[andyjm1]

Cleaned this conservatory the other day including removing all the plants growing in the box gutter at the back.

Problem is since my visit the customer says a leak has developed. I used a harris pole to push all the debris to either end of the guttering and then removed it. The customer says I must have damaged the lead and they want me to sort the problem out.

I have suggested using crawler boards to have a look at what the problem might be but the customer says he's not happy about that.

How can the area be accessed safely without causing damage? To be honest I'd be worried about climbing on it myself just in case I went through!

I'm supposed to be going to look at it tomorrow but not quite sure what I can do?

I'm not even certain I caused the problem as I only used the pole to push the leaves ect., not much force was used.

I'm guessing if I can't sort it out they will get someone else in to fix it and expect me to pay the bill!

[Gray1]

I would say that that flashing has not been fitted right, I'm shure there are some ex-builders on here that would have made that top roll tight to the brickwork . Is it just hanging in to the gutter?
I recon that when you cleared all the crud out you removed the only thing that was making a seal. And rain could then get under the lead.
So I would say that the problem was there before you cleaned it out!

Good luck with that.

Gray1

[4S Cleaning]

Box gutters are notorious for leaking, the white roof bars you see can take the weight of an elephant the glass will be toughned ...I suggest if you see obvious damage too the lead like a tear buy some flashband & a blow torch too stick it down with, the thing with conny leaks is the water can come out miles away from where it is getting in.  hope this helps a bit & good luck

just had another look at the pic , looks like the lead on the wall is not sitting correctly & should be hit back into place with a plumbers lead mallet  

[Jacqueline Kerr]

HI

I am assuming that this is the before pic. As above, it looks as if the flashing isn't fitting properly or has become unstable prior to your clean. There is obviously a rooted plant in the background, excessive amount of debris which could have contributed to a leakage. I would therefore suggest to your client that you may have contributed to a pre-existing problem but this would not be your responsiblity and I would basically put that to the client and inform your insurance company.

[GoodFella2006]

I had this leak problem with a few conny roof cleans.

Hose the top of the conny,like it is raining.Try to make it leak again.I bet it won't leak at all.

[davids3511]

The root of that shrub probably made and then plugged a hole which you unblocked when you removed the plant.

[andyjm1]

Thanks for the replys, certainly some food for thought. This was indeed the before pic, it certainly was rather neglected.

One thing that has since occured to me is that if I caused a leak then why didn't it leak during my cleaning operation?
I cleared the gutters first then spent more than an hour cleaning the roof with wfp.  Why didn't that water leak inside the con

[Lee Gilroy]

The flashing will never work and its not your fault.

Capillary Action where water goes uphill and it will when lead is placed like that into the gutter and water will travel up the inside.

Its a tricky one for the homeowner but the builder should have built a box guttering so it would be with solid lead with water flowing along the flashing with over laps to stop water coming back into the building.

It will always leak as I can see it no matter what sealants are used.

I would not try to walk along the Conny Roof at all as its not designed for your weight.

If you have been paid ask them to get a surveyors report on the job and if you have not been paid tell them its not your fault and your sorry they have this problem but to see the conny builder and not you.

[Dave Willis]

The panel the other side of the downpipe looks very low - has it slipped? Could be the roof leaking at the top.

[Roy Harding]

The lead flashing has been installed wrong to start with as it should be in 1.3 meter lengths.  As when longer you get stress fractures. And as others have said not fitted well.

Roy

[MK Cleaners]

Thats some poor job of putting that lead in