Time to fix our dodgy dry verge! (and cute kitten update)

Time to fix more professional work - sorting out the dry verge on our brand new roof.
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#Roofing #Maintenance #DIY

[@andykg73]

It's a shame there are so many trades out there doing a poor job. I'd be embarrassed to leave a job looking like that...top work as always Andy.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers Andy! Yeah, it's a real problem.

[@enabledworkshop]

must be a completion going on to who can get paid for the most bodged job that looks okay until you get a tape measure or a square out to it.

[@judochop184]

Yeah, defo needs more inspections but there's no one to do it. We went to a larger company to redo our whole roof on a mid-terrace house. Paid a bit more thinking you'd get a good service for the price, plus they were on the NFRC CPS . Being complete know nothings, we went from slate to concrete, and when we asked about weight issues they said it'd be all fine, then didn't add any supports. Then they've not tiled around the rear chimney, and only flashed half of it despite it being completely on our boundary, and when we had leaks, the guy they sent said it was usual for there to be standing water/puddles on a pitched roof! Not sure what more we can do to get them to fix it.

[@jimmuendo]

I hope you’re going to send this video to the company that did the roof! You should’ve named & shamed them, but we know you’re too considerate for that! Lovin’ your work!

[@northeastcorals]

This is exactly why I feel the need to do everything myself. I've literally just had the scaffold put up on my place & I'll be ripping the roof off this week to rebuild a new cut roof, felt, batten & slate etc then the only person I can blame for shoddy work is me.

[@carolinegreenwell9086]

now we need kitten updates on every video

[@GosforthHandyman]

I'll try! 😂👍

[@Andy-te6jj]

absolutely!

[@DocteGaby]

It's so annoying that "professionals" can't be trusted to do a good job. It's alright when you have the skills to fix it, but where does that leave the rest of us? Would love to hear your advice on choosing and dealing with trades. Did you leave a negative review for these roofers for instance?

[@nicopopo67]

Commenting for the reply.

[@GosforthHandyman]

I don't generally leave negative reviews since you never know what's going on behind the scenes. But got a vid coming up on this very subject. 👍

[@Swarm0r]

@@GosforthHandyman I'm just about to appoint a builder for my own extension project. So may hold off awarding until this video!

[@clovermark39]

Just been trying to get a builder and scaffolder for mending my leaky chimney being a woman on my own is a nightmare. People still take advantage and think they can get away with doing stuff different to the quote and expect me to pay the same price. These jobs need to be better regulated and inspected more often.

[@jaandel1]

Probkem many believe saving 2 minute usisng an screw doest wortj the time...

[@yvonfem]

Absolutely agree with you over roofers they always seem to be in a rush and cant be bothered to finish job off properly as they know they can get away with it as the average home owner cant get on the roof to check it

[@ianpearse4480]

So cute!

[@roberthardy2013]

I think it’s a MASSIVE dirty trick on other builder bloggers having cute kittens with their own guest spot on your videos - you know everybody will watch now! Great idea, go for it!

[@peace1963]

My cat Fiona is like Chicky, she doesn't like being handled. She comes to you when she needs love. I've had her for twelve years now. She the best ever.

[@bluecurlygirl]

One of our kittens, Willow, is the exact same. She makes a very disgusted sound if you try to pet her when she's not ready but put a fluffy blanket near her and she lays on it and starts purring and making muffins immediately! Especially if it's a blanket that has my daughter's scent on it. Her brother Otis however is another story. He'll just flop on your knee as often as he can and DEMANDS full body massages at least 3 times a day! If you don't you get a slap on the cheek from his front left paw (he keeps his claws in for that. Thankfully as they're very sharp).

[@sylviagreybe672]

My kitty Tuxy also does not like to be picked up. Or petted unless he comes to ask for it. He also doesn't sit on laps or knees either.

[@sylviagreybe672]

I LOVE the kitten updates!!!

[@greyman45]

Loved the drumstick technique when doing the lead dressing.

[@raydriver7300]

I know the biggest softy in the Mac household and it’s not one of the cats. I am blown away by your patience and knowledge 🌞

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers Ray! 😎👍

[@user-dr4vo6ek7n]

Lovely video, thanks for knowledge and gorgeous Kittie's.

[@bluecurlygirl]

Great job. Now onto the important part. So glad you were able to home the second little guy. They're so much happier when they've a little buddy. Wait till they start climbing up on top of kitchen presses. My two are sleeping on top of mine right now! Aw happy days ahead. Wishing you all the best.

[@awantamta]

Another great remedial job.

[@SteveMonk1956]

What beautiful kittens :-)

[@cal6747]

These Videos a full off top tips and help, many thanks.

[@GosforthHandyman]

No worries!

[@simonworsnop900]

You can cut battens flush and run a full batten down the verge screwed into the ends or depending on the tile and dry verge combo you can run a batten on top of the facia under the batten ends. We find it gives more of a secure fixing using screws or galvanised ring shank nails. Some dry verge are supplied with screws

[@brentfrench752]

Roof repair looks great! It was actually enjoyable to watch the repair! I have a chronic back problem so unable to do just about anything without severe pain, so I just paid a “professional to add to, and repair my sprinkler system, and I’m still having some of the same issues! A damn simple sprinkler system! A monkey could repair a sprinkler system. Professionals can be great, but so many do shotty jobs! It’s not about quality anymore. Your kitties are cute little buggers.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Yeah, very frustrating as it gives the proper pros a bad name.

[@bobfish7699]

Ah ha. That's how you do it. Have been waiting for a video like this for 10 years, but never know what the terms are. Thanks for doing this video. I have an issue like this on my Bay window. Now I know what to expect, and can now tackle the repair with a little confidence..

[@davidturner3180]

Top job 👍

[@Senna-xi1gr]

Good job well done. 👍🏆

[@AdamJee923]

4:23 Thats why they call them fiddlers on the roof lol 😂 reminds me of our 'roofers' experiance on our first home.

[@terrytopliss9506]

Whoever did the dry verge did a shoddy job,if the instruction says the baton should be 30mm from the brickwork then do it. Certainly looks much better now Andy.👍👍

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers! Yeah, thought it was quite basic stuff. 😂

[@garys628]

well done Andy. looks good. I'm getting extension done completely new roof tiles. roofline verge etc. I'm paranoid that they're as clean cut and straight as possible. video has given me good insight into how it should work. 👍👍

[@GosforthHandyman]

Decent roofer should have them perfectly aligned - so keep an eye. 👍

[@sylviagreybe672]

Blimey, some of that was seriously shoddy! Glad you know how to fix it.

[@DhulstDirk]

Fantastic video as always! I would use expanding spray foam to fill the gap under the lead. You can even spray paint it black after it expands and hardens, and after you cut it flush.

[@imprezaaudi]

Driving rain could easily getup under the lead flashing. I'd foam it too and lay a bead of mastic, just Infront of the foam

[@peterdnreynolds777]

Great work as always, can't believe the so called professional's left it like that. Hope all is well, take care

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers Peter! Yeah, not great.

[@MarkPercival]

I normally use an old pair of socks on the end of my ladder so I don't have any material I might catch things on

[@garethheathcote4988]

I always cut the battens flush or 5mm post the barge board then fix a 2x1 latt/batten running up, that way thought not relying on I've fixing that's fixed in to end grain. Never had a single verge come loose and had to re do countless jobs done by cowboys. You can get good money for fitting them so they should be fitted to last.

[@fazzini3868]

So THAT'S what the truncheon is for 😂

[@Dazza19746]

Did dry verge and ‘roofline’ for years when I lived in UK Pretty straight forward, you just need to properly measure the appropriate projection on tile baton off barge board face or render and cut it at that, and the same with tile. Mhard to believe ‘professional ‘ roofers left it like that. I’m a bloody carpenter! First dry verge job was a bit intimidating as any ‘new job’ is! But it’s certainly not rocket science 😂👍🏻

[@MK-yo4jn]

Yay educational video ❤

[@GosforthHandyman]

👍😎

[@ClarkOVision]

Much better finish to your roof now. It's too bad when you have to fix things in this way. Love the kittens.

[@GosforthHandyman]

All sorted! 😁

[@Mc674bo]

Hi sir love the kittens and I know what you mean about being different , some are lap cats and others are not but we still love our Charlie and how dominants our lab , which the dog seems to say what if ,😂 . As regards your roof work or indeed anything else for that matter ,my late departed boss asked me as an apprentice what is the the difference between a professional and amateur. Having given some time to consider the question , I proceeded to say of course a professional is someone who has become a master of his trade and is regarded for his ability . I can remember to this day his reply . ( No the only difference between an amateur and a professional is the profession gets paid for it ) And he reinforced is argument with stating, this applies to every profession you can think of . Was he right I leave you all to contemplate , but as a retired electrical contractor I can say I spent a good deal of my time fixing the crap that so called professionals had walked away from . And at least in your case dear sir it was just a case of keeping the birds from getting in , if you get drift . You may indeed consider your self just an amateur , but even if an average so called professional had half the commitment that you possess the building industry would be in a far better place than it is at the present time . I look at some of the new houses being built and I think what on Earth is going on , we will be lucky if they survive for 50 years let alone a century . Yet people are desperate to invest their life savings into such piles of sand . We need good people like you and Mrs Mac to to give a new life to our existing housing stock , and bring four the treasure that lies within . Best wishes and kind regards as always to you both 👍👍👍😀

[@mozu517]

Awww... Chicken and Nugget!❤😺❤🐈❤

[@simonhenry1769]

Nice tidy job, great end result. I'd consider some dust suppression / mask when grinding roof tiles though to avoid breathing in RCS dust.

[@nigelburton7408]

Another great example of "if you want a job done properly....😏" if you can , diy! 👍😊

[@richardphillips3303]

It's unfortunate that good tradesmen are difficult to find and I've spent a lot of money getting things rectified. You've obviously found this too and are very capable of doing the remediation work yourself. We'll done on an excellent finish 👏

[@zeno2712]

A problem is knowing which are the good ones and which are the ones to avoid! I see a lot of people on local forums saying that so-and-so did a good job with their kitchen/electrics/plumbing/etc but most don't have the expertise and knowledge to know whether the work has been done to a good standard. Shoddy and dangerous work can be made to look good to the untrained eye.

[@Catstorm99]

Nice to have kitten storage draws.

[@Andy-te6jj]

Haha 🤭

[@Jolaaled]

Pressed Roll on the Flashing....my next bands name!!

[@alanrobins]

Re that gap if you have a bit of lead you could slide a bit under the main piece with a little bit bent down and trimmed to fit the hole

[@saltiresam]

Bats… Our flashing and dry verge joint has a similar gap to the one you showed. Been there for a few years now. Plenty of bats now call our roof home each summer. 200+ this year. Like mice they can crawl into a very small gap. With your roof river and tree line facing could be ideal for them.

[@firesurfer]

9:23 I've seen various blocks/fillers put in. Mostly closed cell foam, cut to fit.

[@paulharrison7029]

Andy, get some StuffIt mesh for little gaps 👍

[@GosforthHandyman]

Great tip - cheers Paul!

[@savetommyrobinsonfreespeec7660]

It’s always the same, if you want a job doing, you just as well do it yourself! 😆 It’s a hard life being a perfectionist! You can’t beat having two nutty kittens! 😂 brilliant!

[@andybrace4983]

Lovely old job

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers!

[@geoffreycodling8071]

Lovely job and you wonder why people do DIY. Personally I would of treated any cut timber as I'm obsessed about wasps being attracted to saw dust.

[@juliebrooke6099]

You pay good money for someone to do work for you because it’s their specialty and they can’t even do it right. I do hope this video shows up in their inbox so they can see how they should have done it

[@superseven220]

Lovely kittens😆 why is so hard to get decent trades nowadays!

[@jayjay199o]

Well the reason there leaning and not sraight is because the cut tile on the roof has got a curve instead of being flat so you may need to notch the units also the batten overhang may be to long 👍

[@anthonylane]

Just binged the last 6 episodes and I think your suite needs a bit of love with colour and conditioner

[@shannafaint1164]

Jus proves that everyone loves bubble wrap, even kittens lol 😂

[@GosforthHandyman]

They go crazy for the stuff! 😂

[@AshleighPeacock]

I don't think it would be a bad idea to get in contact with them and point out their defects, so they can learn from the mistakes (lets assume the best of them and they didn't know how to correctly fit it), so that hopefully they won't do this to the next person! Also, a tip to anyone looking to fit their own dry verge, check out eurocell, they were about a third of the price of toolstation and Travis perkins when I looked (great price on window trims, guttering and other plastics too!)

[@juyhfrty]

Eurocell, unless I’m mistaken, give you a list price but when you go to collect / pay, they magically have an ‘uplift’ percentage to add that seems to be worked out weekly, rather than be bothered altering the list. So you are quoted £15.50 for a length, then when you go, it magically has say, 17% uplift added at the trade counter till for the current period increase.

[@AshleighPeacock]

@@juyhfrty I actually ordered online and had it delivered (due to 4m lengths of guttering being easier to get delivered, plus it was free over £50 I think). I did go in store another day though and they seem to operate online and in store totally separate, and you're right about their prices being different. The guy I spoke to said it's messed up, but he sorted the price out so it worked out correctly, not sure if he applied a discount or something! The guy was spot on to be honest!

[@julias-shed]

Could you put a bit of mortar in that little gap to keep wasps out? 😀

[@GosforthHandyman]

Yeah, that would probably do it. 👍

[@martynoxley3745]

The cats could have a channel to themselves!

[@GosforthHandyman]

Tell me about it! 😂

[@TonyAFC85]

Had a dry verge installed and it over hangs wall by 20mm. There’s a batten running horizontally the length of the roof and it’s seems like they’ve screwed directly to that 😩 I thought they’d done a decent job and now I’m realising I was shafted

[@MrMojorizin]

Cowboy builders! They seem to be everywhere

[@micksoden7064]

Great job.most building "professional "building people are just experienced labourers.

[@ItzD3fW1sH]

The main issue is once a "professional" does a shit job, you don't even want them to come back and make "good" because you just know it'll be half arsed or not good enough anyway. So then you're stuck in this awful position of paying someone else or doing it your damn self anyway! Nice one Andy.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Yup. It's simply not worth my time to muck about getting them back only to do a half arsed job fixing it.

[@TheErador]

Yep we had a leaky shower cube due to poor/incorrect tiling, and all they did to remediate was to silicone the grout line and stain block the ceiling below, rather than retiling it properly. It hasn't leaked again (mostly cos we barely use that one as it's in the en suite) but it's not the point, should have been sorted properly

[@Tokaisho1]

@@TheErador Might be the plumbing for the waste

[@hardlyb]

You can fill gap between the roof and flashing with stainless steel wool, to keep birds and rodents out. Not ideal, but better than leaving it open.

[@dnsmoker]

Hello absolutely love your channel thank you for taking time to make the videos, I’m in the middle of renovating myself, did you have to install a direct Air feed to your log burning stove as you insulated the floor so well? Cheers

[@moiragoldsmith7052]

Ooohhh I love your subtlety! I bloody hope those tinkers are watching. Shame on them!

[@krismarkduthie2178]

A good overview of the work done. I think I’d get nothing done with Chicken and Nugget around 😂. Have you tried any cardboard box experiments? Maybe for the old drum/farm simulator channel? Haha.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Ha tell me about it! Yes, they love all packaging materials. 😂😂

[@miningbruno]

At 7min20s, is that black exhaust supposed to angle upwards? Won't rain drip in? I would think you would install one of those H-shaped flues.

[@gingagingerful]

I'm a bit late to the video, but when i first saw the verge some of the tiles looked like they were bigger than the edge of the batten, which could cause them to rock on the tile and leave a gap, hard to tell from the video. Also if you just tighten them right up, the verge leans and causes the plastic to bend and warp and leaves quite an ugly looking verge. Even if they had cut them a little bit further back it would've been cut on the lower part of the profile and they would have sit better. Looks like you did a good job though with what you did! Also as someone else said, they should've started on a full tile really, could use half tiles on the other end.

[@cbghbvgm1962]

Highbury homes did a similar shoddy job on my roof, found this video trying to find a way to describe to them what they messed up on. They cut the roof battens? too short (not even level with the house let alone any overhang), and they put a bit of mortar on and tried to screw the uneven dry verge into that. Wonkiest thing i've ever seen, thats now broken and fell off. With huge gaps, and loud noises from outside.

[@newusername23]

Looks great, now done properly. Was it the tile edges that kicked up to far? Was it the tile you grinder?

[@newusername23]

I think I have the same type of tile. What are the name of those tiles? Also what is the name & model of the dry verge?

[@philwaddington3437]

Great job this side, but as you found missing nails, is it worth checking the other side before the storms arrive?

[@GosforthHandyman]

Nah, they survived the storms last year so all good.

[@kevinshort3943]

Pretty sure that dry verge system is either meant for doing eves with an apex (apex cover sold separately) , or they made the roof too short - it should be X number of full tiles, so the verges fit without trimming. I have done one roof in my entire life, so I expect someone will be able to tell me I'm wrong. I would defiantly send them a link to this video, and name and shame if you don't get satisfaction.

[@Andy-te6jj]

good Job, I would give them shit you probably paid a good amount money to them to make their Job right! Haha they so cute😺😺, leave us updated how this two little guys growing

[@arnoldsnodgrass2953]

I used to enjoy your DIY videos... but now I just want kitten update vids please 😂

[@pjnathgaming]

This is why I hate searching for people to do the jobs I want doing. How can you trust anyone's work nowadays?!

[@nicolek4076]

With cats you can never have too many cardboard boxes.

[@Andy-te6jj]

Haha you right, even a Pizza box does it

[@HW55]

Be careful grinding the tile edges. Most tiles aren’t waterproof all the way through, and the waterproofing is in the top layer of the tile (hence why any tiles with chips in them are no good).

[@simonworsnop900]

How do you tile a roof with no cuts 🤔.

[@stevexl7747]

Most tiles are concrete which is waterproof and homogeneous throughout.

[@martDawson]

👍

[@goesbysteve]

Another interesting video! Cute kittens! Odd question do you wear slip on dealer safety boots? Do you have any recommendations please?

[@freetolook3727]

@9:34 Foam rubber strip like they use to fill gaps at ridgeline on metal roofs?

[@pluffer96]

Andy! the roofers Bacon Butty's were getting cool at the time they did that verge you no??????? I had the samething happen to me, but with my lot of roofing contractors, they stole a load of lead that I had been collecting for some pocket money for my son of 8 years old. Some people hay!

[@clinteastwood8230]

The best way to do them dry Verges isn't how they tell ya in the instructions as you risk the lath spitting . Your Best cuttings lath flush to the barge board and run a full 2x1 battern up the barge board fix that in to the barage board and the end laths . Gives you more fixing points too also to remove them you need to slide them right down on a cold day your way would crack them

[@superiorbeing95]

I wanted a dry virge when I got a reroof but they pointed it up ad it looked like dog shit. So I got them back to retro fit a dry virge, it is possible even though they cut the batons short. They couldn't figure it out, ended up putting a barge board on and then a really heavy right angled profile along it. It looks OK even though not meant for that type of tile, old timers set in their ways.

[@dougsaunders8109]

Looking forward to your trade issue video Andy. This is why people are so sceptical about trades. Worried about getting your pants pulled down. If you don’t have the skills and or knowledge to fix it or even know anything is wrong where do you even start?

[@jeanhawken4482]

Thankfully you could fix the professionals sloppy work. It is so expensive for others. The babies are a delight

[@GosforthHandyman]

They're trouble! 😂

[@taylo256]

Good job Andy. Any reason not used plastic facia other than maybe cost?

[@GosforthHandyman]

Just in keeping with the rest of the property - didn't really want PVC on the extension but wood on the main house. 👍

[@MrJimtimslim]

You can dress the lead into that gap with skill and patience. Gently stretch it. Not easy though and you risk tearing it

[@TheDoosh79]

the wind has blown a load of those plastic verge covers off at my old man's house, too high up for me to get to though to do anything so he'll end up getting someone in and I bet it will be a bodge.

[@darrenmackenzie1892]

Great video once again!! I'm looking for advice Im planning to do this to my house but it's all pointed with cement... What would you do ? Thanks

[@Pete.Ty1]

👍👍👍

[@SalC007]

if builders and tradesmen cut corners and do a bad job with you Andy just imagine what kind of job they'll do with us.

[@jb-fe4ye]

If you use a screw you can get them off easier

[@Chief81]

You called your cat…chicken 😄 also is that a coppers truncheon?

[@garvielloken3929]

😎

[@stuartjones2242]

its why I do it all , not trades in my house

[@GlenS123]

In America we have crappy ashpalt shingles. Always have admired your tile roofs in Europe. But, the dry verge are plastic? Question how long they will last compared to tiles...

[@GosforthHandyman]

We used to do cement verges but plastic seems to be taking over! Couldn't honestly tell you the lifespan!

[@JohnSmith-jk8mt]

@@GosforthHandyman the lifespan on my new roof plastic verges was about 3 weeks because like your roof they cracked 90% of them and I had to go and replace them all... there is no pride with most tradesmen these days.

[@TheErador]

I presume they're uv resistant, I reckon 25 years before they go super brittle and crack

[@DC-sf5rk]

Cloak verge would have made a better job of it! Looks good though

[@SalC007]

i'd stuff wire wool in that gap

[@scoobydo2]

4 jobs booked in to remove these. All have gone brittle and snapped in the strong winds. Customers are also complaining about the colour fading and ruining the looks of their house/roof. There are so many "Roofers" trying to install these on old battens. They will come off! Its back to 3:1 mix cement for use. Done properly, will last for 40 years PLUS. Also complaints of water run marks down the walls

[@davemaynard3826]

These guys gone busy as well? Or still going “strong”. Do you leave an honest review on checkatrade or similar?

[@spiderswebs11]

Why not send them a bill for your time to fix thier shoddy work, - they may not pay it, but it will make you smile sending it to them!

[@GosforthHandyman]

Not worth my time. 👍

[@metallitech]

I don't get the plastic things; it looks like they have a lot of gap, but maybe they work.