Roof terrace
 

Is there a time limit on a builder being responsible for a new flat roof that he completed?

Rosemary

Re: Roof terrace
 

I do not believe there is any time limit. Did you get a guarantee?

Some builders will honour guarantee of their workmanship. Most will not.

You could make a denuncia.

Re: Roof terrace
 

The builder is known for his workmanship and although I cannot remember having a guarantee I know that a denuncia would not be necessary. Just was not sure about any timelines attached before I contact him.

Rosemary

Re: Roof terrace
 

How long has it been? See what he says. A good builder will stand by his workmanship.

Re: Roof terrace
 

Almost 9 years.

Rosemary

Re: Roof terrace
 

In France, registered artisans give a 10-year guarantee on their work. If it's the same in Spain, you should contact him ASAP.... If he didn't actually give you a document, his final bill will give the date from which his responsibility/insurance will run.

Re: Roof terrace
 

If he is a reliable and well thought of local builder I would contact him and get him to have a look to establish the fault.
I don't know Spanish law but 9 years seems quite a long time to me to expect a guarantee to be in place unless specifically offered at the time.
Also the problem may not be the result of the builders workmanship but something else. Eg poor design by a Architect? Earth tremors etc.
You need to establish the cause before you attribute blame.

Re: Roof terrace
 

I had numerous issues with my roof in my UK property which was only 2 years into the NHBC 10 year guarantee. I had to get an independent surveyor before builder / NHBC would accept any responsibility.

Re: Roof terrace
 

Is it painted or tiled Rosemary?

Re: Roof terrace
 

Tiled

Rosemary

Re: Roof terrace
 

Does it have a waterproof membrane under the tiles? My sister got hers tiles. The tiles were eventually breached and she had water ingress to her house. She had to get them taken up, membrane laid. It was in liquid form and set. Then tiles back on. It cost a bomb

Re: Roof terrace
 

No idea. The work was done just before my husband died and to be honest I was too busy nursing him to take an interest in the work that was being completed.

Rosemary

Re: Roof terrace
 

if you use the terrace i would have it looked at, get the builder back in - he can put a coat of pva / water over the top, but this will leave the tiles shiney (there are probably "proper" sealing liquids that you can buy in bauhaus or the like? )

if its not used, he might suggest a layer of red caucho over the tiles, but this would look a little.. gypsy.

Re: Roof terrace
 

PVA is water soluble, no use for waterproofing.

Re: Roof terrace
 

Rosemary,

It's quite possible that it isn't a build issue at all. It could be that the pointing (the concrete/grout between the tiles) has aged over the past 9 years and showing signs of deterioration.

It's worth you taking a look at the condition of the pointing to see if you spot any cracks/holes or gaps - anything that looks suspect or a bit shabby.

Yes, there should be waterproofing beneath your tiles. The builder would/should have done that from the get go, using either a rubber membrane sheet or liquid rubber. But not even that rubber waterproofing is a guarantee against water ingress into your house: -

If the tiles are laid on top of the membrane, in time, there's nothing to stop rainwater seeping through the 9 years old pointing, or between the pointing and the tiles. That rainwater wicks its way down until it hits the membrane. The water can't go through the membrane, so it either pools or continues to travel along the membrane, beneath the tiles, taking the route of least resistance. It'll find its own route until it becomes visible in your house, caused by the wicking effect of your walls or ceiling, ie the fabric of the house is dragging that trapped water into the house, like a sponge. That can appear as a bad damp patch in the ceiling (or wall) or an actual dripping leak.

If the pointing around the tiles looks as good as new, then I think the tiles may have to come up. But hopefully, it's just a pointing issue around the tiles after 10 years of weathering. That's not a big or expensive job. That's not a fault of the build, just natural aging through weathering.

The problem with just covering the roof tiles with some waterproof coating is that it would be open to the elements and would be a temporary fix, particularly if it gets any footfall. Aesthetically, it wouldn't look so great.

Good luck