When your roof is damaged in Upwell, knowing what to do in the first few hours - and what to leave well alone - can make the difference between a straightforward repair and a much bigger bill.
Ely Roofers carries out roof repairs across Upwell and the wider area, covering everything from a couple of slipped tiles to leaking lead flashings, ridge work, chimney stacks and flat roof sections. We will always tell you honestly whether a repair is the right answer or whether the roof has reached the point where replacement is the better long-term decision.
Roof problems rarely stay small on their own. Below are the main types of repair work we handle.
This is the angle that matters most to homeowners in the hours before a roofer arrives. Acting sensibly during that window protects your home and keeps repair costs down. Here is what you can do yourself, safely, from inside.
Contain any water that is getting in. Place buckets or bowls under drips and lay old towels around them to protect flooring. If water is pooling on a ceiling that is starting to bow, the safest thing is to gently pierce the lowest point with a screwdriver to let it drain into a bucket below rather than letting the whole section collapse under the weight.
Move belongings and furniture out of the way. Electronics, soft furnishings, documents and anything irreplaceable should be shifted away from the affected area. Water does not always fall straight down - it follows timbers and travels surprisingly far from the entry point.
Document the damage. Take photographs of any interior staining, damp patches or drips, and note the time and date. If you have guttering or roof sections you can photograph safely from the ground or an upstairs window, do so. These images help us understand what we are dealing with before we arrive, and they may be useful for insurance purposes.
Check your loft if it is safe to do so. A torch check of the loft space can reveal whether timbers are wet, whether there is daylight visible through the roof covering, or whether insulation has become saturated. Wet insulation holds moisture against the timbers and accelerates rot, so knowing its condition early is useful. Do not move around on roof timbers unless you are confident they will take your weight.
Cover an exposed section - carefully and only from the ground or a safe window. If a tile or section of felt has blown off and left the roof deck exposed, a heavy-duty tarpaulin weighted at the edges can slow further water ingress. Thread ropes or bungee cords over the ridge and tie them off securely. Do not attempt this in high winds, and do not set foot on the roof yourself.
It is tempting to deal with a roof problem straight away, especially when rain is forecast. But several DIY approaches cause more damage than they prevent.
Do not go up on the roof. This is the most important rule. Domestic roofs are not designed to be walked on freely. Concrete and clay tiles crack underfoot if you step on the wrong part. Slates are brittle and will shatter. Felt roof surfaces become slippery when wet. Falls from roofs are a leading cause of serious injury in DIY accidents. There is no repair worth the risk of a fall from height.
Do not apply DIY sealant or expanding foam to a leak. Roof-and-gutter sealant products sold in DIY shops are not a lasting fix for a structural leak. They block a roofer's view of what is actually wrong, and some products make subsequent proper repairs harder because they interfere with mortar or lead adhesion. Expanding foam is even worse - it traps moisture behind it and can cause timber rot to accelerate.
Do not assume the leak is directly below where the stain appears. Water entering at a hip or flashing point can travel along a rafter for two metres or more before dripping onto the ceiling. Attempting to patch what you think is the source from inside the loft is almost always futile and sometimes causes further damage to insulation or vapour barriers.
Do not delay calling for an inspection. A missing tile exposes the felt layer beneath, and felt is not a permanent weathering surface - it is a secondary line of defence. Once that tears or splits under UV and rain, water reaches the timbers. Timber decay from roof leaks is among the most avoidable and most expensive problems a homeowner can face. The earlier a problem is reported, the smaller and cheaper the repair is likely to be.
Roof repair costs in the UK vary considerably depending on what needs doing and how accessible the roof is. As a general guide: replacing a handful of broken tiles typically costs £150 to £400. Re-bedding and repointing a ridge section runs from around £300 to £600 depending on its length. Lead flashing repairs at a chimney or dormer commonly fall between £200 and £500. More involved repairs - structural timber work, extensive felt replacement or full chimney stack rebuilds - will cost more, and getting a proper survey before any work is always the right approach.
Flat roof patch repairs using felt or EPDM rubber typically cost £200 to £500 for a small section, rising significantly for larger areas or where insulation boards need replacement underneath.
Like-for-like repairs to a roof do not normally require planning permission in England. You can replace broken slates with matching slates, or re-bed ridge tiles, without any formal consent. If your property is listed or sits within a conservation area, the rules are stricter - alterations to the external appearance can require consent even when equivalent works on an ordinary property would not. If in doubt, check with your local planning authority before work begins.
Yes. A competent roofer will assess any previous work plainly, explain what was done well and what was not, and set out what needs to be put right. Previous work on a roof should not attract a surcharge.
Can you re-secure loose ridge tiles after a storm?
Yes. Ridge tiles are bedded in mortar, and that mortar perishes over time. After a storm, ridge tiles that were already borderline often lift or slide. We can re-bed them with fresh mortar and, where appropriate, use a mechanical fixing as well for additional security.
What are the signs my roof needs repairing?
Water stains on ceilings or in the loft, visible missing or slipped tiles, daylight visible from inside the loft, moss or algae build-up causing tiles to lift at the edges, and failed or cracked mortar at the ridge or verge are all signs worth acting on.
Do you offer emergency roof repairs?
If your roof is open to the weather and rain is expected, contact a roofer as soon as you can and describe the situation, so they can judge how urgent it is.
If you have spotted a problem - or just want to know what condition your roof is in before winter - call us to arrange a roof survey in Upwell. A clear assessment and a firm price before any work begins are what you should expect from any roofer you appoint.
No obligation · We usually respond within 2 hours
Storm damage, active leak, damaged ridge - we aim to be on-site within 24 hours.
