WEST VIRGINIA RECORD

CHARLESTON – A Charleston couple has sued a roofing contractor for inferior work and subsequent damages to their home.

Peter B. and Alison Chambers claim Walter F. Roupe, who does business as W.F. Roupe Roofing Company or Walter F. Roupe Roofing & Building and other similar names, was contracted to remove and replace shingles on their home at 406 Rock Holly Road in April 1999.

In February 2000, the suit claims the roof of the home leaked during a rain storm. An employee of Roupe's came to the home and made repairs to stop the leak.

In September 2004, the suit says the roof again leaked in the same place during a rain storm. It was then when the defendants say they discovered there had been a slow leak for some time that had damaged the ceiling in the bedroom and required the removal of portions of the ceiling and moldy ceiling insulation.

In October 2004, the suit says additional areas began to "seriously and continuously leak," severely damaging portions of the ceiling and insulation in the bedroom.

The suit, filed Dec. 7 in Kanawha Circuit Court, says that's when another contractor examined the home and told the Chambers' for the first time of numerous defects in Roupe's earlier work.

Those defects include not nailing, caulking, gluing or otherwise securing a new vent fan; not installing new boots around roof vents per the contract; not painting roof vents per the contract; installed shingles with tears and holes; improperly cut the edges of the shingles crooked; improperly installed the shingles; drove nails through shingle tabs and left nail heads exposed; used nails that were too short and improperly installed; didn't install a drip edge per the contract; didn't cut an opening big enough for the ridge vent to operate properly and exhaust hot air from the attic; left roofing materials, debris and cigarette butts in the opening cut for the ridge vent, further impeding the vent from working properly; an didn't replace damaged or rotten roof sheeting per the contract.

The Chambers are suing Roupe for breach of contract, negligence, violation of the Consumer Credit and Protection Act, breach of warranty, fraud and demand of punitive damages and violation of the Contractor Licensing Act.

They seek $30,000 plus attorney fees, court costs, punitive damages, interest and other relief from the court.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 05-C-2674