Ely Roofers carries out roof repairs in Haddenham and the surrounding area, using the right materials for the job and giving you honest advice about your options before any work begins.
Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
A roof repair is only as good as the materials used in it. Fitting a cheap replacement tile that does not match the original in thickness, profile or weight, or using a thin mortar mix on a ridge that will not survive frost, simply means the problem comes back sooner. When we look at a repair job in Haddenham, choosing the correct material for the specific situation is part of the diagnosis, not an afterthought.
Below is a guide to the main materials and systems involved in residential roof repairs, with an honest assessment of what each one offers and where its limitations lie. This is the information worth having before you speak to any roofer.
Concrete interlocking tiles are a common roof covering. They are widely available, relatively affordable and straightforward to replace like for like. The drawback is that concrete tiles fade and weather over time, so a new replacement tile will often look noticeably different from its neighbours for a year or two until it weathers in. On an older roof where the colour has shifted significantly, finding a close match takes more effort and is not always possible perfectly.
Concrete tiles are also heavier than clay or slate, and on a roof where the sarking felt has aged and the battens are borderline, adding any new load is worth considering. A good roofer will check batten condition while the tiles are off.
Clay tiles are fired rather than cast, which gives them a denser, harder finish than concrete. They typically last longer and hold their colour better. Plain clay tiles - the small, flat tiles laid in a double lap - are common on older properties and are still manufactured in the UK. Reclaimed clay tiles are also widely available and often a better match for an older roof than new stock.
The trade-off is cost. Clay tiles cost more than concrete, and handmade clay tiles from a specific period can be expensive to source. Where only a handful of tiles need replacing, the extra cost is usually worth paying to maintain the roof's appearance and performance. Where a large area needs attention, the budget implications are worth discussing openly.
Welsh and Westmorland slates are the benchmark for longevity in the UK. A well-laid natural slate roof, properly maintained, can outlast two or three felt-and-tile roofs of the same age. Individual slates can be replaced using a lead tingle - a small strip of lead hooked under the course above to hold the new slate in position without disturbing surrounding slates.
The challenge with slate repairs is matching the original. Welsh slate varies in colour from blue-grey to purple, and slates from different quarries look different even when new. Reclaimed Welsh slate is usually the best option for matching an existing roof, though it needs to be sound and free from delamination. Spanish and Chinese slates are cheaper and more readily available but tend to be softer and can flake within ten to fifteen years in exposed conditions.
The traditional method of bedding and pointing ridge and hip tiles uses a sand-cement mortar mix. It does the job and, when mixed correctly and applied in the right conditions, it is durable. The weaknesses are that it can crack as the roof structure moves slightly with temperature changes, and frost can attack it over winter. Repointing ridge mortar is one of the most common roof repair tasks.
Dry-fix ridge systems use mechanical clips and a ventilated ridge end piece to secure the tiles without mortar. They have become common on new builds and re-roofing projects. The advantages are that there is no mortar to crack and the system allows some movement without failing. The disadvantages are that they look different from a traditionally bedded ridge, which can matter on a property where appearance is important, and retrofitting them on an older roof where the tiles and battens were not designed for them requires some care. We will tell you honestly which is the better choice for your specific roof.
Lead is the standard material for flashings around chimney stacks, in valleys, at abutments and around roof penetrations such as pipes and skylights. It is malleable, long-lasting and proven. Code 3 lead (1.32mm thick) is used for soakers and small flashings; Code 4 (1.80mm) and Code 5 (2.24mm) are used for chimney aprons, back gutters and valley linings where the material takes more wear.
Alternatives to lead include aluminium flashing tape and various self-adhesive products. These are sometimes used as a temporary measure and can be effective for minor patch repairs in accessible locations. They are not a long-term replacement for correctly dressed lead in a chimney or valley situation. Where a flashing has failed, the right answer is usually to re-lay it properly in lead rather than to tape over the problem.
Flat roof sections on extensions and outbuildings are common. The two repair systems most often used are built-up felt and EPDM rubber membrane.
Traditional built-up felt is a bitumen-based system laid in layers. It is the most common existing flat roof material in domestic properties. Felt repairs typically involve cutting back to sound material, applying a new layer of torch-on felt and making the upstands and edges good. Felt flat roofs typically last fifteen to twenty-five years when properly laid, though low-quality installations fail much sooner. The cost of a flat roof repair varies with the size of the area and the extent of damage, but patching a modest split or blister on a small roof might cost £150 to £400; more extensive work runs higher.
EPDM rubber is increasingly the material of choice for new flat roofs and flat roof replacements. It is a single-ply membrane bonded to the substrate with adhesive. It is more flexible than felt in cold temperatures, handles ponding water well and does not crack and blister in the way older felt systems do. Repairing a lifted edge or a puncture in an EPDM membrane is straightforward if you use the correct EPDM bonding adhesive and seam tape - general purpose sealants do not bond reliably to rubber. A repair done with the right materials typically holds for a long time; a repair done with the wrong products fails within a season.
Typical UK price ranges for common repairs: replacing a small number of broken or slipped tiles, £150 to £400; ridge or hip repointing for a short run, £200 to £600; lead flashing repair to a chimney stack, £200 to £500; chimney repointing and flaunching, £300 to £700; flat roof patch repair, £150 to £400. These figures are a guide only - the final cost depends on access, the materials required and what is found once the roof is inspected. We give you a clear price before work starts.
Like-for-like repairs using matching materials generally do not require planning permission. If your property is listed or in a conservation area, check with the local planning authority first, particularly if the repair will involve changing the material or the appearance of the roof covering in any way.
Yes. We assess what is there honestly and tell you what needs doing. Where a previous repair has failed or caused a secondary problem, we will explain why and what the correct fix involves.
Damp patches on upstairs ceilings, visible slipped or cracked tiles, crumbling ridge mortar, dark staining on chimney brickwork, lifted flashings and debris in the gutters are all indicators that something needs attention. Catching problems early keeps repair costs lower.
We carry out roof repairs in Haddenham and the surrounding area. Call us to arrange a survey and we will give you an honest assessment of what your roof needs.
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Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
