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.

[twinkles**stars · Accepted solution]

My ex plumber husband and plumber son dislike gutter guard for that reason. The leaves and rubbish build up on top and the water has to go somewhere doesn't it. Money is better spent on having your gutters cleared every now and again.

Have you thouroughly read the fine print on the contract?

[i-need-a-martini · Accepted solution]

I assume you are talking about mesh style guards that are like a galvanised sheet or plastic with holes in it? Sounds good in theory but the reason gutters are open is to catch as much water as possible. Once we start closing up gutters then you end up with problems particularly in heavy rain.

Plus there are other problems. If you have new style gutters on your house where the outside edge is higher than the inside edge, then putting gutter guards on could cause the water to flow back towards your walls. It just doesn't make it into the holes in time before it starts backing up.

Generally gutter guards only work properly if your gutters are sitting quite low. If your house is 70's it is likely to have gutters that sit quite high in relation to the tiles. And if your roof pitch isn't steeply inclined, then putting guards will add to the problem.

On saying that it COULD be your roof tiles. The roof tiles need to overhang into your gutters at just the right distance. Too much overhang and the rain misses the gutter. Not enought overhang (much more common) and the water slips in between the inside edge of the gutter and the edge of the roof tile and leak onto your soffits.

If your tiles had minimal overhang and the they have been lifted even slightly to install and hold the gutter guard then that could be the problem.

I suggest you have someone else come and have a look at the problem to see if it your roof or if it is the workmanship.

[banoras]

Thanks Martini, We think you are absolutely right. Some tiles overhang too much AND some tiles not enough.

The company is coming to remove all the gutter guard, no refund, but if our roof does not leak, we will not have had to pay someone else to do that part anyway.   Even though we could not see it, we suspected it could not cope with the flow off the roof, which is rather steep. 

We didn't actually have a contract, quote was verbal, and we accepted. The gutterguard itself, is mesh, and is only guanteed to not rust.  

Hard lesson, hey?!

[master*and*commander]

Surely being professional gutter guard installers they should have some responsibility in advising you if their product was fit for your circumstances? I gather they were able to see your roof when they installed the product, and as they are "expets" should have been able to advise you on suitability.

In fact, I am wondering if they are not responsible as you have a right to be sold something that is fit for purpose. The product that they sold you is obviously NOT fit for purpose.

Can you ring someone like fair trading or someone and ask their advice?

[freshwater-2]

Get in touch with your nearest Dept of Fair Trading immediately and leave it to them to deal with the contractor.

Take as many photos of the work and leaking as you can asap.

This is typical of what the Dept of Fair Trading deal with.  The Dept overrides any stated or implied warrantees by the supplier.

[banoras]

Going to ring Fair Trading to-day after yours and previous responses. Thanks, will let you know the outcome.

[freshwater-2]

The Dept may have other complaints on file about the supplier.....however they won't disclose this to you.

[master*and*commander]

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@banorasew wrote:

Going to ring Fair Trading to-day after yours and previous responses. Thanks, will let you know the outcome.

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I do wish you luck with this, $700 is a lot of money to forfeit if it is a case of someone not doing their job properly, which I believe it is.

I also wonder about suing them as the damage you describe seems like it might cost a fair bit of money to fix. I don't know if you can, but I don't think it's fair that you be left with a repair bill to fix what they broke.

[banoras]

A bit more happening. I've rung Fair Trading, who suggest I lodge a complaint.

BUT first, being reasonable people, we have also told the contractor we're lodging a complaint unless he is willing to remove all gutter guard, and give a full refund.  He has stated he does not want us to lodge a complaint, will come to an agreement. (that's not going to happen)

He is coming later this week to inspect. He tried all sorts of other reasons for the leaking, but I wouldn't be put off.  Never leaked before, and in this area, it is not uncommon to get 100mm in a day in Jan or Feb. 

We, too,  are aware of extra costs involved now, sanding, painting etc.. "master and commander"

thanks for reminder.    Keep you posted. Thanks. Back after Friday!