mangocrazy wrote: ↑Sun Sep 15, 2024 1:41 pm
Count Steer wrote: ↑Sun Sep 15, 2024 11:48 am
flat roof with drains in the middle
ie no gutters and lots of trees around.
What could possibly go wrong?
More to the point, what did actually go wrong...?
Well, the 'flat' roof actually sloped inwards to the two drains (which ran into pipes enclosed in brick inside the house then out under the house to a soakaway somewhere I assume, or possibly into the drains - I think that was allowed at the time). The wire mesh over the top would clog with leaves so I'd be up there in the rain clearing the impromptu pond on the roof. The roof itself was simply boarded and 3 layers of tarred felt on it. The water itself wasn't the big issue, it was more the sun on such a large expanse. The previous owner had painted it with some silvery, reflective sort of rubberised stuff.
Eventually water would get through and, underneath between the roof and the suspended, acoustic tile ceiling was several inches of loft insulation. You know what happens to acoustic tiles when they get rather wet and a little weight is applied?
I had the roof re-felted and decided to just replace the necessary acoustic tiles, which were Imperial size. Of course, the only ones available were metric which meant the support grid had to be rejigged and I redid the ceilings throughout the house.
Some time later....it leaked again. So, employed an architect, designed 2 × 5 bed houses for the plot. Spent several years playing Catch 22 with the planning system, neighbours - next door on one side mainly - etc but won eventually. Sold to another neighbour who ran a 'boutique' development company and he built the 2 houses. V nice they were too, local vernacular all that jazz (half tiled etc). Sold in a jiffy for many quids.
We had to get out reasonably pronto as they wanted to get on with demolition, bought this place, temporary like. Still here nearly 15 years later.
Oh yeah, this roof leaks a tiny bit but only when the rain is driving in horizontally from a v specific direction. Arf!
Oh. As this is the pix thread. I think these are council houses at Chalk Farm, Lunnon. Used to live not far away.