TxDesign

Came to this late. There's people to blame but perhaps not legally. First point, the lack of a cricket there isn't a code violation of the International Building Code, as Section 1503.6 Crickets and Saddles requires the installation of a cricket at any chimney or penetration greater than 30" in length. The roof terminates against a wall, not a chimney or penetration. A cricket would likely help with drainage but it's not required. However 1503.2 Flashing requires the installation of flashing here, installed in a manner to prevent water infiltration. If there's no flashing there, that IS a code violation, however if the flashing was installed with adhesive and subsequently came loose, that's not a code violation -- simply a maintenance problem, which is a second point. Likely, the roofer flashed the joints. Perhaps everything was installed properly but flashing, adhesive, or sealants failed due to common occurence. Adhesive may have delaminated due to heat or movement. Movement could also be to blame for sealant failure due to movement that exceeds the capability of the sealant. Poor sealant selection could have led to the leak but it'll be hard to prove it without construction documents showing it. I assume the previous 'fix' performed well for a limited time. Perhaps it's still performing and the new leak is something else. Hard to say with certainty. In any case another fix is needed. If the previous fix is suspect, then change the fix to include a cricket and/or reflashing. Carlisle Coatings and Waterproofing manufactures a product called CCW-705 -- basically a self-adhering rubber sheet for exterior waterproofing. You can remove the roof tiles and adjacent wall cladding, install a cricket if you'd like, then wrap the whole area - roof and walls -with this membrane, perhaps extending 8" or more up the walls and over the sub-fascia, then install the fascia and drip-edge and install more CCW-705 to flash the joint of the drip-edge and roof. The fix can happen sooner and cost less than hiring an attorney and proceeding through the legal system.