Need advice on a re-roofing job currently underway at my home....

[Muzza80]

Hi all, thanks for taking the time to read this.

A couple of years ago we bought an ex-council end terrace 50's house, we've had some problems with the old slate roof and a roofing/roughcasting firm were out canvassing in the area and quoted us to have the roof replaced with tile, the price was attractive, quite a bit less than another quote we had so we decided to go ahead.

We're in Scotland in a high wind area, the roof is slate, bitumen felt on sarking boards and reasonably complex, they've measured it to be 79m2, the extension at the back is only 5 years old so not included in these works.

So the job was to replace the old slates with new slate appearance concrete tiles and the product is a TLE tile by Weinerberger: https://wienerberger.co.uk/product-search/tle-dark-grey

We were advised that the roof system is vented at the ridges and hips rather than vent tiles.

The job has been subbed out to a small local roofing firm, fair enough.

Day one, the materials are delivered and the bells start ringing when I spot that 6 bags of hundreds of tile clips with integrated nails are sitting in the skip? They're these https://wienerberger.co.uk/monkey-grip

When questioned I was advised "we never use them as they're rubbish, we just nail"... Ok, so why were these specific clips specced for the job in the first place?

Secondly and more importantly, they've stripped off all the slates, hammered all the nails that were holding the slates in place further into the sarking boards (and damaged some of the boards in the process, you can see broken boards now in the loft) and laid the breather membrane directly on top of the old bitumen felt??

Now I'm starting to get concerned, surely all the old felt needs to come off so they can inspect the old timber sarking boards underneath and renew where required? Again I questioned this and I've been told that the old felt was removed at the ridge and this is adequate for the ventilation of the roof space?

I'm not convinced at all and they're due back to start working again tomorrow morning but I'm really starting to question their methods and feel like they're just cutting corners wherever possible!?

Now someone else has pointed out that my roof timbers may not actually be strong enough to take the extra weight of the tiles over the original slates?

Any advice?

Cheers!

 

[Tigercubrider]

Not a tradesperson
But the first link implies a 15 year guarantee? For the "system" ?
So if your roofers don't follow the installation spec, what happens to the guarantee?

 

[Nozzle]

XYZ firm were out canvassing in the area and quoted us to have the roof replaced with tile, the price was attractive, quite a bit less than

This is the point at which alarm bells should be ringing.

Nozzle

 

[datarebal]

They need clipping ..end of story.

 

[Notch7]

I wouldnt engage a firm that was canvassing.

I dont know of any tradesmen that go door knocking, they have too much work.

'We are working in the area'
'We can start in 2 days time'


I do hope you get it resolved ok.

 

[bernardgreen]

the extra weight of the tiles over the original slates?

A very valid concern, especially if they have not inspected the roof structure and it's condition.

Very often the "roofer" will take the old slates away and then sell them at a profit. Some have been known to charge for the removal from site of the old slates.

when I spot that 6 bags of hundreds of tile clips

Contact Wienerberger ( 0161 491 8200 ) and tell them about the installation not being in accordance with their instructions. Ask them for their advice as ypou are concerned about mis installation of their product on your roof. They may then take the matter up and support you against the so called "roofer" in order to protect their reputation.

 

[noseall]

They need clipping ..end of story.

Not dissing here Data but that roof is without any gables and is fully hipped. I understand there are still vulnerabilities (and it is in Scotland) but wouldn't say nailing the tiles and mechanically fixing all the hips be enough?

My old dears' roof is furnished with old Staffy blues. Not a single one is fixed and all are still there after many high winds.

 

[^woody^]

Those clips look like they are more for repair work when a few tiles need to be replaced in a patch and nailing wont be possible. Nailing would otherwise be fine, with just clips at the eaves.

But if part of the "system" (whatever that means) then they will be needed to get the warranty. The "15 year guarantee" is a nonsense anyway - a new tiled roof cover would be expected to have a 60 year life.

Old felt needs to have come off.

Check if a building control application needs to have gone in. It would in other parts of the UK.

If you had old slates (proper slates) then it may have been unlikley they needed replacing in the first place - they last for decades and decades.

 

[datarebal]

The tiles are flat and vulnerable, not clipping is like putting cement fibres on with no rivets.


Noseall, No problem , but I expect your old dears time is coming!.

The clips were sent out for a reason..It takes no time to use them.

Marleys and Redland have been used this type of clip (alloy) for years and years, often never got used though...

 

[Makie]

Those clips look like they are more for repair work when a few tiles need to be replaced in a patch and nailing wont be possible. Nailing would otherwise be fine, with just clips at the eaves.

But if part of the "system" (whatever that means) then they will be needed to get the warranty. The "15 year guarantee" is a nonsense anyway - a new tiled roof cover would be expected to have a 60 year life.

Old felt needs to have come off.

Check if a building control application needs to have gone in. It would in other parts of the UK.

If you had old slates (proper slates) then it may have been unlikley they needed replacing in the first place - they last for decades and decades.

The clips are used when doing a new roof. You can either clip them or nail them depending on the manufacturers instructions.

I agree with the warranty statement here as all tiles should be fitted to the manufacturers instructions.

You do need to contact building control unless you are modifying the shape of the roof.

This roof is likely the original roof and the OP stated it was built in the 50's. The slates themselves will likely be fine, the nails however will not.

 

[datarebal]

Nails and clips are part of a fixing system that work together.
Clips stop tail lift and rattle.

 

[Muzza80]

So work had continued this week and despite my concerns I was assured by the company that the methods used by the contractor were acceptable and they would warranty the work.

I've come home to find this today, apparently the job finished....??




Can anyone comment on this, looks awful to me but im no roofer, I need something to go back top them with and any advice on how to handle this best would be hugely appreciated

Thanks

 

[palaceray]

The Lead work is terrible , and I doubt the rest is much better if properly inspected.

 

[pilsbury]

Holy ****.

 

[Mw Roofline]

Cracked tile I think pic 2.