Possible SETBACK - UGH

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-25-2005
Possible SETBACK - UGH
10
Mon, 06-19-2006 - 9:38am

I know I should not get my panties all up in a bunch until I hear back...but...

OUR ROOF IS LEAKING!

When we bought our house, we needed a new roof before the bank would give us a loan, so they put a new roof on - complete tearoff. Well, 2.5 years later, it's leaking. So...I call the company to get a copy of the warranty =- # disconnected. I found a different # and left a message. I REALLY HOPE there is a warranty - AND it transferred with ownership. Otherwise, my dear brother's friend may be able to fix it.

I really hope he can, if there is no warranty, because we have paid off $5,200 in debt and I am not about to go back up! We are under $15,000 and I intend to keep going down!

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2005
Mon, 06-19-2006 - 9:43am

How long ago was the tear-off?

 

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-25-2005
Mon, 06-19-2006 - 10:20am

it's a 25 year life roof! my mom said they had the same thing after they got their new roof on. looks like it is in a crease on the dormer. my dad said the rain could have been hitting it just right that it got under the shingle. Because we have had MUCH heavier rain over the past 2.5 years than we did this weekend!

My mom said fixing it wouldn't cost $1000s of dollars like I said (I was freaking out!) and I do have savings to help through that - wow sure makes me remember WHY i need to pay off dent and cushion!

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-11-2001
Mon, 06-19-2006 - 2:59pm

I am so sorry to hear about your roof. That unfortunately seems to be quite usual with contractors. They often switch their phone numbers or change the business name in order to avoid paying for the mistakes they have made.

Most contractors only guarantee their work for a year, some possibly five but generally it's a year. I would contact your state's contractor licensing bureau. Every state has a department which handles the complaints against contractors and it is also the place where you can call and verify they are licensed and see if any complaints have been lodged against the company. See if there are any pending suits against this company, or what has happened to the company, and if you have any recourse of action.

Wish I could offer better advice. Best of luck.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-12-2004
Mon, 06-19-2006 - 5:34pm
Hi, plastic--DH & I had a new roof put on last year (the old one was the original roof about 30+ yrs old). We still have tons of water damage (kitchen, bath, etc) from the old roof. The PP's are right--roofs last about 20-25 yrs. What type of roof is it? Shingle? Tile? Composite? Is it leaking under one area (skylight, for example), or around rain gutters? One thought---the roofing companies that have the materials (i.e., tile) sometimes subcontract out their work. Do you have the name of the company that actually did the installing? I agree-check with the attorney's general of your state or BBB re licensing, and take pictures of any damage. Hugs. Whiz.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-25-2005
Wed, 06-21-2006 - 10:46am

OK, update...

I left 2 messages on Monday, tried to call yesterday - NO REPLY. So, my cousin's cousin is a roofer and he is supposed to call us (I HOPE TODAY).

It is POURING today. If I don't hear from him today, I have to go to the next person on the line. This needs to be fixed.

I will keep trying to call the original roofing company. I can't just stop by - they are over an hour and a half away. Even if I get it fixed, I still need a copy of that warranty.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-11-2001
Wed, 06-21-2006 - 11:15am

Is that calling the state's licensing dept or a builder?

If not getting response from builder, ask around for recommendations of good roofers and then ABOVE ALL ELSE:

CALL THE STATE CONTRACTOR LICENSING DEPT. THIS NUMBER CAN BE GIVEN TO YOU BY THE BBB. DO NOT GO BY THE BBB RECOMMEDATIONS WITHOUT CONTACTING THE STATE LICENSING DEPT. and finding out company history. Businesses pay to be members of the BBB, so it really means nothing.

I can tell you the roof may have the material guaranteed for 25 years, but the work actually completed by contractors is probably a year. I have lifetime warranties on my windows, but only a year for the actual installation work.

You may need to drive to the original contractors, but unless you know the previous owners name they won't give you anything. I am sorry, but contractors are the worst to deal with.

Beach

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-11-2001
Wed, 06-21-2006 - 11:18am

I would start chasing up the person who did your home inspection.

How recently did you move in? Did you have an inspection?

If there was signs of a problem when you bought the house, or ways to see a problem was to happen, the homw inspector could be the one liable.

This happened with my friend who recently bought a home. The inspector failed to let them know about dry rot in a wall that was there loud and clear. The home inspector was liable to pay for damages. That's why you have them inspect the home. That's the reason they have a job.

You need to make this your priority and chase everyone, I mean everyone all the time. You have to be a thorn in these people's side to get things solved.

Best of luck.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-25-2005
Wed, 06-21-2006 - 3:24pm
We bought the house in 2003 - the inspection brought the need for a new roof. If we didn't have an inspection, we would not have had a new roof.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-11-2001
Wed, 06-21-2006 - 4:28pm
Was the work inspected after it was done?
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-25-2005
Wed, 06-21-2006 - 6:47pm
To be honest, I don't even remember, it feels so long ago. What's done is done. Now I just have to focus on getting it fixed. I can't afford to hold off on it.