Ely Roofers installs new roofs for homeowners in Bar Hill, using materials chosen to suit the job and built to last through ordinary British weather.
A new roof is one of the largest single investments most homeowners make. Get the materials right and it will need little more than occasional maintenance for decades. Get them wrong and you are looking at recurring repairs, poor thermal performance, and a roof that looks out of place on the property. The choice of material matters more than most people realise when they first start asking for quotes.
We install new roofs for homeowners in Bar Hill and the surrounding area. On every job we will talk you through the options that actually suit your property before any work starts.
For pitched roofs, the two most common tile types are clay and concrete. Both are widely used, both work well, and there are genuine trade-offs between them that are worth understanding.
Clay tiles are the traditional choice. They have a natural colour that tends to age well, becoming more attractive over time rather than fading. Good quality clay tiles can last 60 to 100 years with proper maintenance and quality installation. The main drawback is cost: clay tiles typically run from around £50 to £80 per square metre for materials alone, and certain profiles are considerably more expensive. If you are matching an existing clay roof, finding the correct tile profile and colour can be difficult and sometimes expensive.
Concrete tiles are heavier than clay and, depending on the property, may need the roof structure checked before installation. They are less expensive, typically £30 to £50 per square metre for materials, and they come in a wide range of colours and profiles. The finish can fade over 20 to 30 years, though the tile itself remains structurally sound. Concrete tiles are a practical, cost-effective choice for most modern properties.
For a full re-roof on a typical three-bedroom semi-detached house, the total installed cost, covering stripping the old roof, new battens, felt underlay, tiles, and ridge, usually falls between £5,000 and £10,000 depending on the size, pitch, and tile choice. Larger or more complex roofs cost more.
Slate gives a roof a clean, distinct look that suits certain property types. Natural slate, quarried in Wales or imported from Spain or Portugal, is the premium option. It is thin, lightweight relative to concrete, and can last well over 100 years if properly laid and the fixings are maintained. It is also the most expensive option, with materials typically from £70 to £120 per square metre before labour.
Fibre cement slate is the alternative for homeowners who want the slate look at a lower price. It costs considerably less than natural slate, typically £20 to £40 per square metre for materials, and it comes in a consistent size and thickness that some roofers find easier to lay quickly. The trade-off is lifespan: most fibre cement products are rated for 30 to 40 years, not 100. If you are planning to stay in the property long-term, natural slate may prove better value over time despite the higher upfront cost.
Many properties have extensions, garages, or outbuildings with flat or low-pitch roofs. The two systems we use most are traditional felt and EPDM rubber membrane.
Torch-on felt (also called built-up felt) has been the standard flat roof material for decades. Installed correctly in two or three layers, it performs well and is relatively straightforward to repair when it eventually fails. A common problem with flat roofs is poor drainage causing standing water, which shortens the life of any felt system. A well-designed, correctly laid felt flat roof can last 15 to 25 years.
EPDM rubber is a single-ply membrane that has become the preferred choice for many flat roof jobs. It is lightweight, highly flexible, and handles temperature change well, which is relevant when roofs heat up in summer and cool sharply overnight in colder months. EPDM is typically installed in a single sheet with very few joins, which reduces the most common failure points. A properly installed EPDM roof can last 30 to 50 years. Material costs are higher than basic felt, but the longevity often justifies it.
Flat roof costs vary with size, but for a typical single-storey extension you would expect to pay roughly £70 to £120 per square metre installed, depending on the membrane system and the state of the deck underneath.
Whatever material you choose for the main roof surface, the flashings are equally important. Flashings are the strips of lead or sometimes mortar that seal the joints between the roof and walls, chimneys, skylights, and roof windows. Lead is the traditional material and remains the best: properly dressed lead flashings can last as long as the roof itself and are straightforward to repair if damaged. A new roof should always include properly installed lead flashings at every junction, not mortar alone. Mortar-only flashings crack over time and allow water in at exactly the point where leaks cause the most damage.
On chimney stacks, flashings include the apron at the front, the back gutter behind the stack, and step flashings up the sides. These are all critical details that a good roofer will get right as a matter of course, not treat as optional extras.
A new roof is the right time to look at the roofline, the fascias, soffits, and guttering at the eaves. Timber fascias rot over time, particularly if gutters have been blocked and water has been sitting against them. uPVC replacements are now standard on most properties: they do not rot, do not need painting, and last for many years with minimal maintenance.
Soffits close in the underside of the roof overhang and are also commonly replaced at the same time. Ventilated soffits are important for allowing air to circulate through the roof space, which reduces condensation and protects the timbers. When fascias and soffits are replaced, gutters are typically removed and re-hung, so it also makes sense to check the gutter run and downpipes are draining properly at the same time.
Having roofline work done alongside a re-roof saves on scaffolding costs, since the scaffold needed for the main roof will already be in place.
On a full re-roof, the existing tiles or slates are stripped off first. Before new materials go on, the battens, felt underlay, and sometimes the timbers themselves are inspected. Rotten or damaged rafters and wall plates are something a roofer will identify at strip-off stage, and any structural repairs needed should be agreed before the new materials are ordered. The old tiles and rubble are loaded to a skip, and the scaffold should be netted to protect the property below.
Not every roof problem calls for a full replacement. But there are signs that suggest repair is no longer the economical choice:
A thorough inspection from the roof itself, not just from the ground, will give you a clear picture. Ask any roofer to explain what they found and why they are recommending replacement rather than repair, and ask to see photographs if possible.
Before accepting a quote for a new roof, it is worth asking a few specific questions:
If your roof is ageing or you have concerns about its condition, the right starting point is a proper inspection, not a quote over the phone. We cover Bar Hill and the surrounding villages. Call us to arrange a roof survey so we can give you an honest assessment of what your roof needs and which materials will suit it best.
No obligation · We usually respond within 2 hours
Storm damage, active leak, damaged ridge - we aim to be on-site within 24 hours.
