[RE-wrenches] The big valley

[William Miller]

Friends:

Two weeks ago we had a torrential downpour in our area-- about 4 inches 
overnight.  I received a call Sunday morning from a client who we had 
installed a roof mount system for almost 5 years ago.  Their roof was leaking!

I hurried right over in the rain and sure enough, there was a leak right 
below one of our feet placements.  I inspected the caulking, and though it 
was not as pretty as I might have done myself, there was no apparent leak 
path.  Seeing no other apparent reason for the leak, I assumed it was 
through our penetration.  I re-sealed the two penetrations nearest the leak 
and promised the home owner I would take care of all repairs..

That evening the client called and the roof was leaking again.  This seemed 
unlikely since I had carefully sealed my penetrations.  Upon further 
inspection, there was a valley near the leak and there was a tiny little 
sand dam in the valley.

The next clear day, I hired a local, large, well known, reputable roofing 
contractor to deconstruct the valley.  My arrangement with the client 
was:  If the leak was not caused by my work, I pay nothing.  If I caused 
the leak, I pay for everything, (including ceiling repair).  It turns out 
the valley was installed incorrectly with many deficiencies:  There was no 
paper in the valley, there were nails through the sheet metal, there was no 
mastic and the sheet metal was allowed to bulge up to allow a sub-valley 
away from the actual center of the valley and there was a hole in the paper 
right above the leak.

This same thing happened to us a year ago on a tile roof.  We were able to 
deconstruct the valley ourselves and the roofing estimator who had 
originally blamed us came right back over and verified we were not to blame.

I am relating this to the Wrenches list because any of you could have this 
happen to you.  The moral:  Don't be quick to accept blame for a roof 
leak.  Inspect valleys carefully for debris.  Shingles or tile should not 
encroach too closely to the center of the valley.  Look for mastic under 
the shingles.  Don't be afraid to lift tiles and look for water staining 
and debris trails.

Good luck out there!

William Miller


William Miller
Miller Solar
Voice :805-438-5600
email: william at millersolar.com
http://millersolar.com
License No. C-10-773985
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