If your roof in Girton is showing signs of age or failure, Newmarket Roofers handles everything from strip-off to ridge - slate, clay and concrete tiles.
Most roofs do not fail overnight. The decision to replace rather than repair is one that creeps up on homeowners, often after several rounds of patching that have added cost without solving the underlying problem. Knowing the warning signs early means you can plan properly, get accurate quotes and avoid the kind of emergency spend that happens when a roof is left too long.
Newmarket Roofers carries out new roofs across Girton and the surrounding villages, as well as Newmarket itself and nearby towns including Histon, Cambridge, Ely and Bury St Edmunds. Whether the job is a full re-roof of an older property, a new roof on a self-build or a pitched roof on an extension, we handle the whole project from the first strip to the finished ridge.
A few slipped or cracked tiles can almost always be repaired. The following signs suggest the roof as a whole has reached the end of its serviceable life and that continual repair is no longer cost-effective.
Understanding why a roof has failed helps you ask better questions when getting quotes, and makes it easier to judge whether a contractor is being thorough or just selling you the minimum.
Batten failure. Tiling battens are the horizontal timbers the tiles hang from. They are typically 38mm by 25mm and, on older roofs, were often untreated softwood. Once the original felt breaks down and water reaches the battens regularly, they rot. When battens rot, tiles lose their firm seating and begin to slip - which looks like a tile problem but is actually a structural one. A proper re-roof replaces all battens, not just the visibly damaged ones.
Felt degradation. Modern roofs use breathable membrane underlay. Older roofs used bitumen-based felt, which is not breathable. Condensation from inside the house collects on the underside of non-breathable felt, accelerating rot in the battens and rafters below. Replacing the felt alone is not possible without removing the tiles, so a re-roof is the only logical time to upgrade.
Failed lead flashings. Lead around chimney stacks, in valleys and at the junction between a pitched roof and a wall is among the first things to fail. Lead work typically lasts 50 to 70 years. Flashings that have been patched with lap sealant, frame sealant or roofing tape are a short-term fix. A re-roof is the right time to cut and dress new lead properly.
Mortar shrinkage on ridges and hips. The mortar bedding ridge tiles is exposed to freeze-thaw cycles every winter. It shrinks as it ages. Once it begins to crack, water gets underneath and the ridge tiles become loose. A loose ridge tile does not stay loose - frost, wind and gravity do the rest. Re-bedding one or two ridge tiles is straightforward, but when the problem runs the entire length of the ridge, the cost of re-bedding approaches the cost of replacing with a dry-fix ridge system that does not rely on mortar at all.
Poorly installed previous work. A significant number of roof failures come down to inadequate work done in the past rather than age alone. Common examples include: tiles re-hung on rotten battens, flashings tucked rather than properly dressed into masonry, valley tiles laid without an undercourse, and ridge tiles re-mortared with the wrong mix. If a previous contractor cut corners, the only way to see the extent of the problem is to strip the roof.
A new roof is not just new tiles. Here is what a thorough job looks like, so you know what to expect and what to check any quote covers.
The cost of a full re-roof varies depending on tile specification, roof complexity, chimney stacks and the condition of the underlying timbers. Natural slate sits at the higher end of the market; concrete interlocking tiles at the lower. Prices will also vary with roof size, pitch and access.
Be cautious of quotes that seem unusually low. A low price usually means something is not being done: battens not being replaced, felt not being upgraded, or lead not being included. Ask every contractor to quote like-for-like and to itemise what the price includes.
We work with all three main tile types. Each has its place depending on the property, the planning context and the budget.
Natural slate is the premium option. Welsh or Spanish slate laid properly will outlast the building. It is the right choice where planning requires it, on heritage properties, or where the homeowner simply wants the best possible material. It is also the heaviest, so the roof structure must be confirmed to handle the load.
Clay plain tiles are a traditional choice for many older properties. They weather naturally, carry planning authority approval in conservation areas, and have a lifespan measured in generations. They are more labour-intensive to lay than interlocking tiles because of the double-lap method used.
Concrete interlocking tiles cover the majority of post-1960s housing. They are cost-effective, widely available and carry a long manufacturer finish life. The coating does degrade over time, which is what causes the streaking and moss growth common on older concrete roofs.
For a job of this size, the contractor you choose matters as much as the materials. A few practical questions worth asking before you sign anything:
Any experienced contractor will answer these questions without hesitation. Vague answers or reluctance to detail what is included is a reason to look elsewhere.
If your roof is showing any of the warning signs above, the sensible first step is a proper survey - not just a look from the ground. Call Newmarket Roofers to arrange a roof inspection and a written quote for the work involved. We cover Girton, Histon, Cambridge, Ely, Newmarket, Bury St Edmunds and the villages between them.
No obligation · We usually respond within 2 hours
Storm damage, active leak, damaged ridge - we aim to be on-site within 24 hours.
