5 years ago we noticed a wet patch on the kitchen ceiling. We monitored it, ummed and ahhed a bit, got builders in to look at it and they all pronounced it was the (4yo) flat roof. So we got the original roofer to look at it. Many fixings later, no change and we lost faith in the company. The leak carried on. New builder came and lifted the floor boards, saw nothing. Went outside and pronounced the flat roof was 'not fit for purpose and he put a new roof on.
The leak carried on, so we got builder no.3 in and they lifted a large area of floor above the kitchen. There are 5 pipes close together that sit exactly behind the wet ceiling (which unhelpfully is exactly in line with the decorative cornicing). BUT when we looked very closely at these pipes there was no evidence of any water leak whatsoever. The pipes were all bone dry. We kept the floor open for 3 months to inspect but never saw any sign of wetness. The floor was closed again.
I've just noticed the wet patch is back again and it's about 18' wide so quite a size! I HAVE NO BLOODY IDEA WHAT TO DO.
The unfortunate issue is that this area is really complicated. It's at the original corner of the house (now held up with steel). It has a stepped flat roof just to the side of it. A giant hall window above the flat roof, and internally it's a matrix of walls & joins.
What should I do next? I don't think the insurance will touch it as it's been going on for years and would probably be classed as maintenance.. We've forked out a fortune so far and all for nothing. I'm at my wits end because we going to have to find money we don't have to pull it all apart again.
Is there such a thing as a professional leak detection company? The only way I can think of them finding the leak is to pull down the kitchen ceiling and the floor above & probably take the new roof off too.