Fibreglass roof how to tell its a good job?

[Badgerbodger]

We're having an extension constructed at the moment with a fibreglass roof due to planning restrictions we could not have any ptiched roof.

Can someone help me identify if this has been laid correctly?

I can see the individual boards and the gaps between them, should i be able to see them?

The surface is not very smooth and has lots of small pin holes in.

Would really appreciate someone's help, lead flashing is being done this weekend

 

[pilsbury]

Don't get me wrong, I am an amateur who has done 1 roof.... Mine. I learned how to do it from the fix my roof videos on YouTube. So here are my observations:

The job looks a bit ragged. If you don't consolidate the matting and don't use enough top coat, you can see the fibres.

OSB board is better than ply as it is slightly rougher and the mat and resin bond better to it.

You are meant to bandage (strips of mat) the gaps and trims. Doesn't look like they've done that

Pin holes could mean leaks. Might just be in top coat but still not ideal.

My first effort looks better but I guess they were fighting this heat. You have to use a minimum amount of catalyst and I bet it went off super fast so they had to rush.

 

[Badgerbodger]

Thanks for your reply. They have certainly been fighting heat, I've felt for them doing this looked like very hard work! Not sure what I should request to improve this? Sanding down and another layer or should I insist it's all pulled up and started again? Thanks again for your comment

 

[pilsbury]

I'm sure these guys have more experience than me..... But sometimes that could lead to corner cutting?

Let someone else comment as I am a total novice. Do they provide any roof guarantee? I'd get up there myself and inspect properly. Maybe a sand down and another top coat might pretty it up and cure the pin holes?

 

[bobasd]

go look at the fixmyroof videos on youtube.

 

[Badgerbodger]

Thanks watched all 5 of the how to YouTube videos. My take away points from watching them are....

Plywood was used instead of the preferred OSB3, not sure if the ply was sanded or not

Doesn't appear to be any taping of joints, can see a few drops on the floor underneath as there's no ceiling or floor yet. Not sure if this is a Biggie? Maybe it'll cause cracking noises in the future?

I'll get up on the roof and have a proper look tomorrow, will also chuck some water over it to see if there's any pooling, looks like there's some dips around the velux windows but hard to tell

I'll mention all the points to them and see what they suggest.

I've heard the looks tends to improve over time of fibreglass roofs, in what way does the appearance improve? Colouring? Smoothness?

Thanks again for your help

 

[Badgerbodger]

It rained last night so turns out I didn't need a hose. Checked underneath and the wood is all dry, there is a puddle on the floor but it could be from a velux slightly ajar or from the front as there's no door yet. I'll chuck some more water over it to check. I have noticed some pooling though, guessing that's not recommended

 

[pilsbury]

The colour tends to go less shiney. Matts down a bit which hides some of the glare of imperfections. Your pooling doesnt look too bad. The sort that would evaporate quickly.

If they do go an extra top coat route, which is the likely option now it's all done, make sure they sand first. Something like the first 24 hours will be a chemical bond of the new top coat, but after that it's a mechanical bond therefore needs a key.

 

[Rufus Raintight]

They used ply instead of OSB 3 and didn't tape the seams which looks like corner cutting, also they should have done all the laminating work early in the morning to avoid the heat.

Did they give you a guarantee for the materials or the workmanship?

 

[Diver Fred]

Have to say some of the Chopped Strand Mat looks 'dry' (not much resin) in some of the early pictures.
Just been helping a neighbour with his garage roof. He's widely experienced with fibreglass; before we fixed the boards down he primed the boards and edges with the resin mix. Roof 'fall' is 4'' in 10' (1in30). The facia boards he put one layer of glass mat on once the primer coat had hardened. He didn't tape the sheet edges. Then he's laid one layer of Chopped Strand mat, one layer woven mat and then a final coat of CSM. He then laid two coats of 'Gel Coat' - one clear and one coloured. He used a roller to spread and work the resin, mixed with a plaster mixer in drill.
Unable to ask him for advice as he's away on holiday.

 

[Notch7]

Thanks for your reply. They have certainly been fighting heat, I've felt for them doing this looked like very hard work! Not sure what I should request to improve this? Sanding down and another layer or should I insist it's all pulled up and started again? Thanks again for your comment

The fibreglassers I use cancelled a few times in the last few weeks and just about managed to get a day that was cloudy.

They reckoned the baking weather with full sun made material dry too quickly and would be spoilt.