Solar pv - slates being drilled through to install

[swaRRR]

The best thing when choosing a tradesman is personal recommendation and see if you can get out to view previous work local to you if it's on a roof especially (so you don't need access to go into anyone's house) - if not, try to get pictures and critically assess their work, because review sites aren't worth much these days. Some don't let you leave negative reviews and a lot of reviews are paid for (my previous company paid the workers bonuses for leaving google reviews for their own work!)

Modules are supposed to be supported on the roof and then the tile/slate should be dressed in around it appropriately depending on what sort of install you've got.

Drilling straight through slate means you're going to have leaks, 100%.

 

[eldaniel]

I wrote an email to the company in question outlining the issues. I have started formal complaint procedure and indicated that they may wish to call me but I will still require response in writing. They still called me and explained that they will recitify the issues but when I said that I need explanation in writing exactly what method they will use to install the hooks and how other faults will be recified in detail he was not happy about this. Apparently they are multi-milllion company and do not have time for such level of details! This already does not fill me with confidence. After explaining why getting response in writing is important to me he did say that his secretary will respond to all my questions. We will see if this will be satisfactory. He said hook will be re-installed correctly (whatever that might be). I asked if they definitely will sit on a rafter and no directly on a slate then I got confirmation that this is how it is going to be. Time will tell. Before I sent a complaint I went to the loft again and checked the roof in more detail than before and discovered that one of the hooks it screwed into .... felt (approx. 5 cm) from the beam!!!!
What I did not like too much is the fact that he is not planning to replace the whole felt, but will apply patches to the felt from the inside. I replied that this solution would only be viable if all the slates that have been broked/drilled to will be replaced. On one hand it is positive that they have acknowledged the problem, on the other I get the feeling they will try to repair it at the lowest cost just for whole install to be "barely acceptable". Unless I am just being negative as they have lost my trust completely.
I forgot to discuss with him what is the plan for repairing the rafters. I have attached pictures of the damage they have done. Do you think from point of view of load bearing would this rafter be classed as requiring repair or is just slight damage that wont have any influence on load bearing and whole roof structure please?

Also is it acceptable that they will be sending the same subcontractor to remedy the problem? I do not like this idea.

 

[swaRRR]

I mean the felt is only a backup to the slate but patching up from the inside would do literally nothing in the event of a leak that goes over the existing hole. It will just leak through the hole, on top of the felt patch and then into your house, unless he's going to apply some tar sealant or similar to it.

I'd run a mile.

 

[fourtytwo]

I am only a DIY guy but from the pictures the screws don't look to be long enough or even big enough. The ones I used myself were at least 100mm long by I am guessing at least M6.

 

[swaRRR]

I am only a DIY guy but from the pictures the screws don't look to be long enough or even big enough. The ones I used myself were at least 100mm long by I am guessing at least M6.

That's what we use, M6 x 100's, but don't forget that on some flashing there is a 40 or 50mm void that the screw will have to pass through before hitting the rafters. If they've counter battened too this will make that distance even greater so imo it's not possible to tell the length used from these pictures.

 

[pirate]

Except that those screws are not long enough...

 

[swaRRR]

Except that those screws are not long enough...

If they've missed it's likely there's at least another 10-30mm of play roof-side, seen it loads of times especially on side flashing, looks like they're home but when you go to 'tighten' up the screw there's loads of depth left on them where they've not been done properly.

That said i'd want at least another 30mm in those rafters. Never underestimate the ability of a roofer to miss a rafter. Seems to be a national sport.