Roofing needs in the area are varied, with older buildings and newer estates often requiring different approaches. Whether a roof needs a single repair or a full re-roof, it is worth getting a clear price before any work starts and making sure the job is done properly.
Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
We carry out roof repairs, full re-roofs, flat roof work, lead flashing, ridge and hip tile replacement, guttering and fascia work across the village and the surrounding area.
These materials can last well over a century when maintained, but a common problem is that the original lime mortar bedding on ridge tiles dries out and crumbles over time. Once the ridge mortar fails, tiles loosen, water tracks into the roof void and timber can begin to soften. On this type of property we typically re-bed and re-point the ridge using a suitable mortar mix, or repoint with a modern flexible compound where movement is likely.
Lead can last fifty years or more when fitted correctly, but poorly lapped joints or flashings that have never been properly pointed into the mortar joint will let water in every time it rains. Replacing or re-dressing a lead flashing is a straightforward repair that solves a leak that might otherwise be mistaken for a tile problem.
Concrete interlocking tiles are robust when new but they become porous and brittle as they age, and the original sand-and-cement mortar bedding on ridges and hips tends to crack and shrink over fifteen to twenty years. A common problem is that the ridge capping lifts during frost, letting water into the roof void before the homeowner is aware of any issue.
If your house was built between 1960 and 1990 and has never had ridge work done, it is worth having the ridge and hip mortar checked. On these roofs we can re-bed and re-point with mortar, or fit a dry-fix ridge and hip system using mechanical fixings and purpose-made caps, which removes the need for mortar altogether and tends to last longer in exposed locations.
Felt roofs can deteriorate over time, and blistering, cracking and ponding water are the signs to look for. We install both traditional torch-on felt systems and EPDM rubber membrane, which is a single-ply synthetic material that bonds to the deck and can last considerably longer than standard felt when correctly installed. EPDM is particularly well suited to small flat roof sections on domestic extensions.
Storm damage can leave a roof open to the weather quickly. If you have missing tiles, a damaged or collapsed section, or water coming in following high winds or heavy rain, call us and we will assess the situation and make the roof safe. Emergency work typically involves stripping any loose or lifted tiles, installing a temporary waterproof cover if needed, and then completing the permanent repair once materials are available.
Moss holds moisture against the tile surface, accelerating frost damage and, over time, can work under tile laps and disturb the waterproof line. Biocide treatment followed by soft-wash or low-pressure cleaning removes the growth without blasting mortar joints or cracking ageing tiles. High-pressure washing alone on an old clay or concrete tile roof does more harm than good and should be avoided.
Following cleaning, ridge and hip mortar can be pointed and broken or slipped tiles replaced in one visit, which extends the functional life of a roof that is otherwise sound. A full roof renovation of this type - clean, treat, re-bed ridges and replace broken tiles - typically costs between £800 and £2,500 for an average semi-detached house in this area, depending on roof size, access and the extent of mortar work needed. These are typical current UK ranges; exact prices depend on the condition of your roof.
When gutters overflow, water runs down the face of the wall, soaks into brickwork and eventually gets into roof eaves and fascia boards. On properties with timber soffits and fascias, a blocked gutter left through winter can cause significant rot in one season. We replace uPVC and cast-iron guttering, fit new fascia and soffit boards where rot has set in, and clear and re-seal existing runs where they are still sound.
Prices vary depending on roof size, pitch, access and the materials used, but the following ranges give a realistic guide for typical work in this area:
These are indicative UK ranges for this type of work. We will give you a clear written price before any work starts.
If less than a quarter of your tiles are broken, slipped or missing and the underlying felt and battens are still sound, repair is almost always the better option. If the felt is perished, the battens are rotted in several places or the tiles themselves are heavily spalling, a full strip and re-roof will cost less in the long run than continued patching. We can tell you which situation you are in after a visual inspection from a ladder or scaffold.
Most roof leaks on older properties come not from broken tiles but from failed mortar on ridges or hips, cracked or poorly lapped lead flashings, or failed felt around a valley. These faults are not visible from the ground. A damp patch on a ceiling directly below a ridge or chimney is almost always a flashing or mortar problem rather than a tile issue.
For small repairs on a single-storey section or a low-pitch roof, a ladder and stand-off is usually sufficient. For anything on a two-storey pitched roof, or any work that takes more than a short time, scaffold or a scaffold tower gives safer, better-quality access and is standard practice on most jobs. The cost of scaffold hire is included in any price we quote.
How long a re-roof takes depends on the size of the house, the roof covering and whether any hidden timber defects are found, so ask for an estimate once a survey has been carried out. Older properties with hand-cut battens or damaged rafters can take longer if timber repairs are needed.
Our working area covers Burwell and the wider Cambridgeshire fenland, including Ely, Soham, Fordham, Reach, Swaffham Prior, Stretham, Littleport, Haddenham and the villages in between. Call us to arrange a roof survey or to get a price for any roofing work in Burwell.
Roofing needs in the area are varied, with older buildings and newer estates often requiring different approaches. Whether a roof needs a single repair or a full re-roof, it is worth getting a clear price before any work starts and making sure the job is done properly.
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Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
