Roofs are among the construction units in buildings with the highest number of deficiencies and problems. Given their direct and constant exposure to weather (temperature, wind, rain, snow…), even minor issues can lead to important pathology processes if not addressed early on. This research examines unresolved issues of pitched roofs in the capital of Spain which eventually led to the filing of lawsuits. Different types of deficiencies were detected (humidities, condensations, fissures…) and classified according to their recurrence. The thousands of pages of forensic reports presented to the courts were consulted and analysed to determine the probability/risk of recurrence, based on a number of factors. Among them is the causal origin (according to the properties/characteristics of the materials or to the placement/application conditions) and the respective building typologies (single-family houses or multi-storey buildings). The results that were obtained were calculated through weighted risk matrices of the existing interrelations, before determining the levels of joint severity and the classification categories according to the final operational value.

While at first it can be thought that the auxiliary elements of facades are merely ornamental with little practical function, this study shows that these components of the building envelope have a high impact on the envelope’s functioning and performance. This is carried out through the analysis of all relevant lawsuits filed in Spain over a 10 year period, a data set in which a surprisingly high number of 1033 cases of defects was found to affect external windowsills, exterior wainscots or cornices (the three auxiliary elements considered) was found. Considering the total number of lawsuits, this is an objectively unprecedented study. An analysis is carried out regarding the interrelations between elements, defects, causes, and types of buildings, with the aim of obtaining a sorted classification of the data. This constitutes a useful tool to prevent future problems arising from either the design, execution, or maintenance of facades. These include various issues resulting from humidities, one of the most frequent envelope defects, which are found to significantly affect the auxiliary elements of facades.

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