Thread: Roof Leak: How to Fix ?

^ 15 meter to the top, and then probably another 15m to inspect along the roof

I agree with rest of the guys here and water comes in from the outside and the outside is where you need to find and replace a cracked tile.

The other common problem is with the metal flashing in the roof valleys. Thais normally use flashing that is too narrow. This then can't handle the volume of water during a heavy downpour and overflows into the roof. Also when some crap,(leaves, sticks or left overs from roofing installation) gets in the flashing, the water can't flow straight down the vally and gets diverted into the roof. This needs to inspected from the outside also and cleaned out.

It is possible the flashing is damaged, this is the hard one to find because it is hidded by the tiles and needs to be inspected from the inside, which means cutting away the insulation and subsequently repairing that also after you repair the roof.

Best advice is to find someone that knows what they doing because you could be thinking you have found the problem and do a quick fix which could cause a bigger problem.

Originally Posted by skidley

Best advice is to find someone that knows what they doing

in Thailand, this a huge challenge already, it's not like France or the UK where you can call your local roof specialist, here they simply don't exist, all they can do is sell products or build shit, there is no real specialized skills in between.

Originally Posted by Butterfly

in Thailand, this a huge challenge already, it's not like France or the UK where you can call your local roof specialist, here they simply don't exist, all they can do is sell products or build shit, there is no real specialized skills in between.

not true but maybe you have language difficulties? anyway, a general builder with a little brains should be able to see the problem and fix it

Originally Posted by DrAndy

not true but maybe you have language difficulties? anyway, a general builder with a little brains should be able to see the problem and fix it

I have one guy, he is ok, but like I said, they are not showing up, it's too small a job.

I might ask the local fireman chief and give 1000 THB to one of his man so he can take a look at the roof,

again in Bangkok, builders don't come to your house on short notice or for small jobs. I understand it might be different in villages or rural areas.

Originally Posted by Butterfly

it's not like France or the UK

Actually, it's very much like France. Their tradesmen are completely inept as well.

Originally Posted by Butterfly

Originally Posted by skidley

Best advice is to find someone that knows what they doing

in Thailand, this a huge challenge already, it's not like France or the UK where you can call your local roof specialist, here they simply don't exist, all they can do is sell products or build shit, there is no real specialized skills in between.

Perhaps you are tackling this problem the wrong way. You seem to want to do this yourself because you can't find a competant person to do it for you.

How about trying a thread "Can anyone recomend a Roofing / Building contractor in Such'n'such area that can fix a roof leak"

Originally Posted by skidley

Perhaps you are tackling this problem the wrong way. You seem to want to do this yourself because you can't find a competant person to do it for you.

True. I first thought it was a small leak issue and could be dealt with by patching the hole with foam or tin foil, but apparently it's more serious, so yes it's a bigger job that I envisioned. I can't obviously go on the roof myself.

Originally Posted by skidley

How about trying a thread "Can anyone recomend a Roofing / Building contractor in Such'n'such area that can fix a roof leak"

I have a list already of very good contractors, and like I said, they are not coming for small jobs in Bangkok. Adding other names to that list is not going to help as I know their answer already.

My neighbors did something similar not long ago, it was a complete disaster and they are extremely rich Thai so it's not like they took a chance with a cheap builder. The skills are simply not there on the top of everything else. What I need is indeed to find a roof specialist but I am not even sure if they really exist in this country apart from claiming they are.

The ladder is mostly the issue, I don't think builders have that kind of tools here. The neighbors had the contractor build those bamboo structure, and that came out to be another disaster. The monkeys destroyed completely their garden below the ladder after taking weeks, not days, to build the damn bamboo structure. After that, they did such a mess by leaving all kind of crap on the external walls, had to be repainted at the owner expense.

We are talking fucking animals here

It looks like you roof is Cpac, have you tried contacting them direct to find one of there roofing contractors local to you?

Link for the web site and contact details CPAC Monier ROOF TILE : Company Profile

Careful getting up on a tiled roof, especially concrete tiles. You can end up cracking more tiles.

Originally Posted by Butterfly

True. I first thought it was a small leak issue and could be dealt with by patching the hole with foam or tin foil, but apparently it's more serious, so yes it's a bigger job that I envisioned. I can't obviously go on the roof myself.

It is probably not a big job, it is just one of access to the roof

If you can't find someone to do the job, that is the big problem!!

maybe offer more money as inducement

Originally Posted by skidley

It looks like you roof is Cpac, have you tried contacting them direct to find one of there roofing contractors local to you?

Link for the web site and contact details CPAC Monier ROOF TILE : Company Profile

I might also try that lead, anyway since I will need to replace a few, they might have someone to install them

last night, it was pouring, so I took the chance to go inside the roof to find out where the leak was,

well to my surprise, I found another leak that started some damages, again no cover on the tiles and we can clearly see the water on the tiles

I took a few pics I will post, but it seems to be a small leak that is spreading because it runs along a metal beam, spreading on different spots.

I will probably try the expanding foam as a first solution, that won't hurt and it will be short term. When I have the opportunity, I will have someone check the roof.

Originally Posted by Butterfly

I will probably try the expanding foam as a first solution, that won't hurt and it will be short term. When I have the opportunity, I will have someone check the roof.

Not the way to go; you will not fix the cause of the leak, and it would be expensive

get the tiles fixed!!

^ will eventually,

in the meantime, went to HomeMart and HomeWorks and found the can of expanding foam, so I will try that first, it's made in China using German Technology, whatever that is. The Thai version of the can was a bit scary, so I went with the Chinese version. Not sure if it's safer, but at least the English was better in the explanation.

also found a few other things to fix and cover those electric box, and the T strip to make the service trap, very cheap 65 THB for 4 meters

Really BF, putting foam on the back of the tiles is hopeless

If you can see the tile that is cracked, it may work for a while, but just putting foam all over the place will not work. Waste of time. Water is a strange thing, it can get into the smallest places and can be difficult to trace and eradicate

BF - you're a twat.

^ easy to say, cock !!!

going today with the expanding foam as a short term solution, it has been pouring bad yesterday, and this is getting very urgent

Originally Posted by DrAndy

Really BF, putting foam on the back of the tiles is hopeless

will see if it works, doesn't hurt to try. But water works in mysterious ways so it could open another leak somewhere else.

Originally Posted by DrAndy

get the tiles fixed!!

Easier to say than done, again things in Bangkok are a bit more difficult

Originally Posted by Butterfly

again things in Bangkok are a bit more difficult

Bollocks - they're easier.

Originally Posted by Butterfly

going today with the expanding foam as a short term solution, it has been pouring bad yesterday, and this is getting very urgent

Good luck. Although it would require getting on top of the roof, finding the cracked tile or suspected leak and using cement or some other material to plug the leak from above rather than under the tile would be a better temporary fix.

Originally Posted by Norton

Although it would require getting on top of the roof, finding the cracked tile or suspected leak and using cement or some other material to plug the leak from above rather than under the tile would be a better temporary fix.

if you are up there, you might as well do the job properly

Originally Posted by Butterfly

Easier to say than done, again things in Bangkok are a bit more difficult

why? all you have to do is find a builder. I am sure there are lots. Ask your neighbours etc., as you would anywhere

you keep saying it is difficult to find someone, but I can't see why