Ely Roofers installs new roofs in Cottenham and the surrounding villages, using quality slates, clay tiles, concrete tiles and EPDM flat roof systems.
A new roof is one of the largest single investments you will make in your home, so it pays to understand what the work entails before anyone starts stripping the old covering off. On a pitched roof the job involves removing the existing tiles or slates, inspecting and replacing any rotten or damaged timber in the roof structure, laying new breathable underlay, fitting new battens at the correct gauge for the chosen tile, and then fixing the new covering course by course from eaves to ridge. The ridge is bedded or dry-fixed, verges are secured, and all abutments, valleys and chimney bases are flashed in lead.
On a flat roof - whether over an extension, a bay window or a single-storey outbuilding - the process differs. The deck is checked for movement and rot, any damaged boards are replaced, and the new system (commonly torch-on felt or EPDM rubber membrane) is applied in a way that keeps the falls correct so water drains properly. Getting the falls right is as important as the material itself; a flat roof that pools water will fail early regardless of how good the membrane is.
For homeowners in Cottenham and neighbouring villages, the same standard of work applies whether you are replacing an ageing roof on an existing house or covering a new extension.
The material you choose affects the look of the house, the weight the structure must carry, and how long the roof performs before it needs major attention again. Here is a plain summary of the main options.
For a typical semi-detached house in the Cottenham area, a full re-roof in concrete interlocking tiles might cost in the region of £5,000-£9,000 depending on roof size and complexity. Natural slate adds considerably to that figure - budget roughly £8,000-£14,000 for a similar property. These are honest typical UK ranges; your actual price depends on access, pitch, the number of hips and valleys, and whether the battens and underlay need full replacement.
This is where many homeowners come unstuck. The roofing trade is one of the few remaining sectors where you can call yourself a roofer without any formal qualification. That does not mean there are no good roofers - there are plenty - but it does mean you need to ask the right questions before you sign anything or hand over a deposit.
A verbal price is not enough. A proper quote should list what is being stripped, what materials are being used (brand, type, colour reference), what timber work is included, how valleys and flashings will be dealt with, and what is excluded. If a roofer refuses to put a quote in writing, that tells you something important.
When you compare quotes, check that they are comparing the same work. One contractor may quote to re-batten and re-underlay in full; another may quote only to retile over existing battens. The cheaper price may leave you with a roof that fails within a few years because the underlay was already degraded.
Good questions to ask any roofer you are considering:
Ask for the addresses of two or three completed re-roofs in the area so you can take a look from the street. A neat ridge line, consistent tile laps, tidy verges and well-dressed lead flashings are visible signs of careful work. Ask if you can speak to a previous customer directly, not just read a handed-over sheet of testimonials.
If a roofer cannot or will not provide local references, ask why.
A deposit to cover the cost of materials ordered specifically for your job is reasonable. Paying more than 20-25% upfront before any work starts is not standard practice and carries more risk than it is worth. Stage payments tied to progress - for example, balance due once the roof is finished and the scaffold down - are a fair arrangement for both sides.
Be cautious of any contractor who asks for payment in cash only, or who wants the full amount before starting. These are not standard practices among established roofing businesses.
Extensions with flat roofs are common, and the quality of work on flat roofs varies enormously. The two systems worth specifying are torch-on modified bitumen (a layered felt system bonded by heat) and EPDM rubber membrane. EPDM in particular has become increasingly popular because it is installed as a single piece with very few joins - joins are where flat roofs fail. A well-installed EPDM system can last 30-50 years. Torch-on felt, properly layered, typically gives 20-30 years of service.
For a flat roof on a standard single-storey extension, expect to pay roughly £70-£120 per square metre for a torch-on felt system or £80-£130 per square metre for EPDM, depending on deck condition and access. These figures are for supply and installation; if the deck boards need replacing, add to that.
A new roof is a natural point to address the roofline - fascias, soffits and guttering. uPVC replacements for timber fascias and soffits are maintenance-free and stop rot from working back into the eaves. If the existing guttering is cracked, sagging or pulling away from the fascia, replacing it at the same time as the roof is sensible because the scaffold is already in place. Adding guttering replacement later means paying for access again.
Make sure any quotes you compare clearly state whether roofline work is included or excluded, so you are not surprised by an additional cost once the scaffold goes up.
If your property is in a conservation area or is listed, the rules are stricter and you may need consent before changing the roof material. Check with your local planning authority before agreeing a specification. Building regulations approval for a straight re-roof is not usually required either, but if you are making structural changes - for example, raising the pitch or adding a rooflight - the work may need to be notified.
A roofer who is not aware of these distinctions, or who does not raise the question with you, is one who may not have done much work on older or constrained properties before.
Three quotes is a sensible number for a job of this size. Do not automatically go for the cheapest. If one quote is noticeably lower than the other two, ask specifically what it excludes. The answers will usually explain the difference. A mid-range quote from a roofer who can answer all the questions above clearly and in writing is generally a better starting point than the cheapest price from someone who is vague on the detail.
If you are ready to get a proper roof survey and a written quote for a new roof in Cottenham, call Ely Roofers and we will come out and assess the job in person.
No obligation · We usually respond within 2 hours
Storm damage, active leak, damaged ridge - we aim to be on-site within 24 hours.
