If you need a new roof installed in Long Stratton, getting the right contractor is as important as choosing the right materials.
Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
A new roof is one of the largest single investments you will make in your home. Whether you are replacing an end-of-life covering on an existing house or roofing a new extension, the job involves stripping back to the roof deck or rafters, checking the timber structure underneath, installing the right underlay and batten specification, and fixing the new tiles, slates or flat roof membrane. Each stage has to be done in the correct order, with the right materials, or problems show up within a few years.
For pitched roofs, the main options are concrete interlocking tiles, natural slate, and plain clay tiles. Concrete tiles are the most economical and suit a wide range of house styles. Natural slate lasts longest when properly fixed and suits traditional properties well. Plain clay tiles are the choice where a period appearance matters. Each material has different fixing requirements, different load weights and different lifespans, so the choice affects the cost of the whole job, not just the tile price.
For flat sections, traditional mineral-felt systems are still used on low-budget jobs, but EPDM rubber membrane is now the more practical long-term choice. EPDM is a single-ply rubber sheet bonded to the deck. It handles standing water, temperature movement and minor building movement better than felt, and it does not blister the way felt can in warm weather.
New roof costs in the UK vary significantly depending on the size of the roof, the pitch, the material chosen, and what the roofer finds when the old covering comes off. As a rough guide, a full re-roof on a standard semi-detached house using concrete tiles typically falls in the range of £5,000 to £10,000. Natural slate costs more, often £8,000 to £15,000 for the same sized house, because the material costs more and fixing takes longer. These figures can rise if damaged rafters or decking need replacement once the old covering is stripped.
Flat roof replacement costs depend on the system. An EPDM flat roof typically costs £70 to £110 per square metre installed, including the membrane, insulation board and edge detail. A standard garage or extension flat roof might be 20 to 40 square metres, so budget accordingly. Do not make a decision on price alone - a £500 saving on a flat roof that fails in three years is not a saving.
Always get a written breakdown of what the quote includes: stripping, disposal of the old material, any timber repairs, the specification of underlay and battens, the tile or membrane system, leadwork at flashings and valleys, and guttering if that needs replacing at the same time. A quote that lists only a lump sum tells you very little.
Choosing a roofer is where many homeowners make avoidable mistakes. The roofing trade is not licensed in the UK, which means anyone can legally call themselves a roofer. That places the responsibility for checking quality firmly on you.
Start by getting at least three quotes. Do not automatically pick the cheapest. A price that is significantly lower than the others either means the contractor is using inferior materials, not including all the work, or is not pricing sustainably. Any of those outcomes is a problem for you.
Before you sign anything or pay a deposit, ask these questions directly. A contractor who is reluctant to answer clearly is telling you something.
Cold callers who knock on your door and tell you they have spotted damage from the road should be treated with caution. While legitimate roofers do sometimes notice problems in passing, door-to-door pressure selling is a known route for roofing fraud. If someone knocks, ask for their details and tell them you will be in touch - do not agree anything on the spot.
Be wary of contractors who cannot produce a physical address, who press you to decide the same day, or who ask for cash payment only. A contractor who does not want a paper trail is not someone you want on your roof.
Once you have chosen a contractor and agreed the spec, there are practical things to organise before work starts. Scaffold will need to go up first, and that means access to the perimeter of the house. Move anything fragile in the loft to the centre of the space, because vibration from stripping tiles will dislodge dust and small items. If you have a boiler flue or chimney that is being disturbed, make sure the heating is off and the system drained if necessary.
Discuss with the contractor what access the scaffolders and roofers need to your garden or neighbour's land. If the roof abuts a boundary, you may need to speak to your neighbour in advance. A good contractor will flag this issue themselves, but it is worth asking.
A new roof is a sensible time to replace timber soffits and fascias if they are rotting or painted and ageing. The scaffold is already in place, which keeps the cost of doing it at the same time lower than doing it separately later. UPVC fascia and soffit boards need no painting and do not rot. If the guttering is original cast iron or old plastic that is sagging or leaking, replacing it at the same time makes practical sense.
Soffit and fascia replacement on a standard semi-detached house typically costs £800 to £1,800 depending on the size and number of runs. Ask for this to be quoted separately so you can see what you are paying for each element.
We install pitched and flat roofs across Long Stratton and the surrounding area. If you want a straight conversation about what your roof needs and what it will cost, call us to arrange a roof survey - we will come and look at the job properly before we quote anything.
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Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
