houses. But doing a search, I can't find much to confirm that. Another roofer is coming, so will get another opinion. From the geometry I don't think it can be coming through the window frames. Wondering if it is coming down through the cavity? Amy advice much appreciated, thanks.

 

[datarebal]

Ask him how the water gets onto the felt .

It's likely the actual point of entry is around the SVP .looks iffy but a closer picture might help .I'd ask another to look

 

[Andrew John]

Thanks for your reply. Here's a photo:

or there is 15 seconds of video here: https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipNci_Wurv3tOJOgEDYQikyfS5tZh01JCERSMLOh

 

[Andrew John]

And here is the gutter:

 

[datarebal]

ok to the left of the svp under the lead slate is a narrow cut tile . It is broken. this will allow water onto the felt beside the svp and run to the bottom until it finds holed felt.
there is very little tile over hang into the gutter. fitting of underlay support trays will help this.
id check the tile first....you can see it in the picture, i know its there and pretty sure its busted

 

[Andrew John]

Thanks again. Here's another photo taken from the other window, which I think shows that tile more clearly. Is it the thin lighter coloured tile to the left of the lead - that there may be a gap between that and the darker coloured piece of tile on its left?

Or 12 second video: https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipOjyGNgh_dDjOg7n0b_tgxzGpuREO-D92qtuxX_

 

[Janan Jae]

Whatever the issue is, please dont waste time. Try and fix asap. Water leaks, what so ever should be sorted ASAP. Else it will make you spend more money (and time) sooner or later in the future.

 

[Andrew John]

Whatever the issue is, please dont waste time. Try and fix asap. Water leaks, what so ever should be sorted ASAP. Else it will make you spend more money (and time) sooner or later in the future.

Excellent principle, but what if one has a quote for three grand to replace the first metre of felt with breathable membrane (front and back of the house) from someone who hasn't even been up to look - when there seems to be a possibility that it might be enough to replace a tile?

 

[foxhole]

Have the down pipes been checked ? If they back up and gutters flood that style of facia will act like a second gutter but hold the water against the brickwork .(agree with datarebal comments ).

 

[Andrew John]

Have the down pipes been checked ? If they back up and gutters flood that style of facia will act like a second gutter but hold the water against the brickwork .(agree with datarebal comments ).

Thanks, they are operational but no they haven't been checked for partial blocking. The front gutter at least was overflowing during the downpour which was exceptionally heavy. Not sure what you mean by a fascia acting like a gutter. I have found stuff about the felt sagging behind the fascia and I can see that water ingress could pool in that and run along until it finds a hole in it - is that what you mean?

 

[foxhole]

Thanks, they are operational but no they haven't been checked for partial blocking. The front gutter at least was overflowing during the downpour which was exceptionally heavy. Not sure what you mean by a fascia acting like a gutter. I have found stuff about the felt sagging behind the fascia and I can see that water ingress could pool in that and run along until it finds a hole in it - is that what you mean?

If the rain gets behind facia it could trap it against the wall making ingress more likely and extensive .

 

[Andrew John]

I suppose it makes a difference whether the underlay is overlapping the gutter. It looks like it is at the front:

Even in this case, I suppose if the gutter filled up then it would get behind the felt.

Although there are issues:

At the back, I can't see any overlap:

In places it looks like the moss is lifting the last tile up.

 

[datarebal]

it has underlay support retro fitted to one side.

The las picture is good.
Id say fit UST

 

[datarebal]

Is it the thin lighter coloured tile to the left of the lead - that there may be a gap between that and the darker coloured piece of tile on its left?

its to the left of the svp but just under the lead slate, if you ease the lead up you should see it

 

[Andrew John]

A roofer from an NFRC registered company had a look yesterday, ladder was just left of the svp, took several tiles up. Couldn't find anything wrong, said it was dry underneath, no sagging, good overlap into gutter, and the ridge looked fine. Gave me his number in case problem reoccurs. Odd - but I think I am happy to leave it like that, since at any rate it doesn't sound like it's in really bad condition, and I trust the guy not to create work that doesn't need doing. What should I be looking for next time it rains? Dripping down the fascia board perhaps?