RESIDENTS from Watts Wood Park are still seeking answers regarding the reasons the roof from their houses ripped off at Christmas.
A number of the residents are still living in hotels or with friends as work continues to repair the roof.
The residents have also asked questions of the property management company (OM Property Management), the homebuilders, Bellway Homes as well as the National House Building Council but two months on are becoming very frustrated.
At the moment, scaffolding is up on the flats as workmen continue to repair the roof but for some, the bigger issue is whether the homes were safe in the first place.
A report by Base Building Consultancy was commissioned and published that came to the following conclusions.
1. Without knowing the manufacturer of the membrane we are unable to advise if the installation is in accordance with their recommendations, and therefore acceptable.
2. If it is possible to establish the manufacturer or the roofing contractor used by Bellway Homes, we can continue investigations and develop this report further.
3. We can advise however that what has been installed is not to a particularly high standard, in comparison to the requirements of a Sika-‐Trocal membrane installation.
4. It is debatable whether the workmanship alone caused the damage that has been suffered to the blocks, as there were exceptionally inclement weather conditions over the Christmas and New Year period which must have had a negative physical impact on the roof coverings.
5. We believe the damage that has occurred to Block 27 ␣ 49 where the corner of the membrane has been peeled back, in all probability, also occurred to Block 26 ␣ 48 only to a greater extent which led the Fire Brigade to remove the membrane completely for health and safety reasons.
6. It is our opinion that the damage to the membrane coverings and tiled roof areas resulted from a combination of the following:
a. inadequate adhesion between the type of membrane used and the roof decking at the corners of the mansard crowns, where wind loads are greatest.
b.inadequate and poorly detailed mechanical perimeter fixings to the membrane covering.
inadequate restraint to the perimeter flashings, which results is uplifting and bending out of shape.
c.inadequate and British Standard non-‐compliant fixings to concrete roof and ridge
tiles.
d.exceptionally inclement weather conditions.
Residents are still awaiting a comment from the National House Building Council via OM Property Management Group.
A spokesperson for OM Property Management Group said:
“As Watts Wood’s managing agent, OM Property Management provides services on behalf of the building’s owners (the freeholder) and our role is to oversee the repairs being carried out to the development.
“We have been liaising with the owner, its insurer and its loss adjuster since October and have received assurances from them that repairs will be conducted quickly and residents will be able to return to their homes as soon as possible.
“Our Property Manager carried out regular site inspections at Watts Wood Park in November and December and our customer services and operational team have been in frequent contact with the loss adjuster’s team on our customers’ behalf. We also ensured temporary accommodation was offered to those residents affected by the storm damage.
“A meeting on 3 January at Watts Wood Park was attended by the loss adjuster, its surveyors, contractors and senior members of the OM team. Watts Wood Park residents also had an opportunity to meet our property management team at a residents meeting on 7 January.
“A further meeting with residents and the loss adjustor was held on 21 January.
“Given the unusual severity of the storms last year, we commissioned a report to help us understand the full extent and scope of the damage”.
