Mega-Mansion Has Mega Roof Problem, Suit Says

Television mega-producer Aaron Spelling and his wife, Candy, who live in arguably the largest home in Los Angeles County, have a problem. Their roof leaks.

In fact, they contend in a lawsuit that the entire roof--or “roofing system� as it is called in court papers--needs to be replaced, despite the fact that their contractor told them it “would last a lifetime.�

All of which goes to show that no matter how fabulously wealthy you are or how many shows you have on television (“Beverly Hills 90210�, “Melrose Place�), you may still end up kindred souls with so many less affluent homeowners in one respect--battling your contractor.

The Spellings have sued their contractor and a subcontractor for $5 million for alleged bad workmanship on the roof and refusing to disclose it. They have also sued the contractors for unspecified punitive damages.

A hearing in the year-old case is scheduled for Friday.

An attorney for the contractor, R.W. LaMar, said the roof was built to specifications given to them by the architect. Officials for Steg Manufacturing Co., which made and installed the metal frame of the roof, declined to comment.

The Spellings attorney, Brian Edwards, also declined to comment.

The Spellings’ fabled 56,500-square-foot estate in Holmby Hills has long been a subject of fascination and derision, seeming to capture in one piece of real estate (albeit an outsized one) everything that is Hollywood--glamour, excess and even disregard for history. The couple bulldozed an estate owned by Bing Crosby to make way for their mansion, which was referred to as The Manor while it was under construction.

In addition to all the usual amenities in the house--which took roughly five years to build--there is a bowling alley, a doll museum and a gift-wrapping room. The couple continues to live in the house, despite the problems.

The Spellings’ lawsuit, which was filed in January, 1996, alleges that the roof was not constructed with “the required minimum slope.� They also allege that the waterproofing was improperly done and that the slate and copper step shingles were improperly installed.

The complaint contends that the first water leaks were noticed in the attic in the last three months of 1995.

The Spellings accuse Steg Manufacturing of failing to construct a roof that would avoid water collection. “The resulting pooling and retention of water on the roof has caused substantial damage . . . and has necessitated the complete replacement of substantial portions of the roof system.�

Ted Gropman, the attorney representing Robert LaMar, head of LaMar Construction, said in an interview Wednesday that “the roof was built according to the plans and specifications provided by the architect. . . . The problem is not with the contractor--he built it with the specified amount of slope. If there’s any problem, it’s with the designer, not the contractor. Or it’s the failure of the Spellings to properly maintain the roof.�

In the past, the Spellings have complained of other flaws in the house, such as a poorly positioned toilet that was placed in front of a window “so that the user would be directly visible.� They also complained that the bowling balls in their bowling alley were too heavy.

The Spellings and LaMar settled out of court on various issues four years ago.