HELP, tiled roof leaks after gutter guard installed

[banoras]

Husband and I had gutter guard installed on our 2 storey home (concrete tiles)  about 3 months ago by a company advertised in our Yellow Pages (Qld/NSW border) quite prominately. Cost $700  

When it finally rained, a  BRIEF shower one afternoon, one side of the house guttering, leaked badly. Water flowing between gutter and fascia board, causing bubbling of paintwork  on the ceiling of verandah.

Other side of house seemed fine.

Spoke to the contractor, who agreed to look at it, but insinuated that it must have been leaking previous to the work. It hadn't.   He sent his offsider, who removed some of the gutter guard, in places where he said the original tiles were not installed over the guttering correctly (this is a late 70s house) We've been here 3 1/2 years. 

Last night, we had our first HEAVY downfall in ages, both sides of house leaked,  only worse. Water came in on window sills!

 We are getting towards elderly, cannot climb roofs, who to trust to look at our roof/guttering/guard independently?

Any suggestions to make a start, possibly will end up at Fair Trading, but need advice. 

WHO DO YOU CALL?  Please.

[whiteangels123]

Our insurance covers us for damage caused by water or oil leaking or escaping from house gutters, drainpipes or pipes, if you are insured you may want to give them and see where you stand.

[whiteangels123]

Sorry, mean't to say give them a call

[twinkles**stars]

Yes call your insurance company and let them handle it on your behalf. If it's faulty workmanship you wont have to pay any excess and the supplier will be liable.

Part of my roof came off during wind this time last year. I called my insurer thinking it simply wind damage. After inspecting the roof it was found that poor workmanship was responsible and I found my insurer (Allianz) to be fantastic. They arranged for the whole roof to be inspected by a qualified roofer specializing in that sort of thing. This resulted in a 10 page report that went back to the builder, who had to ensure the tiler came back and made good the roof. Took him 2 days!!! My insurer kept in constant contact and I was not out of pocket at all.

[banoras]

Twinkles, the house is approx 30yr old (we found out today it is circa 1983). Was your house newer, perhaps? 

Nevertheless, I certainly will contact our insurance (NRMA) to make that enquiry as well. 

The contractor (I don't think I can name the company, can I?) told me today, after some persuasion from myself, he has been in business 7yrs and has "never had another house have the problem". 

I looked up his ABN which shows it was registered in 2010. Is this a reliable pointer to when he started his business? 

[twinkles**stars]

He may well have been in business for 7 years. You can cancel an ABN and start a new one at any time.

Yes mine is 4 years old. But the same principal applies to workmanship just completed.

[master*and*commander]

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@banorasew wrote:

I looked up his ABN which shows it was registered in 2010. Is this a reliable pointer to when he started his business? 

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No.

[banoras]

Thanks all. We have had a professional roof tiler look at the roof and the gutter guard job. Gutter guard installer has done a good job, BUT the tiler states that the pitch of the roof on one side of house falls to an almost flat level to the guttering, which makes that unsuitable for gutter guard at all, as the silicone fixing (where mesh meets guttering) creates a ridge, which water cannot get over, hence, its goes down between guttering and fascia. 

1) The tiler we got never recommends gutter guard - not necessary, and can cause problems, much simpler to get a clean every 3yr or so. (we have trees)

2) Advises getting an opinion from a tiler first, if you really do want gg. 

It has been removed, and a free gutter clean offered. 

Even though paintwork has been damaged, its being painted soon anyway, so not going  down the insurance path. 

Note: the tiler also told us that most "roof restorations" are a rip-off too, I have a separate post on that, info on the link in that is from CSIRO. 

[i-need-a-martini]

So what happens now? Are the gutter guard people going to give you back the money?

I thought perhaps your roof pitch might be an issue given that you have a 70's house. It's a bit hit or miss if the gutter guards work on a low pitch roof.

[the_hawk*]

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@banorasew wrote:

Thanks all. We have had a professional roof tiler look at the roof and the gutter guard job. Gutter guard installer has done a good job, BUT the tiler states that the pitch of the roof on one side of house falls to an almost flat level to the guttering, which makes that unsuitable for gutter guard at all, as the silicone fixing (where mesh meets guttering) creates a ridge, which water cannot get over, hence, its goes down between guttering and fascia. 

1) The tiler we got never recommends gutter guard - not necessary, and can cause problems, much simpler to get a clean every 3yr or so. (we have trees)

2) Advises getting an opinion from a tiler first, if you really do want gg. 

It has been removed, and a free gutter clean offered. 

Even though paintwork has been damaged, its being painted soon anyway, so not going  down the insurance path. 

Note: the tiler also told us that most "roof restorations" are a rip-off too, I have a separate post on that, info on the link in that is from CSIRO. 

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As the gutter gaurd supplier and installer are the profesionals, if your roof is not suitable to have their product installed they had an obligation to tell you and refuse to install.

As they havent and proceeded they need to accept responsibility now for the removal and rectifying all damage caused and also refund all monies you have paid.

I personally would follow through on the complaint so its formally documented and after the gutters have been reinstated back to how they were before installation and then lodge a claim with your insurer who will more than likely recover all costs from the contractor.

In the meen time inform your insurer you have suffered a loss

also document all conversations you have had with the gutter guard people as its going to get tricky with the insurance due to them being advised there was a problem and didn't fix it until further damage has occurred.

[the_hawk*]

After you have had every thing fixed I would look into getting this sort of thing installed 

I had issues here with having to clean out blocked gutters twice a year, being only single story I cut much larger drain hole in the gutter and installed a similar unit that catches the leaves, now the gutters are always clean and being tall I can lift mine off from the ground to empty.

The unit in the picture lets the leaves blow away which is more suitale for your situation.

The extra large hole in the gutter is the secret to stop leaves blocking the normally small hole.