Drip from roof - New Build

[HomerJSimpson]

No golf for me today. Had a torrential thunderstorm last night. Nothing strange as it had been forecast (ok then strange they got it right). Heard the rain lashing down but could hear another sound like a tap dripping. Checked the en suite and bathroom and all good. Sounded like it was coming from the loft hatch and lo when I opened it I got dripped on.

It looks as though it is only coming from one spot and would appear to be from where the ridge tiles run along. Put a bucket underneath, left the loft open and back to bed. No damp spots on any ceilings so clearly not coming in anywhere else.

I am hoping that with the new build we have being only a few months old, something has just moved a fraction and maybe the mortar has cracked a tad. Does this happen. It wasn't a torrent even in the heaviest rain and maybe two or three drops per minute. Can't get anyone from Redrow customer service to do anything until Monday and no one onsite today. I can't see how it would be a cracked or damaged tile.

What could have caused this and how easy should it be to fix. I want to get something done asap as clearly its a problem that won't get any better. Anyone else on a new build had a similar problem?

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

I bought a new build flat a couple of years ago and there were a couple of minor issues. I went back to the developers and they were very good at sorting out teething issues so that is probably your best route.

 

[GB72]

In the first 2 years it will be covered under the NHBC guarantee. Speak to the developer first then the NHBC if they will not sort it

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I've no qualms about Redrow sorting it once customer services are back in on Monday. They are still on site putting up the last few houses so I'll even have someone (hopefully) available to look and fix it. I was more interested in what it could be. As far as I know there hasn't been any damage. Is it possible for the roof to move with the house settling and would it move a tile to create a tiny gap in the ridge tiles or would the mortar crack and allow these drops through?

 

[sev112]

Blindly, what a storm though
34mm in 2 hours,
The thunder just stayed overhead for an hour, with almost continuous lightning
10 house fires in Reading and wokingham as a result

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Blindly, what a storm though
34mm in 2 hours,
The thunder just stayed overhead for an hour, with almost continuous lightning
10 house fires in Reading and wokingham as a result

I know. The lightening storm was pretty spectacular. Forked and lots of it. Could the sheer volume have perhaps forced a hole in the mortar?

 

[Old Skier]

I know. The lightening storm was pretty spectacular. Forked and lots of it. Could the sheer volume have perhaps forced a hole in the mortar?

Unlikely, something may have moved a tad.

 

[Leftie]

Very strange Homer. As it is new build, I assume that the roof pitch is quite low and it's possible that a combination of wind direction and volume of water could force water under the tiles - but that is what the roofing felt underlayer is for. An unlikely co-incidence of a hole in the felt underlay just where the roof tiles are leaking.

Any penetrations through the roof e.g. soil pipe or chimney?

 

[Foxholer]

Don't even consider what it could be - just get the developers to sort it!

But get them to show what it was and describe how they fixed id - preferably with pics.

That way, if they either can't find it or it happens again, you are covered.

New roofs shouldn't leak!

 

[Tashyboy]

In the first 2 years it will be covered under the NHBC guarantee. Speak to the developer first then the NHBC if they will not sort it

GB has that changed because I thought that you were covered for the first 10 years with NHBC. We were but that was from 1992-2002.

 

[GB72]

GB has that changed because I thought that you were covered for the first 10 years with NHBC. We were but that was from 1992-2002.

Nope, first 2 years covers most things, the next 8 cover structural defects only. Depends on the issue as to whether it is covered after 2 years

 

[Sponge1980]

I had a similar problem last year and it turned out to be a hole in the felt under the tiles below a velux window.

 

[Tashyboy]

Cheers GB me man. We had our house built by Henry Boots. Oh dear. painters, plumbers, elec, any tradesmen that worked on the house was of a poor standard. Why we accepted it ini the condition it was in al never know. Fortunately after 22 years everything has about been changed to quality products with a quality finish

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Roofers are in. 8.00 on a day off. So much for my lie in. Turns out most of our ridge tiles have been attached with screws which don't have a flange that sits by the head and so acts as a seal (a bit like a plug) so it was inevitable that water would sooner or later find its way under the head and through to the felt and start dripping. They weren't surprised by the lack of detail by the builders but this is apparently as basic as it gets. The two boys doing a sterling job so keeping them in tea and biscuits