Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Aug 26, 2014 5:46 pm Hi all, Anyone have any ideas what sort of issue could be so bad that it would result in ripping out a colorbond roof that was only installed 7 weeks ago? Our brickwork was completed a week ago & the painting of our eaves & cladding was our last big milestone, last week. We were roughly up to starting linings except the lower roof (porch etc) has not been done yet so the wet weather was cited as a delay (fair enough) Yesterday morning hubby's cousin was driving past & noticed our roof was gone (it was still in place on Sunday when we were there). He rang to ask us why it had been removed however his phone call was the first we knew of it! We spent the afternoon & all of today chasing the builder for an answer & supplying photographic evidence as the rain worsened however at best we got one abrupt reply, and ignored our questions. Hubby (a carpenter) is concerned due to the eaves now filling with water & both he & his cousin, a roofer, have also noticed lead flashing in place that is unsuitable for colorbond (flashing issue does not explain removal of entire roof though) Their best guess is some sort of inspection where our roof failed be it pitch or some other issue but it's odd it was not picked up during roof install 7 weeks ago? We have never received our SS's details either so if my e-mails to the client liaison girls keep getting ignored I'm not sure how we can get further info? Sorry so long but needed a vent plus curious of any potential causes for roofing removal. Thanks for reading! Re: Roof removal 7 weeks after install? 2Aug 26, 2014 5:57 pm Time will tell. Having seen many strange things and being suspicious, I'm wondering if it was removed by an unpaid roofer. Illegal to do so if it was. Perhaps it was straight out theft by a third party! If the builder arranged it for whatever reason, you would think that the 'required' follow up work would have been immediate. Keep us posted. 3in1 Supadiverta. Rainwater Harvesting Best Practice using syphonic drainage. Cleaner Neater Smarter Cheaper Supa Gutter Pumper. A low cost syphonic eaves gutter overflow solution. Re: Roof removal 7 weeks after install? 3Aug 26, 2014 6:00 pm What a truly bizarre turn in events. Sorry, I have no idea what issue would warrant such action. As you say, perhaps it failed an inspection. Eaves are generally constructed from water-resistant hardiflex though, so at least they won't be damaged by the rain. Your husband and his cousin would know a lot more about it though! It does sound a bit suspect, especially in light of the lack of correspondence you are receiving. May I ask who your builder is? Even the worst situation can be lessened with good communication. Why is that concept so lost on some builders??? I'll never know. Good luck, hope they sort it out ASAP. Re: Roof removal 7 weeks after install? 4Aug 26, 2014 6:23 pm Think Save H2O might be on the money, if the sheets are not on site then thats a bout 99% certain. the only other thing I can think of is if they missed putting the blanket under it. but I think if that was the case a roof already cut in would come off and go back on in a day. Re: Roof removal 7 weeks after install? 5Aug 26, 2014 6:26 pm Plus it was done on a Sunday evening/night. 3in1 Supadiverta. Rainwater Harvesting Best Practice using syphonic drainage. Cleaner Neater Smarter Cheaper Supa Gutter Pumper. A low cost syphonic eaves gutter overflow solution. Re: Roof removal 7 weeks after install? 6Aug 26, 2014 6:33 pm Wow thanks everyone for so many speedy replies already... Some queries & clarifications... SaveH20, I think it was done Mon morn, although now that you mention it I suppose it could have been done Sun night... Not the first thing that has been nicked I will say PanRaptor I'll inbox you my builder... Re the blanket, mgilla, if you mean insulation then no I definitely already saw that in there yonks ago, cousin said that's gone too... Interesting re the unpaid roofer/third party thing... Not sure if this means anything but the other ones in our estate, by the same builder, all still have their roof on...? Re: Roof removal 7 weeks after install? 7Aug 26, 2014 6:44 pm julznjam Interesting re the unpaid roofer/third party thing... It often happens (windows etc) when a builder goes into liquidation but not otherwise. Very doubtful that it would be an unpaid tradie but you never know these days. If it was theft, I assume that the builder would have reported it. Maybe visit the local cop shop and make an inquiry. 3in1 Supadiverta. Rainwater Harvesting Best Practice using syphonic drainage. Cleaner Neater Smarter Cheaper Supa Gutter Pumper. A low cost syphonic eaves gutter overflow solution. Re: Roof removal 7 weeks after install? 8Aug 26, 2014 6:49 pm Yeah that's what I don't understand is whichever way the story goes I don't understand why they're being so evasive (& in one case were almost denying my photographic evidence) If it was an inspection/compliance issue, hope we can find out what it was, whatever it is it's nothing hubby or cousin can see to the naked eye. Hope they sort out the flashing issue too, just wish we had a contact for SS Re: Roof removal 7 weeks after install? 9Aug 26, 2014 6:57 pm Yeah im sure if had been stolen the builder would be a little more willing to tell you what was going on. With the lead, there is a product out now that looks like lead (we call it plastic lead, not sure of its real name) but it can be used on tin. Re: Roof removal 7 weeks after install? 10Aug 26, 2014 7:09 pm Could be a faulty batch ? I did an extension to a house including removing the entire tiled and fibro roof and replacing the lot with Colorbond twenty years ago. We got two sheets up before we noticed there was something seriously wrong with most of the them. There was lots of bubbling and streaks in the top layer of paint. I rung the rep up , he came out two days later and they replaced the lot a few days after that. It was the only time I've seen a whole batch like that. Stewie Re: Roof removal 7 weeks after install? 11Aug 26, 2014 9:39 pm I've got no guesses for you but I just had to say this is so very true. PanRaptor . . Even the worst situation can be lessened with good communication. Why is that concept so lost on some builders??? I'll never know. . . Best wishes, I hope you get answers and everything back on track soon! Re: Roof removal 7 weeks after install? 12Aug 26, 2014 9:48 pm Very true JazzyJess & PanRaptor, hubby & cousin were chatting tonight & we are hoping we will get some answers tomorrow. Thanks for the suggestions StewieD & Mgilla, I'll stop in here the minute I get word through & will let you all know Re: Roof removal 7 weeks after install? 13Aug 27, 2014 9:58 am Quote: Hubby (a carpenter) is concerned due to the eaves now filling with water & both he & his cousin, a roofer, have also noticed lead flashing in place that is unsuitable for colorbond (flashing issue does not explain removal of entire roof though) I missed that in your original post. Further to what Mgilla says - lead over Colorbond will result in galvanic corrosion although not much would have occurred in the short time it was on your roof. Quote: With the lead, there is a product out now that looks like lead (we call it plastic lead, not sure of its real name) but it can be used on tin. There are also metals like zinc and felt or rubber coated aluminium ones that can be used from Consolidated Alloys and Wakaflex. That's if you need a flexible flashing rather than a standard Colorbond folded one. They have a good spiel here about non-lead flashings to be used over Colorbond roofs in regard to water harvesting. http://wakaflex.com.au/wakaflex-and-wat ... sting.html Stewie Re: Roof removal 7 weeks after install? 14Aug 27, 2014 10:02 am Tiled Roofs: A tiler friend once told me - NEVER let anyone touch your roof after it is done. You see people kicking tiles and stuffing about - and the tiles never seem right again. I've often wondered what might happen if the colorbond is done before something else - ie a forgotten item or an extra. I guess it must happen. They seem to forget other things. Re: Roof removal 7 weeks after install? 15Aug 27, 2014 11:08 am Hi guys, So I have an update, but it's not from the builder (surprise) and I'm not sure what to make of it... Hubby's cousin did another drive-by for us this morning to get some 'fresh' pictures, in so doing he bumped into a young bloke working on the property and got chatting to see what he could find out. It *is* a pitch issue - the other houses in that row are 25 degrees and ours are 22.5 degrees... difference of 2.5 degrees... both my husband (the carpenter) and his cousin (the roofer) say the only way this could have been picked up is that some sort of inspection (council??) has taken place where someone has specifically measured it, as a) it is such a negligible difference and b) 22.5 degrees is quite often regarded as a standard pitch anyway Our bigger concern (apart from the obvious which once again is the sheer and utter lack of communication) is their proposed fix as described by the young bloke there this morning, they are using some excess timber to raise the angle of the trusses (may not be the correct jargon, sorry) to get around the pitch issue. I asked the boys what do they think of this fix and they both described it as pretty slapdash and not something they would do for a client. At this point in time I'm going to sit on this info for a bit and see how much longer before we get a reply to any of our e-mails, the plan was always to call them this afternoon if still no communication. I don't intend to let on what we found out as I'd like to see what they say first, if they admit to a pitch issue or come up with some other explanation etc. What does everyone make of the issue and the proposed fix etc? Thanks, J Re: Roof removal 7 weeks after install? 16Aug 27, 2014 12:23 pm What does your contract say for roof slope? Check drawings and see. It's possible your house was meant to have 25 slope, but someone stuffed up. Some estate covenants/council may require a 25 degree slope, but i have never heard of it. Its normal to put a 25 degree slope on these days, for smaller houses at least. If the contract says 22.5, and they need to change it to 25 for some council/other reason, then you should have received a variation from the builder stating this, with notice and a chance for you to respond. They can't just change something without your permission, unless they did it incorrect to begin with and are simply correcting the slope. The method you described seems odd and i would wonder about structural strength. Possibly look into getting a third party inspector out after the roof is fixed, or soon, and get them to check it. Good luck. Apparently 'd0dgy' is a bad word on this forum... My Noosa 23 Build - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=72782 Re: Roof removal 7 weeks after install? 17Aug 27, 2014 12:38 pm Hi whzzz28, I've just checked the construction issue plans and it says the top roof (the one they removed) should be 25 degrees, so in that respect what you said was correct re: 'unless they did it incorrect to begin with and are simply correcting the slope.' - yes it was a mistake at their end and they are now correcting it. I guess my main query is - why are they not fessing up to this then? Or am I just being naive to think that they would admit to a mistake? I mean I understand accidents happen and what not but is it acceptable (and I'm asking genuinely here) for them to not answer us when we say 'hey where did our roof go' basically? I mean we have been pleasant, then pleasant but forceful, etc etc but basically my husband is going 'hi is it because of this' 'hi was it maybe an issue with that' and rather than just going 'look honestly we're not permitted to discuss this with you' (if that may be the case) or 'I genuinely don't know sorry' or whatever - we are just getting completely ignored? Likewise I get the impression from this forum that most people have a contact for their SS, we do not, does this seem odd? I suppose I just want to know, how hard would it be/how unreasonable am I being, to expect a 'hi, thanks for your e-mail, what happened to your roof was...' blah blah blah? I just feel like it is bad customer service? Or is their mentality that 'what she doesn't need to know won't hurt her'? Re: Roof removal 7 weeks after install? 18Aug 27, 2014 12:53 pm Changing the roof pitch on existing roof trusses a few degrees is pretty easy to do with incremental battens. It's not usually done on a pitched roof but on flat roofs where the rafters are laid horizontal to also form the ceiling joists, it is common practice. If they are secured properly there is no problem with them impacting the structural integrity of the roof at all. Over 4m of roof run the difference between 22.5º and 25º is about 113mm. If they use a 70 x 45mm batten at the eaves then a 190 x 45mm batten ripped down to 160mm on edge achieves that. If the truss company has stuffed up the roof pitch the builder is probably going to charge the extra expense to them. Quote: Apparently 'd0dgy' is a bad word on this forum... That's why you see d0dgy and dodgi. Stewie Re: Roof removal 7 weeks after install? 20Aug 27, 2014 3:02 pm Thanks Stewie and Mgilla... not sure if this is too far out of you guys' expertise to give me much of an idea, but would it be possible to say roughly to what extent this has put us on the 'back foot'? Considering that all we previously needed done was for the lower roof (porch/alfresco) to be done then we could have moved on to linings commencement. Given the current weather in Sydney and if someone from the truss company etc has to come out etc etc... and I'm not sure whether our original colorbond roof can be put back on...? would this equate to a week delay even in good weather... two week delay if bad weather... etc etc or impossible to say?? The fastest thing a builder will do is bank your cheque, those systems work perfectly with lightning speed, everything else is slow burn. Just the way it is. 1 8702 Can someone please offer some advice? Im DESPERATE. Because I'm completely and utterly exhausted. How long are variations taking with other companies at the moment? 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