Cracked tiles, leaking flashings, loose ridge tiles - roof problems rarely improve on their own. We carry out roof repairs across Ely and the surrounding villages, diagnosing the cause properly before any work starts so the fix lasts.
Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
A roof repair is needed whenever the outer shell of a roof is letting water in, showing signs of movement, or has been damaged by wind, frost or age. Left alone, a small leak can rot timbers, damage ceilings and turn a modest repair bill into a major structural job. We carry out roof repairs on all property types across Ely - terraced houses, semi-detached and detached homes, bungalows, extensions and commercial outbuildings.
The range of repair work is broad. Below are the most common problems we deal with across Ely and the surrounding area.
Broken, slipped or missing tiles and slates are the most frequent cause of roof leaks. A single displaced tile can allow water to track sideways under neighbouring tiles before it drops through the felt and into the roof space. We source matching clay, concrete and natural slate to keep repairs consistent with the rest of the roof.
On older properties with handmade clay tiles, matching a like-for-like replacement takes care, and getting it wrong stands out. We check for loose nibs and corroded fixings at the same time, because a tile that has slipped once often has company.
Ridge tiles are bedded in mortar along the apex of a pitched roof. Over time the mortar cracks, shrinks away from the tiles or gets broken up by frost. Loose ridge tiles are a particular problem after high winds - a tile that has shifted even slightly can be lifted clear in a storm and become a serious hazard. Repointing ridge and hip mortar and re-bedding any loose sections is a straightforward repair that prevents a much larger job later.
Verge repairs - the mortar bedding along the sloping edge of a gable end - follow the same principle. A common problem is that the mortar here dries out and crumbles before the tiles themselves show any wear, leaving the edge tiles unsupported.
Flashings seal the junction between the roof covering and any vertical surface: chimney stacks, dormer walls, skylights and parapet walls. Lead is the standard material and it lasts well, but it can crack from thermal movement or pull away from the wall if the mortar joint it sits in deteriorates. Re-dressing existing lead and repointing the mortar joint above it is often all that is needed. Where lead has split or been stolen, replacement sections are cut and dressed to fit.
Lead valleys - the channels that carry water down between two roof slopes - collect debris and can crack at the joints if the lead has been worked too thin. A valley that holds standing water will eventually fail, so clearing debris and inspecting the lead thickness is part of any thorough repair visit.
Felt flat roofs on extensions and outbuildings develop splits, bubbles and open laps as the material ages and moves with temperature changes. EPDM rubber flat roofs are more resistant but can lift at the edges or around outlet pipes if the adhesive fails. We repair both, identifying whether a patch repair will extend the roof's life meaningfully or whether a full replacement is the more cost-effective route.
Not every leak has an obvious cause. Water entering at one point on the ceiling may have tracked along a rafter or joist from a breach several metres away. A proper investigation means going into the roof space with a torch, tracing the damp timber back to where it is wettest, then cross-referencing that with the external condition of the roof covering, flashings and any roof penetrations. Guessing at the source and patching the nearest tile rarely solves the problem permanently.
Storm damage - whether a fallen branch, lifted section of felt or a scatter of broken tiles - can leave a roof open to the weather. Temporary weatherproofing using heavy-duty polyethylene sheeting battened over the damaged area stops further water ingress while a full assessment and permanent repair is arranged. Any emergency repair should be followed up with a thorough check of the surrounding area, because storm damage to one section often means adjacent fixings and mortar have been stressed too.
Frost is a factor too - water trapped in a crack will expand when it freezes, widening the gap each winter until a small defect becomes a significant one.
Both need handling differently from modern materials. Lime mortar in particular should be repointed with a mix that matches the original flexibility - using a hard cement mix can cause the tile or brick face to crack rather than allow the minor movement these older structures rely on.
Repair costs depend on the nature of the problem and the access required. As a general guide:
A roof repair in Ely typically costs between £150 and £600 for most common single faults, with larger or multi-cause issues running higher once scaffolding and materials are included.
We work across Ely itself and in the villages around it.
If you are unsure whether we cover your area, call us and we can confirm quickly. Most of the villages around Ely are well within our working range.
We will ask you to describe what you have noticed - water stains, a visible gap, a tile on the ground - and when it started. Where the repair is larger, we will give you a clear price before any work begins.
Call us to arrange a roof inspection in Ely or any of the surrounding villages. We will tell you what we find and what it will take to put it right.
No obligation · We'll call you to arrange a free visit
Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
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