Ely Roofers carries out roof repairs in Histon and the surrounding area, covering everything from missing tiles and leaking flashings to failed flat roofs and chimney stack repairs.
Cost is the question most homeowners want answered before they even pick up the phone. This page gives honest typical price ranges for the most common roof repair jobs, and explains the factors that push costs up or down. Prices will always vary with access, materials and the condition of the roof, but these figures reflect typical current UK rates and should give you a realistic starting point.
We cover Histon and the wider area including Ely, Milton, Waterbeach, Cottenham, Soham, Burwell, Haddenham, and nearby villages.
Before discussing cost, it is worth being clear about when a repair is the right call and when it is not. A repair makes sense when the structure and the majority of the covering are sound, and the failure is limited to a specific area or component. Replacement becomes the right answer when the covering is at the end of its serviceable life, when multiple areas are failing, or when the underlying structure has been damaged by water. We will not recommend a replacement if a repair will do the job properly. Equally, we will not patch a roof that needs replacing, because that just delays the inevitable and can end up costing more in the long run.
Replacing a small number of slipped or cracked tiles is one of the most common repair jobs. For a straightforward replacement of two to five concrete interlocking tiles on a standard pitch roof with reasonable access, expect to pay in the region of £150 to £300. That includes labour, the replacement tiles, and making good the surrounding area.
What pushes this cost up:
What keeps costs lower: a roof that is accessible by a standard ladder, tiles in a common profile still in production, and no secondary damage beneath the surface.
Ridge re-bedding in mortar - where the old mortar is hacked back and the ridge tiles re-set in fresh mix - typically costs £400 to £800 for a standard semi-detached house, depending on the length of the ridge and whether scaffold is already in place. A full hip re-bed adds to that figure.
Dry-fix ridge systems, where mechanical fixings and a ventilated roll replace the mortar altogether, cost 20 to 30 per cent more upfront than a mortar re-bed. However, mortar ridges on houses where the original cement has carbonated and cracked will need doing again in 10 to 15 years. A dry-fix system avoids that cycle. For a house that has had the ridge re-bedded twice in the last 20 years, switching to dry-fix can be more economical over time.
Verge repairs, where the mortar at the edge of the roof tiles has failed, are priced by the linear metre. Expect around £20 to £40 per linear metre for mortar re-pointing, more if tiles are displaced and need re-setting.
Lead flashing around chimney stacks, dormer walls, and roof abutments is one of the most common sources of leaks. A simple repair, where the pointing holding the flashing into the masonry joint has failed and the lead itself is sound, can be as little as £150 to £250. The work involves raking out the failed pointing, re-dressing the lead edge back into the groove, and re-pointing with mortar or lead mastic.
Where the lead itself has cracked, pulled away, or been stolen, a full replacement section is needed. Replacing lead flashings to a chimney stack, including the back gutter and soakers, typically costs £350 to £700 depending on the size of the stack and the complexity of the detail. Lead is sold by code - Code 4 and Code 5 are the most common specifications for flashings - and a proper job uses the correct code for the location rather than whatever is cheapest.
Factors that increase flashing repair costs include hard or deteriorated masonry (raking out the chase takes longer), a large or complex chimney stack, and restricted access.
Chimney stacks need more maintenance than most parts of a roof because they are fully exposed and subject to differential movement relative to the main roof structure. Common jobs and their typical costs:
If a chimney is unused and in poor condition, capping it off is sometimes the most cost-effective long-term option, as it removes the maintenance requirement on the most exposed part of the roof. This does require adequate ventilation to be maintained if the flue serves a room below.
Flat roofs on extensions, bay windows and garages are a frequent source of leaks, particularly as the covering ages. Typical costs for flat roof work depend heavily on the system and the extent of the failure.
A localised patch repair to a felt roof, where damage is confined to one area, is typically £150 to £350. This is only a sensible option if the rest of the membrane is in reasonable condition; patching an old, fatigued felt roof repeatedly costs more in the long run than a full re-cover.
A full re-cover of a flat roof using built-up felt on a standard garage (approximately 15 to 20 square metres) is typically £800 to £1,400. The same job using EPDM rubber membrane is typically £1,000 to £1,800. EPDM is more expensive in materials but is rated by manufacturers to last considerably longer than a standard felt system - often 40 or more years when correctly installed - which changes the value calculation, particularly for a roof you want to leave alone for a long time.
Factors that increase flat roof costs include a poorly constructed or rotted deck (which must be replaced before a new covering goes on), complex outlet and edge details, and the need for new insulation to meet current standards if a full strip is being done.
Storm damage repairs are priced the same way as any other repair - by the work involved, not by the circumstances. The urgency is factored in through availability rather than a surcharge, but access arrangements, scaffolding at short notice and sourcing materials quickly can all affect the final cost. If a temporary weatherproof covering needs to go on while materials are sourced, that adds a small amount to the overall bill but prevents much more expensive internal water damage.
If you have visible storm damage in Histon or nearby - missing ridge tiles, lead that has lifted, or tiles that have come down - call us to arrange an inspection. Getting onto the roof quickly after a storm prevents secondary damage that is far more costly to put right.
Finding the source of a leak is not always straightforward, and a proper investigation takes time. If a roofer charges nothing for a leak investigation, ask how thorough it will be - a genuine investigation involves getting onto the roof, checking multiple potential sources, and sometimes going into the loft space too. A superficial look from a ladder is not always enough. A proper leak investigation is typically priced as part of the overall repair quote once the source is found, or as a standalone charge of £75 to £150 if the diagnosis alone is required.
To summarise the key cost variables across all repair types:
Like-for-like roof repairs do not usually require planning permission. If your property in or near Histon is in a conservation area, or if it is listed, you may need to use particular materials or obtain consent before changing the roof covering. It is worth checking before work starts, especially if the material is changing from what was there before.
Can you fix a roof a previous roofer has worked on? Yes. We assess the current condition and what needs doing. If a previous repair has failed, we identify why and give you a clear price for the correct fix.
What are the signs my roof needs repairing? Damp patches on ceilings after rain, mortar or granules in the gutters, visible cracked or missing tiles, daylight in the loft, and loose or rocking ridge tiles are the most common indicators.
Do you carry out emergency repairs? If you have sudden damage and an active leak, contact a roofer as soon as you can so the problem can be assessed.
If you have a roofing problem in Histon or a nearby village, call us to arrange a roof survey. We will identify the problem, explain what the repair involves, and give you a clear price before anything starts. No pressure, no unnecessary recommendations.
No obligation · We usually respond within 2 hours
Storm damage, active leak, damaged ridge - we aim to be on-site within 24 hours.
