Roofing in Ely

Trusted Roofing specialists
in Ely

Ely is a cathedral city in the Cambridgeshire fens, and properties in the area can be exposed to wind coming across open, flat ground.

Roofing Services in Ely

Ely's roofing needs are shaped as much by its geography as by the age of its buildings. Ely rises on a hillock above the flat fens, and properties across the area can be exposed to wind that comes across open, flat ground. That exposure accelerates the failure of ridge mortar, loosens flashings and lifts slates and tiles that would stay put for longer in a more sheltered position. It also makes proper fixings - the right number of clips, correctly nailed battens, well-dressed lead - more important here than in many other places.

We cover Ely and the surrounding villages as part of our regular working area. We work on everything from period terraces and villas close to the cathedral to post-war estates on the city's edges and the mix of older cottages and newer houses in the surrounding villages.

Pitched Roof Repairs in Ely

Older properties in Ely were commonly built with either natural slate or traditional clay plain tiles. Both materials perform well when the roof structure supporting them is sound and the mortar on ridges and hips is intact. A common problem on these properties is failed ridge bedding - lime or sand-cement mortar that has cracked and shrunk over decades, allowing ridge caps to rock and lift. On an exposed site, a loose ridge cap does not stay in place for long.

Re-bedding and re-pointing the ridge on a typical Ely semi or terraced property generally costs £350-£700 depending on ridge length, the number of tiles needing replacement and the complexity of any hip work. Dry-fix ridge systems are an alternative that removes mortar from the equation altogether and are increasingly popular on re-roofs and ridge replacements.

Individual slate or tile repairs are the other frequent call-out in Ely. Slates can slip when the nail corrodes or the nib breaks; plain clay tiles are prone to cracking at the nail hole. Where the surrounding slates or tiles are still in good condition and the battens are sound, individual repairs are cost-effective. If the underlay is the original bitumen felt from a previous re-roof, it is worth knowing it may be close to the end of its useful life even if it is holding for now.

Full Re-Roofing in Ely

A full re-roof on a three-bedroom semi in Ely using concrete or clay tiles, breathable membrane and treated batten typically falls in the range of £5,000-£9,000. Properties with clay plain tile finishes or natural slate will be priced higher given the material cost. The quote should always include scaffolding (essential on a pitched roof for both access and safety), stripping and disposing of old materials, inspecting and replacing any rotten timbers, fitting new underlay and batten, supplying and laying the new covering, and completing ridges, hips and verges correctly.

On older properties it is not unusual to find rotten sarking boards or damaged rafters once tiles are stripped back. Any roofer you use should be able to tell you clearly what they will do if they find this, and what the additional cost is likely to be before work starts.

Flat Roofing in Ely

Extensions, garage roofs and bay tops commonly carry flat roofs, many of them felt systems now at or past the end of their expected service life. Blistering, split seams and failed laps are all signs that replacement rather than further repair is needed. A patched felt roof is unlikely to see out another winter without further problems.

EPDM rubber membrane is the replacement system we install for flat roofs. It is a single-ply membrane supplied in sheets that are overlapped and seamed together on site using seam tape and primer, and it handles wind uplift and temperature variation well. On a standard single-storey extension in Ely, an EPDM flat roof replacement typically costs £900-£2,500 depending on size and whether the deck below is sound. A garage roof of one or two car length is generally £900-£1,800. Where the deck is rotten - which we check before we finalise any price - it needs replacing before the new membrane is bonded to it.

Falls are critical on a flat roof. The roof should be laid to a minimum fall of 1:80, though 1:40 or better is preferable to prevent long-term ponding. We check the fall and the drainage point as part of any flat roof survey.

Lead Work and Chimney Repairs in Ely

Lead is still the best material for flashing the junction between a roof slope and a chimney, parapet or abutment. Failed lead flashings are a common cause of leaks on older properties. A proper re-lead involves cutting out the old mortar chase, inserting the new flashing and wedging and pointing it back in - there is no lasting alternative to doing it correctly.

Chimney stacks on older properties also sometimes show deteriorated brickwork and failed pointing. Frost gets into open joints, forces the mortar out further and accelerates the process. If the stack is leaning or the pointing is heavily weathered, a rebuild or re-point should be assessed before the lead work, since new lead on a failing stack is money wasted.

Zinc Roofing in Ely

Zinc is a practical and long-lasting option for bay tops, dormer cheeks and shallow-pitched roofs on extensions, and it suits both period and modern properties visually. Standing seam zinc roofing on a bay or dormer in Ely is generally priced from £800-£2,000 depending on the area and complexity. It requires correct detailing at edges and drips to perform well - rushed zinc work that lacks proper upstands or drips will pond and eventually corrode faster than it should.

Guttering in Ely and the Surrounding Villages

Period properties in Ely often retain original cast-iron guttering. Cast iron looks right on a Victorian or Georgian building, but the putty-sealed joints dry out and leak, and rust spreads from the inside. When cast-iron guttering is beyond economic repair, cast-iron-effect UPVC sections are a practical replacement that maintains the appearance without the maintenance burden.

UPVC guttering on later housing can suffer from ageing clips, sagging runs and blocked downpipes that cause persistent overflow problems. Gutter overflow onto facing brickwork drives damp into the wall structure. Guttering should be cleared, repaired or replaced as needed, and fascia condition checked as part of any guttering job.

Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Roofer in Ely

• Does the quote include scaffolding, or is it priced separately?
• What will you do if rotten rafters or battens are found once the roof is stripped?
• For flat roofs, will you check the deck condition before giving a final price?
• For ridge work, are you using a mortar bed or a dry-fix system?
• How are old tiles, felt and other waste materials removed from the site?
• Can you supply a sample of the tile or slate you intend to use so I can check the match?

Call us to book a roof survey and get a plain-speaking assessment of what your roof needs and what it will cost.

Ely has a mix of period properties and post-war housing, alongside newer development. Older properties commonly carry clay or slate roofing, while later housing tends to use concrete interlocking tiles.