Signs it's time for a new roof
A roof can be repaired many times, but there comes a point where you are paying for the same problem again and again. Lots of slipped or cracked tiles across different slopes, a sagging roof line, daylight visible from the loft, damp timbers or underfelt that crumbles when touched are all signs that the covering is worn out rather than damaged in one place.
If you are unsure, we start with an honest inspection. Sometimes a targeted fix is all that is needed, and our roof repairs page explains what that can involve. When a re-roof is the better answer, Lee will show you why.
Tile and slate re-roofs
We fit new pitched roofs in both tile and slate. Concrete and clay tiles cover most homes in Essex and give a durable, practical finish. Natural slate suits older properties and gives a crisp, traditional look. Where a house sits in a street of matching roofs, we can talk about a covering that keeps it in keeping with its neighbours.
Whatever you choose, the materials and approach are written into your quote so there are no surprises later on.
What a re-roof involves, step by step
A full re-roof follows a clear sequence. Knowing what happens at each stage makes the process far less disruptive:
- Scaffold: erected around the work area to give safe access and protect the ground below.
- Strip: the old tiles or slates, battens and felt are removed, and the rafters are checked for rot or damage.
- Membrane: a modern breathable membrane is laid across the rafters to keep water out while letting moisture escape from the loft.
- Battens: new treated timber battens are fixed at the right spacing for the chosen tile or slate.
- Tiles or slates: the new covering goes on, with valleys, verges and flashings detailed as the work goes along.
- Ridge: the ridge and hips are fixed to finish the roof, before a final check and clear-up.
Roof windows and dormers alongside a re-roof
A re-roof is the ideal moment to add roof windows, because the roof is already open and the scaffold is already up. Fitting them now is far simpler than cutting into a finished roof later. The same applies to renewing the coverings on an existing dormer.
While the scaffold is in place, it often makes sense to replace tired fascias, soffits and gutters too. See our guttering, fascias and soffits page for more on doing the roofline at the same time.
Free site visit and written quote
Every new roof starts with a free visit. Lee looks at the roof from the ground and, where possible, from the loft, then talks through what he has seen and the options available. You then receive a written quote setting out the work, the materials and what is included.
There is no hard sell and no obligation. If you want to compare quotes, ours is laid out clearly enough to do that fairly. Ready to book? Contact us or call Lee on 07947 758052.
Keeping your home protected during the work
One of the most common worries about a re-roof is the house being left open to the weather. We plan each stage so the roof is covered and protected at the end of every working day, and we keep an eye on the forecast before stripping larger areas.
Skips, materials and the scaffold are positioned to keep paths, drives and gardens as clear as possible, and we tidy up as we go rather than leaving everything until the final day. Old tiles, battens and felt are taken away with us.
Throughout the job, Lee is your single point of contact. If something unexpected turns up once the old covering is off, such as a rotten rafter or a damaged section of brickwork at the eaves, he will show you, explain what it means and agree the next step with you before any extra work goes ahead. Nothing is added to the job without you knowing about it first.
Recent projects
You can see examples of pitched and slate roofs we have completed on our projects page. For an overview of every roofing service, visit our main roofing page. We fit new roofs across Essex and east London, including Chelmsford, Colchester, Romford, Southend-on-Sea and Basildon.
Roofing guides
Planning a re-roof? These guides answer the questions Lee hears most before one starts.