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.
Most roof problems do not announce themselves dramatically. They build quietly over months or years until something - a heavy downpour, a sharp frost, or a bout of wind - tips a deteriorating component into failure. Knowing the warning signs and understanding what causes them puts you in a much stronger position when you call a roofer, because you can describe what you have seen and ask the right questions about what needs doing.
We cover Newmarket and the surrounding villages, carrying out a full range of residential roof repairs.
Roof repairs we carry out in Newmarket include:
Replacing a small number of broken or slipped tiles or slates typically costs between £150 and £400, depending on the material and access. Ridge repointing or re-bedding on a standard house usually falls between £200 and £600. Lead flashing repair at a chimney stack is commonly in the range of £250 to £600. Flat roof patch repairs on a small extension start from around £200; a full re-felt over a larger flat roof runs to £1,000 or more. These are indicative ranges based on typical current UK pricing - the actual cost depends on materials, the extent of the damage and the ease of access once someone is on the roof.
This is the section of the page that will help you understand what you are looking at before a roofer arrives. Each warning sign points to a cause, and knowing the cause helps you have a more informed conversation about the repair.
A brown or yellowish water stain on a ceiling, or a patch that feels soft to the touch, is often the first sign a homeowner notices. The stain is not necessarily below the point of entry. Water entering through a cracked tile or a failed flashing joint can travel along a rafter for a metre or more before it drips onto the ceiling below. If the stain is only visible after rain, a damaged tile, slate or flashing is the likely cause. If it appears in dry weather after cold nights, it is more likely to be condensation in the loft rather than a structural leak - the fix is different in each case.
A tile that has moved out of line with the rest is a common sign visible from ground level, and binoculars make it much easier to spot. The cause can be a broken tile nib - the small ridge on the back of a concrete or clay tile that hooks over the batten - or a corroded or snapped nail on a slate. Tiles can also slip when the timber batten behind them has rotted, meaning the fixing point is no longer solid. A single slipped tile is usually a straightforward repair; a large number of slipped tiles across the same section of roof can indicate that the battens in that area need replacing.
Finding pieces of grey mortar, small chunks of tile or fragments of ridge tile on a path or in a garden is a sign that something has moved on the roof above. Mortar-bedded ridges and verges have a lifespan - typically 15 to 25 years in normal conditions - and once mortar begins to crack and fall away, the tiles it was holding are no longer secure. A single piece of fallen mortar is worth investigating. Several pieces, or a recurring problem after every frost season, often means the mortar bed has reached the end of its useful life and the ridge or verge needs re-doing properly rather than patched repeatedly.
If you can see pinpricks or patches of daylight from inside the loft in the daytime, there is a gap in the roof covering somewhere above. Even small gaps allow water in during rain, and wind-driven rain can push water through gaps that appear minor. Any visible daylight in the loft is worth reporting to a roofer - it is one of the clearest direct indicators of a missing or damaged tile, slate or piece of ridge.
Damp patches on an internal wall that runs up to or near a chimney breast are almost always related to the chimney stack rather than the main roof slope. The lead flashing that seals the junction between the stack and the roof can pull away from the brickwork as mortar dries out and shrinks, or as the stack moves slightly over time. Step flashing, soakers and back gutters all need to remain sealed against the stack face. A visible gap between the lead and the brickwork, even a narrow one, is enough to allow water in during prolonged rain.
A roof slope that looks wavy or uneven when viewed from below - particularly if it has changed over time rather than always looking that way - can indicate problems with the underlying structure. Rafter spread, where the rafters have pushed outward under the weight of the covering, causes a characteristic outward bulge at the eaves. A localised dip or sag, particularly on an older roof, can mean a rafter has cracked or a supporting purlin has weakened. These are structural issues that need more than a tile replacement, and they are worth having assessed by a roofer who can look at both the outside and the inside of the roof.
Skylights and dormer windows create additional junctions in the roof where water needs to be carefully managed. The lead or proprietary flashing around these openings can crack with age or lift at the edges when the sealant or mortar that holds it to the surrounding structure breaks down. Water entering around a skylight can run a long way before it appears as a visible drip, often making it difficult to identify without a proper inspection from outside.
If you notice a gritty, dark residue accumulating in the gutters, it is often granules from the surface of a felt flat roof or from bituminous underlays. This indicates that the surface is breaking down. A flat roof felt that is losing its granule coating is becoming thin and brittle, which makes splits and water ingress increasingly likely. This is a warning sign worth acting on before a full failure develops.
Frost is hard on mortar and aged materials. Water that has worked into a small crack freezes, expands and widens the crack with each freeze-thaw cycle over winter. Wind lifts tiles and ridge sections where the mechanical fixing or the mortar bed is already weakened. Moss and lichen hold moisture against tile surfaces and, over time, grow roots under the edges of tiles, gradually working them loose. Poor original workmanship - flashing not properly dressed into the brickwork, ridge tiles bedded on insufficient mortar, or tiles laid on undersized battens - tends to show up years later when the first line of defence fails.
Age is also a straightforward factor. Natural slate roofs can last 80 to 100 years or more if individual slates are replaced as needed; concrete tiles typically last 40 to 60 years. A roof that is approaching the end of its material lifespan will start generating repair calls more frequently, which is when it is worth having an honest conversation about whether continued repairs or a full replacement makes better economic sense.
Like-for-like repairs using the same materials generally do not require planning permission. If a property is listed or within a conservation area, there may be restrictions on acceptable replacement materials - natural slate, for example, may need to be replaced with natural slate rather than concrete. Check with the local planning authority if you are unsure before work begins.
Yes. Ridge tiles that have shifted or lifted can be re-bedded in fresh mortar, or a dry-fix ridge system can be installed which does not depend on mortar and tends to perform better long-term on exposed rooflines.
Yes. We assess the current condition of the roof, explain what we find in plain terms, and carry out whatever work is needed. Previous workmanship is noted where it is relevant to the repair.
If a repair is urgent - water actively entering the property or structural damage after a storm - it is worth contacting a roofer without delay.
Call us to check your address.
If you have spotted any of the warning signs described above - or if you just want a professional eye on a roof that has not been inspected for a while - call us and we will arrange to come out, assess what we find, and give you a clear price before any work starts.
No obligation · We usually respond within 2 hours
Storm damage, active leak, damaged ridge - we aim to be on-site within 24 hours.
