If you need a full re-roof or a brand-new roof in Cottenham, Newmarket Roofers handles every stage of the job - from stripping the old covering to fitting the ridge tiles.
A new roof is one of the largest single investments a homeowner makes, so understanding what the work involves before anyone starts is essential. Whether you are re-roofing an older property that has reached the end of its life, covering a new extension or starting a self-build from scratch, the process is broadly the same: strip back to the deck or rafters, check the structure, fit new breathable underlay, batten and then lay the chosen tile or slate.
We work with slate, concrete tiles and clay tiles. Each has different weights, fixing methods and long-term maintenance needs, and the right choice depends on the pitch of your roof, the existing structure and, in some cases, planning requirements. A good contractor will walk you through those options before quoting, not after.
This is where homeowners can run into trouble. The roofing trade has no single compulsory licensing scheme in the UK, which means almost anyone can call themselves a roofer. Knowing what questions to ask before you sign anything - or hand over a deposit - is the most effective protection you have.
Any contractor who has been doing new roofs for a reasonable length of time should be able to show you photographs or, ideally, point you to jobs you can inspect in person. Ask specifically for re-roofs similar in size and material to yours. Photos of individual repairs or small patches are not the same thing. If a contractor cannot produce relevant examples, that tells you something useful.
Some roofing companies quote the job and then subcontract it to whoever is available. There is nothing illegal about that, but you should know who will actually be on your roof. Ask directly: will your own workers carry out the job, or will it be subcontracted? If subcontracted, who to, and can you meet them before work starts?
A written quote should specify the material being used (including the brand and product range where possible), the method of fixing, what happens to the stripped-off waste, whether scaffolding is included, and what the payment schedule looks like. A quote that simply says "re-roof in concrete tiles" is not detailed enough. Vague quotes create disputes later about what was and was not included.
Ask whether the price includes:
If any of those items are listed as "extra if required", ask how the contractor assesses them and at what cost. Battens, for example, are almost always replaced on a full re-roof because they are exposed to weather once the old felt is lifted. A quote that treats this as optional is likely to come back to you later as an add-on charge.
A staged payment arrangement is standard on a job of this size. A reasonable structure might be a deposit before work begins (to cover materials), a mid-job payment once the structure is weather-tight, and a final balance on completion. Be cautious of any contractor who asks for the full cost upfront before work starts. Equally, refusing to pay any deposit at all is not reasonable from a contractor's point of view either - materials for a full re-roof have to be purchased before they arrive on site.
Agree the payment schedule in writing before the job begins, and make sure the final payment is linked to a defined point of completion, not left vague.
Once the old roof covering is stripped, it is not unusual to find rotten or damaged timbers underneath. Ask the contractor how they handle this: will they contact you before carrying out additional work, and at what point, and will they provide a revised cost in writing before proceeding? A contractor who says "we'll deal with whatever we find and let you know at the end" is not giving you the control you need over what can become a significant additional spend.
Traditionally, ridge and hip tiles were bedded in mortar. Many contractors now use mechanical dry-fix systems instead - plastic clips and flexi-caps that hold the tiles without mortar. Dry-fix systems are generally longer-lasting because mortar degrades over 15-20 years and can allow water ingress as it cracks, whereas dry-fix components are designed to last the life of the tile. Ask which system will be used on your job and why. There is no single right answer, but a contractor who cannot explain the choice is worth questioning.
Each material performs differently and has a different lifespan. Natural slate, when properly fixed with the right nail length and gauge, can last 80-100 years on a well-maintained roof. Concrete tiles typically last 30-50 years before they become porous and start to absorb water. Clay tiles fall somewhere between the two, are lighter than concrete, and weather particularly well. Cost varies: concrete tiles are the most affordable option, natural slate is the most expensive, with clay tiles sitting in the middle of that range. The pitch of your roof affects which tiles can be used - not all tiles are rated for lower-pitch applications.
A typical full re-roof on a standard semi-detached property using concrete tiles costs in the region of £5,000-£9,000, including scaffold and waste removal. Slate costs more, often £8,000-£15,000 for a similar property, depending on the source and grade of slate used. These are indicative figures only - any actual price depends on your roof's size, access, condition and location.
Before you make the final payment, walk around the property and check the following:
If you spot anything that does not look right, raise it before paying the final balance. Once that payment is made, your leverage is considerably reduced.
One practical point: before any new roof work begins, check whether your property is listed or sits within a conservation area. In those cases, permitted development rules may restrict what materials you can use, and you may need to match the existing roof covering. Your local planning authority is the right place to check - not the contractor. A contractor who assures you planning is not needed without having verified this themselves is giving you advice they are not qualified to give.
Also worth doing: take metre-square photographs of the roof from an upstairs window or from a safe vantage point before work starts, and again once the roof is stripped. This gives you a record of the timber condition that the contractor's crew found, which is useful if disputes arise about whether additional timber work was genuinely necessary.
Newmarket Roofers is based in Newmarket and carries out new roof work across the surrounding towns and villages, including Cottenham and the wider area. We work on residential properties of all sizes - from single-storey extensions to full re-roofs of detached family homes. Call us to arrange a roof survey and discuss what your property needs before you commit to anything.
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Storm damage, active leak, damaged ridge - we aim to be on-site within 24 hours.
