Large slate roof 5 yrs old, many slates cracking / falling. who/how do we get this assessed?

Question

Newly built barn conversion, builder took and removed original slates and has replaced with others (possibly spanish?). Over 5 yrs, condition of roof greatly deteriorated. Many slates cracking, pieces shearing off and falling away. In other places whole slates have fallen. The slates are extremely thin and brittle. Original builder continues to patch things, but we need a comprehensive assessment and report on the quality and longevity of the roof. Who could do this? How do we find a reputable and qualified person or company to provide us with the information we need to move this forward, if necessary into the court system? Getting extremely worried we will be left with the need to replace the whole lot. Any thoughts?

Answer 1

the guy who fixed your roof was no builder unless you chose him without checking him out and because he was cheap and if you did i can only say " you get what you pay for" so if your going forward choose a reputable builder and double check and state clearly what slates you want in writing

Answer 2

You will need a survey done dont ask your own builder. I am sorry to say this is not going to be cheap and you may have to go to court a new roof should last longer than 5 years as i am sure you are thinking yourself. Why were the old slates removed? there is a huge market for antique building materials and slating bricks and timbers can command a very good price. I had a very good holiday on the profit from the sale of a Victorian spiral staircase. An online search for the Federation of Master builders should put you on the right path. I am sorry to say this probably going to get ugly. Best of luck i hope it works out ok for you.

Answer 3

sounds as if your builder has put the cheapest, low quality slate on your roof, most spanish slates come with a 30 - 75 year guarantee. Try and get a local slater, ( recomended one if you can) to check over your roof and get a written estimate for repairs or reroofing, show this to your builder if you get no response contact any of the building federations that the builder may a member of. If none of this works you could go through the courts but this may be costly, and you might not win. Hope it all goes well

Answer 4

Check out the RICS website to find Chartered Building Surveyors in your area and then ask for fee estimates to undertake a survey and write a report. For the record Spanish Slates were of inferior quality, but much cheaper than Welsh Slates.

Answer 5

Call a LARGE roofing company to come and give an estimate like Home Depot. Estimates are usually free. Call a lawyer to make sure the cost of the NEW roof can be back charged to the original contractor. Most roofs are good for a min of 15 years. And you have allowed for reasonable corrections to be made so a law suit is feasable.

Answer 6

sounds a bit tricky!
Seems like the slates were probably made for somewhere for a better climate than where you are!
maybe ask for a estimate from a reputable roofer who belongs to a roofing association to see what is needed ,then when you know ,locate the slates yourself and just get them fitted by someone local and more cost effective.
ian

Answer 7

Hunt Yellow Pages for qualified building surveyors. They'll give you the formal report you need.
By the way, was there a written specification for the roofing materials?

Answer 8

phone several local roofing companies and ask them to provide an estimate to remedy the problems with the roof. then present this information to the builder.

Answer 9

Maybe you would be best off getting it re-done my builder gave us a 25 year gaurantee with our new roof. E-mail me and tell me where you live and if you want his number.

Answer 10

law suit!


slate shoulde be 100 year roof if they used copper nails!