Roofer has given us a 10 year guarantee. Do we have a leg to stand on?

[Buttonface9]

We got our flat roof (above garage) repaired this time last year and have an email from the roofer with a 10 year guarantee. Now it's leaking (and causing internal damage) and he's ignoring me, either not turning up or not responding to my texts. I've been very polite but now am planning on emailing him a formal email, my question is do I have a leg to stand on with this 10 year guarantee? What do I do if he doesn't respond?

TIA

Is he a member of a trade body or organisation such as check a trade? Is the guarantee underwritten?

From what I can find, just a member of my builder.com

Get the wording of the guarantee out. Is it insurance backed? Or just a verbal agreement they he will fix issues.

He doesn't sound like he has a responsible approach! You might have been had, I'm afraid.

You could get quotes for repair from others and tell him in writing that you'll pursue him for cost if he doesn't sort soon. Then option to take him to court but you may well end up spending more on court fees and getting nothing back, sadly.

Was he trading as ltd company or sole trader? Check website or any docs he gave you. Companies can be wound up very easily, with a sole trader theoretically you can secure debt against property he owns.

But probably you'd be best off getting a reputable builder to fix it - go by word of mouth if possible. These websites are not what they seem!

So frustrating when you don't have extra money, I'm on maternity leave. Feel like it's impossible to get a good trader, he was recommended!

The email states "all work is 10 year guarantee"

Is that literally the wording? All work is ten year guarantee? Because that doesn't even make grammatical sense and I'd imagine it's not backed by anything and it's just him waffling.
Sorry OP, I do wonder if you've been had. Builders are a minefield.

Mind you though: if he put that in writing in an email, there is evidence of completed work in the form of payment, then I'm pretty sure you could take him to small claims court.

Not a lawyer.

Get quotes from other builders for fixing it

Send a formal letter saying you will be taking him to court for that sum if he does not make the repairs himself by (date in 4 weeks time)

Thanks, sorry actual wording is "ALL WORK GUARANTEED TEN YEARS". I'll try the formal letter and see.

I have never met a roofer who wasn't a villainous, cheating bastard. Sorry I know that's not helpful, definitely do what Yireos said.

Where are you from??

Is the leak in the same area he repaired? He is guaranteeing his work (whatever that means) but that doesn't necessarily mean that he will fix all leaks, as they may be nothing to do with his work. So if the leak is somewhere he didn't repair or if the leak would have happened even with his good work (e.g. let's say your roof is really ancient and all the patching up in the world won't prevent leaks), he isn't liable.

Generally these guarantees aren't worth anything anyway.

The leak is in the same area he repaired, I also have on the email the details of the job he completed. im based in Leeds

I think your best best is a claim via small claims court. Hopefully the threat of this will bring him back to fix it.
Or get a better roofer to fix it - if you can find the funds to do so.

Thanks all!

Did you get photos before and after If not you could him or another builder to go up there and photo perhaps