Fibre glass/granite flat roof leaking

C

Clonback

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My neighbour built a flat roof extension c.30s.m to his home 3 years ago.The builder used fibreglass on the flat roof and layed granite slabs/tiles over the fibreglass.It is now leaking.
Is this insurable or is it incorrect building practice?
 
Has neighbour advised his insurers of the flat roof extension?
The damaged caused by the ingress of water MAY be covered, but if it is, the insurer will probably chase the builder.
When was leak first noticed? If the leak was early on, then insurer MAY not pay, given the delay in notification.
Has neighbour gone after the neighbour?
 
After 3 years, forget insurance, they need to contact the roofers or the builder they had the contract with. The majority of suppliers of these types of roofs offer 25+ and up to 40 year guarantees.
 
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Laying those slabs on the fibreglass would make me think they're the problem. Any harm in asking why that was done?
 
Paving over fibreglass is done at times to create a usable space that can take foot traffic. The slabs protect the fibreglass covering from damage. But it's critical the roof structure is reinforced to deal with the extra weight. If not, then the resulting sagging may result in failure of the coating. The detailing of the bed the slabs are laid on would also be very important.
 
The leak was noticed last weekend.The only damage is a few watermarks on the ceiling.However it's impossible to know where water is getting in on a deck of c 30 sq.m.The slabs were layed to make it a nice outside useable space.
Any further thoughts would be greatly appreciated as the builder is not returning calls.
 
Leaks on these kinds of cases can be tricky to locate as the water can travel quite a way between layers to find a weak point to seep through.

Could you try phone the builder under the pretense of being a new customer? Do you have an address for them?
 
Loss adjuster looked at roof/stained ceiling.Onus on policy holder to find leak.Still no progress with original builder.
Should neighbour get new builder?
 
They may well have to take all the paving off the roof and get it right back to the fibreglass. Is that something they can do? Doing this will give a good idea of where the problem is, that's unless the water ingress might be coming from along the sides of the extension or where it's flashed on to the main dwelling.
 
Taking all the paving off is probably the way forward.The builder subcontracted the fibreglassing to a subcontractor.If the builder fails to comeback can the subcontractor be held responsible if it was not laid properly.
 
1. If the original work was defective or unsuitable materials were used would there be a policy exclusion in respect of loss or damage precipitated by defective workmanship ?

2. I will assume for purposes of argument that the work was executed defectively by the sub-contractor.

The householder's contract is with the builder.
The agreement between the builder and the sub-contractor is a separate contract.
The householder has no privity in the contract between the builder and the sub-contractor. Therefore, the householder would not be able to sue the sub-contractor in contract.
The householder's right of action lies against the builder in contract. Whoever was engaged thereafter by the builder is a matter to which the householder is a stranger.
The builder would have rights over against the sub-contractor under the terms of the contract between them.

3. There is a remote possibility that the householder could sue the sub-contractor directly in tort i.e. negligence. However, that would be a bit of an exotic longshot and very uncertain of outcome.
 
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