help anyone - piglet John

[LavenderDoll]

Hiya
Sorry for dramatic title
I'm at my wits end
We have a new build
6 months ago notice 2 damp patches on bedroom ceiling.
Told developer who fobbed us off
This got worse
After months of back and forth they agreed that year there was something and it was a solar panel fitted incorrectly

They came investigated and repaired
They also pulled up two insulation in the attic to dry

This morning the damp patches are there again. So is it still not fixed or could it be related to the insulation being up in that area


This dream home has turned into a nightmare - I'm regretting ever moving

Thanks in advance

[WhoTheFuckIsSimon]

Can you contact the nhbc? New houses are guaranteed by them aren't they? So they would be an independent type party who might help get it sorted?

[lalalonglegs]

Have you got easy access to your loft? Can you go up there and look for any gathered water or streaks which suggest where water may have come in? I generally find it's easier to get things done if you can give a builder a rough idea what the problem might be, iyswim. If you wait for the builders to come back and investigate, the cause of the problem might not be as obvious. Take some pictures if possible and phone them saying, "I found drips on the xxx area and I could see a water trail against such a bit of wall. I do/don't think it is related to the solar panels."

[LavenderDoll]

I'm going to have to send DH back up into the loft for a look.
Thanks for help

[specialsubject]

is your heating working properly? Had this in a relative's house and it was caused by hot water going into the header tank and generating steam, hence condensation. Thanks, British Gas, for the non-service...

your new build has a guarantee. Like that with a new car, the builders won't be keen to uphold it. Explore your routes for escalating.

[PigletJohn]

A new house is very unlikely to have a feed and expansion tank in the loft. It will be a roof leak. Possibly if you go up in daylight you will see light shining through a gap.

If you have a very humid house (e.g. wet washing draped around) you may see condensation on the roofing felt on frosty nights, but modern houses have a breathing membrane so it is unlikely.

Lofts are not choosy about gender.

[LavenderDoll]

Thank you all.

Piglet John if the leak was fixed but the insulation hadn't been put back down could that cause further damp patches?

They are coming next week with scaffolding to replace a solar panel. They seem to think it can only be that

[PigletJohn]

no.

Solar panels are usually fitted on top of tiles, but in a new build they can be inset. Anyway, there should be a waterproof membrane to catch any water that gets through gaps.

IMO it is most unlikely the panel itself is faulty, it is much more likely to be shoddy fitting or the route of the cable. I suppose if the panel is built together with its sealing strips, and the seal has been damaged, they might find it easier to replace the whole thing, but it might be a ruse to blame the manufacturer rather than admit poor workmanship.

[LavenderDoll]

Thank you so much PJ

They won't repaint or put insulation back down until the problem is sorted so I was so worried that the insulation would cause further damp

I'm getting myself in a tizz

[specialsubject]

don't do that. Just keep nagging this lot to build the place properly. New builds are usually full of snags - older houses have had them sorted although they of course develop new ones.

wise words from PJ.

[LavenderDoll]

Well they came out today put scaffolding up and changed the whole panel and underneath bit which is supposed to stop leaks.

They have said to leave the insulation up until everything is dry

But the ceiling still has damp patches and drops of water on it.

DH says give it chance to dry out but because it's dragged on so long I'm just not convinced it's fixed.