This post is designed to be informative to the residents of all properties off of Muirfield Drive, Bletchley. This includes roof guidence and information regarding the following areas:
Portmarnock Close
Denham Close
Penina Close
Dumbar Close
Hollinwell Close
Ainsdale Close
Ashburnham Close
Richmond Close
Ganton Close
Pulborough Close
We have been working in and around this area for almost 3 years completing re-roof works, roof builds, brickwork pointing, insulation works and more. We have worked closely with Milton Keynes council to ensure all works undertaken on these properties is completed safely and to current building standards.
This blog will be brief and factual with the intention of giving the correct information to the residents of the streets named above.
Here is a list of the issues reported by our customers to date:
Roof leaks across main house primarily at the eave section of the roof
Cold in the upstairs of the property
Mortar falling away from verges
Gutter leaks
Leaks to eave of garage resulting in wet and damaged rafter feet and support timbers
Rafters in garage badly twisted
Mortar missing from ridge line
Broken tiles and ridge
Leaks from flu pipe
Mortar deteriorating from brickwork in large areas
Our findings
Roof works
Original tile used is a Hardrow Slate which has a minimum pitch of 17.5d. Most roofs we've looked at have been experiencing water ingress from most tile areas which can be seen when the tiles are removed. The original roofs seem to have been gauged to low for the ridge line which has resulted in a minimum head lap of the ridge to the top tile allowing water ingress in to all roof areas.
Water ingression into roof for a prolonged period of time has resulted in roof battens completely deteriorating away.
Water ingression from a poorly installed roof is more often worse at the eave of the roof. This is because the water settles at this point resulting in severe damage to the membrane/felt of the roof. These roofs do not have a soffit meaning any water ingress from the eave will result in damp patches and/or leaks into the rooms upstairs that are under the lowest point of the roof.
No insulation in lower part of the roof resulting in cold bedrooms
Insulated felt above rafter as well as insulation on back of ceiling creating sweat spots at lowest point of roof resulting in mould in loft space
Carpentry Issues
Garage roof rafters look as if they have collapsed to one side. This is due to little of no bracings at the time these properties were built.
Large puddle areas on flat roofs due to incorrect falls meaning the water is not making its way to the guttering.
Brickworks Issues
We have had many local residents report to us that the original builders of this area used an incorrect mortar mix on these properties. This can be easily seen when looking around the area. Mortar has deteriorated so badly in areas that you can see into the cavity of the build. This has typically been worse under the ridge line due to water ingress at the ridge, on the upper elevations of the gable ends of the properties and on the larger faces of the properties which take the worse of the weather. In some cases this deterioration has resulted in water ingress into the properties.
What do we do to get these properties back to a good standard and signed off by local authorities?
Visit and give a free survey and quotation
Complete full re roofs of all roof areas if required including upgrading all insulation and ventilation up to current regulations.
We typically install a Marley low pitch mendip which can be installed to 12.5d, we install a full breathable, no maintenance roof system with lead ridge line to ensure maximum head lap cover to top of roof line.
Install new guttering if required
Re-point some if not all areas of brickwork with correct mix
Re-build/strengthen roof areas as required
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