Opinions required on work quality please.

[Captain Haddock]

Hi All
I have just had a PV installation fitted and not very impressed with the job on the roof, I was under the impression the idea was to grind a bit out of tiles for the fixings so they sit properly, I would be grateful for any opinions on the quality of the job, I have posted a load of photos on my website at Leo Magill (click on thumbnails for full size photos), the photography is pretty poor.
Should I stop the cheque?
Below is an example of dislodged tiles around the chimney, they sat fine before.

 

[dansk]

Looks like an innocent mistake, its not sat on top of the top tile, sometimes there are a lot of things to think about and its easy to be distracted, but they do IMHO need grinding down to sit flush, its not a biggy, but i would say needs doing - because in the next strong winds your going hear them chattering against the bracket.

Other have different views on grinding tiles.

 

[Earthstore]

Tried to PM you but your in box is full, you need to clear some space.

 

[Captain Haddock]

Inbox cleared.

 

[SolarCity]

Difficult to see from your photo why the tile is sitting up. It doesn't seem to be where a bracket is placed.

I think all brackets should be grinded out if they need to be to make a tile sit right.

Like Dansk said, others have different opinions on this.

 

[whinmoor]

If you grind out too much, you risk removing so much material the tile becomes thin and liable to crack. Saying that, some of these are riding too high as Biggs and Dansk are saying so it would be sensible to grind. You need to raise your concern asap as it would be easier and safer to do it whilst the scaffolding is still in place. Not sure about stopping the cheque. Depends on your relationship with the installer I guess.

 

[TMGL]

What panels are they...because they look like they've been clamped on the short side?

 

[whinmoor]

One of the panels says "Solarworld" on the frame. German quality, but maybe not installed to German standards.

 

[MorganPVI]

I'm firmly in the non grind club for pantile roofs, you'll weaken most tiles to an unaccetpable level. Roof dependent of course, we do grind some tiles.

The chimmney area needs work and i'd be more concerned about cracking at the ridge as that top tile is basically immovable, call the installer to sort out the chimmney area but as for stripping all the panels and grind out each tile, seems a bit too much. I do not buy into to the wind clattering the tile aganist the bracket, if the tile is clattering then it is loose and that is an issue - rather than a smallish kick.

Under English Contract law, you should be very careful about witholding payment without professional leagl advice.

 

[Jacobbb]

Who was the company? Looks like a company's job I use to work with lol

 

[Jacobbb]

Who was the company? Ecofusion?

 

[Captain Haddock]

Who was the company? Looks like a company's job I use to work with lol

Starts with an E and ends with an N with a hyphon in the middle, not going to mention any more, yet.......

 

[Earthstore]

As you can see there are many different views on this type of install.
On one of your photos it looks like there is hardly any overlap on the tiles, with the way they are sitting now it will almost certainly cause you problems when the weather is extreme.

 

[Captain Haddock]

Who was the company? Ecofusion?

Starts with an E and ends with an N with a hyphon in the middle, not going to mention any more, yet.......

I think these posts may have overlapped,Doh!

 

[infinity]

Awful job, This is exactly why i use a proper roofer to to the roof work. The nibs need grinding off on the tiles. If they do not sit back down the vacuum will just suck water up into the roof.

Maybe not stop the cheque but certainly call them to give them a chance to rectify the work!

 

[GaryM]

Awful job, This is exactly why i use a proper roofer to to the roof work. The nibs need grinding off on the tiles. If they do not sit back down the vacuum will just suck water up into the roof.

Vacuum? Are you suggesting a roof is pretty much air-tight in places?

 

[sambotc]

Vacuum? Are you suggesting a roof is pretty much air-tight in places?

No, when the misses is hoovering out the loft at the same time as its raining.. :yes:

I'd agree that the overlap looks quite small and some of them are up quite a way (picture 15 for example), driving rain will fly up there, eventually rotting the roofing felt away.

Doesn't look like a top job to be honest but there's plenty about like it, only time will tell how they all fair up over a few years!

 

[Earthstore]

In this picture there was no need to grind the back of the tile as it sat quite flat and would not cause a problem with water ingress or wind chatter.

In this picture the back of the tile had to be ground out a little, to allow the tile to sit flat.
By rights, your system should have failed building regs (the new part C, preparation and resistance to contaminates and moisture) but as there was no site visit how would building control know?
Also you have two panels at the top in your photo's which are clamped on the short side, this can invalidate the warranty on some panels due to fiscal loadings. You would need to check with the panel manufacturer on this.
I am not too keen on your panel clamps either (just my opinion), but it looks like it is a standard kit bought from your panel company.

I hope this helps

 

[screwdriver]

With double romans we have been using an adjustable bracket which can be adjusted to sit right down on the tile(but not sitting tight to them), then we have been grinding the lower nibs off so the tiles fit virtually flush, you have two problems from what I see of the pictures, wrong hooks and no grindy.
I can understand the ones nearest the ridge not being ground out as they obviously didn't want to disturb the ridge tiles and flashings by the chimney.
Is it worth withholding money? possibly, but would it not be better to get them back to rectify the job ( unless you have already asked and they fobbed you off!)

 

[Earthstore]

Many do, but this is another reason why not to fit too close to the ridge.

 

[trev]

German quality, but maybe not installed to German standards.

Another one buying the myth that Germans are so much more disciplined, efficient and work to higher standards than us?

 

[Eco Deal]

watch this
concrete tiles movie.wmv - YouTube

this is what we do to most tiles.

 

[Eco Deal]

here some more images of our jobs !

 

[Eco Deal]

just had a good look at pictures problem is BRACKETS more than tile being grinded.

see image I did as its easy to draw it than explain just call me rolf harris

 

[Jacobbb]

I think these posts may have overlapped,Doh!

Knew straight away!

 

[moggy1968]

I think as has been suggested the tiles couldn't be removed close to the ridge (or the edge) without disturbing the concrete settings. Oter than that the nibs should be ground off to allow the tile to sit down. it won't go completely flush but certainly better than these. Removing the nibs does not weaken the tile at all, although grinding the actual body of the tile may, especially if it's ground out as much as one of the previous photos to fit conduit through!

 

[cbw]

I cant see why that tile should be kicked up?????

Are you sure they did it?

 

[sambotc]

I think the tile to the left, directly below the chimney stack, has not been put back properly and the rear lug is resting on the batton, so the back is up, which is pushing the tile in question up?

 

[jupestar]

the ridge looks a bit dodgy to me if i was installing it that close so that i was forcing the ridge tile up i'd of knocked it off and re-cemented it. just moving it a little bit can damage the cement. pros and cons of grinding the tile neater fit, versus weakening the tile. i normally grind within reason. yours don't stick up too much seen worst.. i'd want to know what is happening between the chimney and the top panels. whether the flashing is still strong enough.

 

[danesol]

Doesnt look that bad - perhaps you should mention it to them regardless and go from there

 

[Eco Deal]

I think as has been suggested the tiles couldn't be removed close to the ridge (or the edge) without disturbing the concrete settings. Oter than that the nibs should be ground off to allow the tile to sit down. it won't go completely flush but certainly better than these. Removing the nibs does not weaken the tile at all, although grinding the actual body of the tile may, especially if it's ground out as much as one of the previous photos to fit conduit through!

nothing wrong with that method !! it will be under panels etc so nobody will jump on it !!!

 

[infinity]

watch this
concrete tiles movie.wmv - YouTube

this is what we do to most tiles.

Nice job, what brackets do you use?

 

[Eco Deal]

TRIC - because you can adjust them

 

[Captain Haddock]

They're sending a team out on wednesday so hopefully it will get done properly this time, the Mrs. will be at home so she can savage them into action (she's scarier than me ).
Thanks for all the input on this.

 

[Captain Haddock]

Well they sent out a different team and have done a much better job this time, still not perfect but the best that can be done with the bracket system, gaps much closer with leading edges filled with sealant to stop the wind getting under, flashing put back down much neater.
Fair play to them, thanks again for all the input.