In depth
Everything worth knowing before you book.
The details a salesperson skips. Skim it, or read every word, both are useful.
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Slate, clay and concrete tile re-roofs
Natural Welsh and Spanish slate (where matched to existing), Marley Eternit fibre cement slate, Sandtoft and Marley clay pantiles, Redland concrete interlocking tiles. Re-roof spec includes full strip to rafters, inspection of every timber, replacement of any rotten or split rafters, new pressure-treated battens at correct gauge (typically 100mm for slate, 343–345mm for plain tile, 248mm for double Roman), new Tyvek or Klober breathable underlay lapped 150mm, and slates fixed with twice nailed copper or aluminium nails plus tile clips at perimeters and hip courses.
Flat roofs, EPDM, GRP and high-performance felt
EPDM rubber (Firestone Rubbercover) is our default for flat roofs, single membrane, no seams over the field, 25+ year manufacturer guarantee, dressed up walls and into trims with proper adhesives and termination bars. GRP fibreglass for areas needing a hard-wearing walk-on finish (dormers, balconies). High-performance polyester-reinforced felt where budget and access dictate. Every flat roof is built up over insulation (PIR board to U-value 0.18 W/m²K or better) on properly falled decking, with rainwater outlets sized to BS EN 12056-3.
Leak diagnosis and targeted repairs
Most leaks aren't where the ceiling stain is. Water tracks along rafters and battens before dropping, often metres from the actual breach. We trace systematically: chimney flashings, valley junctions, slipped or cracked tiles, perished flashings on dormers, blocked or undersized gutters causing back-flow under eaves. Repairs use matching materials so colour and profile blend, with the failed section cut back to sound substrate.
Chimneys, leadwork and verges
Lead flashing is the highest-skill, highest-leak-risk element on most roofs. We use Code 4 lead minimum for soakers and step flashings, Code 5 for chimney aprons and back gutters, dressed by hand with a setting-in stick and dummy, chased into mortar joints minimum 25mm, wedged with lead clips and pointed with lime-rich mortar. Chimney re-pointing in NHL hydraulic lime where the property is pre-1919, OPC where modern.
Gutters, fascias and soffits
PVCu deep-flow or half-round gutters on proper falls (1:600 minimum), brackets at 600mm centres, downpipes connected to combined or surface water drains as appropriate. Fascias and soffits in cellular PVC fixed to a continuous batten with stainless ring-shank nails, capped at corners and joints to stop water tracking behind. Aluminium gutter systems offered as a longer-life premium option on heritage or larger properties.
