No Firrings installed on flat roof - Who’s Responsibility

[Evo78]

Hi All,

First time poster but long time viewer..

In 2023 we had a flat roof installed on our bungalow extension. The builder installed up to the joists and then the roofer boarded and applied the GRP coating. After a while we noticed water was pooling so called the roofer back out. He said it was because there is no fall on the roof as the builder had not installed any firrings. They agreed to create a channel down the middle of the roof even though it was not their fault, in their words. Being naive we thought this was ok, however last year we had building control out to look at the roof and they stated that as there is no fall it would have to come off.

We went back to the roofer who blamed the builder and then back to the builder who blamed the roofer. Neither of them quoted for firrings but after much research I am leaning more to blaming the roofer. I offered a work around to the roofer that the builder and myself would rip of the old roof, lay firrings and a deck (at mine and the builders expense) if they would lay the GRP coating. The builder has been really good even though I don’t think it is his fault, equally I don’t feel I should have to pay to rectify it. The roofer however is having none of it and has washed his hands of it.

Can any roofers tell me that if you came to lay a deck and GRP coating would you check for a fall or firrings before doing the work? Also if sloping joists were used would it be obvious that they were used? And knowing there was no fall would you carry on? On part of the roof the firrings would have to go contra to the joists in order to direct the runoff to the gutters, so it would be obvious that no firrings were installed.

I would be grateful for any opinions on this.

 

[Koolpc]

I would have thought it was the builders responsibility as he was the one building the roof!

Whenever i have seen this in the past, it has always been the builder that does the fall in readiness for the flat roof guys to come on the job and do the roof covering...

 

[noseall]

Hi All,

First time poster but long time viewer..

In 2023 we had a flat roof installed on our bungalow extension. The builder installed up to the joists and then the roofer boarded and applied the GRP coating.

The builder is responsible if he's overseeing the work. The roofer sounds incompetent. Was this roof insulated?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I would have thought it was the builders responsibility as he was the one building the roof!

I would say the builder too, initially to blame, but the roofer ought to have checked there was proper fall, rather than assuming, and it ought to have been obvious anyway. So both to blame, in equal portions, both should share the cost equally, of rectification.

 

[big-all]

ok my thoughts
the builder knows it needs a fall so should provide one
expecting the roofer in my eyes to add the fall would need communication with the roofer by the builder
iff the builder quotes for a roof he knows you expect it up to standards including a built-in fall, if he choses to do it via firings then thats up to him
but having said that did the roofer lay the deck on the roof??

 

[Evo78]

Thanks for the reply’s so far. The builder went as far as the joists. The roofer installed the OSB then the GRP coating. Neither mentioned firrings in their quotes, but equally we didn’t know to mention that or look out for it.
The roof was installed as a cold roof.
In emails the roofer briefly mentioned a fall but that it was going the wrong way!!
My thinking is that as a professional roofer if you see there are no firrings and the roof joists are not obviously slopped, would you not just put a spirit level down. They could have then told us and we could have either paid them to put firrings down or get the builder to do it. It seems really slack to just carry on knowing it will probably have to be ripped off at a later date.
I thought it was a good compromise to get the builder and myself to rip it out and re-do it leaving them to lay the GRP but they are admitting no responsibility at all.
This is causing us massive stress as nothing can progress until it’s sorted.
It’s good to get other tradespersons perspective so we can decide how to proceed.

 

[big-all]

if you are saying you will now rip out and replace to the deck including a slope then thats the best compromise if they do the roof again
but my suggestion is do nothing without their agreement to replace the roof including any gtee promised extended to the new completion date so they have no "it was ok before they ripped it out " excuse to allow them to walk away

i would suggest a further small compromise even though you will have ripped out say 7 x8x4 sheets and replaced including furring at great cost time and efforts offer half materials [250-300] as although unfair a solution is 100% more valuable and less stressing than a few hundred £££

 

[Koolpc]

The builder is just that, the builder. He is the one that should have included the slope. In the same way you wouldnt expect a roofer to make sure any block work on a wall is cut at an angle ready for the tiles etc.

To expect a roofer to come along and sort out firrings etc is asking a bit much especially when it is the builder that is in charge of the structural element.