Roofing job where do I stand?

[iateyoubutler]

Afternoon all

Just to give you a background I have a "dormer" style (a Wimpey special.....) semi-detached house. So, the roof if mainly pitched but with felt covered dormers.

At the end of last year I decided to have the felt parts replaced, some guttering added to the dormers - as there was never any fitted when the house was built, and the "overhang" of the roof over the gable end wall was sagging so the rainwater was running straight off the roof verge and missing the guttering. I also wanted the dry verge capping fitted.

I got a couple of quotes and arranged to get the work done.

Anyway, right from the start I noticed that the new guttering had not been put on straight, and that the tiles that had been removed and replaced, along with the capping were all as crooked as a load of old gravestones. The rain still pours off the side of the roof...........

I thought perhaps I was being too fussy, until yesterday when I went up into the loft and noticed a gaping hole in the felt, revealing about 2 sq foot of the underside of the tiles.

Last straw I`m afraid. I did email them initially after the work was done to complain about the guttering - that was ignored, I then tried again last month and was promised a visit - he didn`t bother to turn up.

Now I`m angry. I sent a long email yesterday explaining all of the issues and could they please be sorted. I then clearly stated that I want a reply within a week or I would take it much further if I needed to.

The work was warrantied for 10 years and it was a local company that seemed to get good reviews, but the work done on my house is nothing more than shoddy at best, and cost me nearly £4K. I don`t trust any of it.

What comeback, if any do I have, or what can I do about this? I know they are not going to answer me again this time, so will jump through any hoops I need to to get what I paid for.

Sorry for the long post, but just thought I`d ask here first

 

[Alastairreid]

Once you have given him the opportunity to rectify his shoddy work by a given date you need to raise an action in court against him.
Make sure he has assets first otherwise even if you win you will be unlikely to get anything.
If he contests the claim you will need to employ the services of a surveyor to back up your claim.

 

[oldbutnotdead]

Which one of the various websites (checkatrade, mybuilder etc) did you pick them up from?
Warranties on building works are generally worthless unless they are insurance backed (favourite trick used to be do a years worth of jobs offering 20 yr warranty, fold the company, start a new one, when the claims come in cos all the work was bodged spin some yarn and get more money out of the same victims).
Trading Standards to start with. Also check the company status with companies house. Final letter to their registered address (if a listed co as above) detailing your complaints & give a 2 week deadline. Keep proof of posting.
If they don't respond then small claims court or statutory demand.

 

[^woody^]

Go to their office or house, never mind emailing

 

[iateyoubutler]

Thanks for the replies, and sorry for the delay in answering.

I am in the process of taking detailed photos of everything that is wrong, and have been taking advice from Trading Standards and the Citizens Advice bureaux. The next stage is a recorded and signed for letter, stating all facts and if there isn`t a satisfactory outcome then I will be going through the small claims court to resolve it.

In the meantime, I am getting a third party in to quote me for all the work that is needed to sort this out, as it still needs sorting no matter what

 

[iateyoubutler]

Go to their office or house, never mind emailing

That`s a good idea, but I want everything to be recorded on paper, rather than just said verbally

 

[iateyoubutler]

.

 

[WabbitPoo]

Did you have a written contract or was it cash in hand? A contract makes your life a lot easier (not easy, but easier)