Newmarket Roofers carries out all types of roof repairs in Histon, from slipped or broken tiles to failed flashings, cracked ridge sections and active leaks that need urgent attention.
A roof repair job can be anything from lifting two or three slipped tiles and re-bedding them with fresh mortar, to replacing a full run of ridge tiles, cutting out a failed lead flashing around a chimney stack or resealing a flat roof section where the felt has split at a joint. The scope varies enormously, and so does the cost. A single tile fix might come to £150-£250 including access. A chimney flashing re-lead on a two-storey property is more typically £400-£800 depending on the size of the stack and how much lead needs to go in. A full ridge re-bed and re-point along a semi-detached can run to £600-£1,200.
These are honest typical UK figures - not quotes, because the only way to give you a real price is to look at the roof. But knowing the ballpark helps you judge whether what you are being told sounds reasonable.
Slipped or cracked tiles are the most visible sign something has gone wrong. They are usually caused by nail failure - the fixing nails corrode over decades and eventually the tile loses its grip. On older properties this can happen across a whole roof slope at the same time, which is why what starts as a handful of slipped tiles sometimes reveals a wider problem once someone is up there.
Flashings fail at the point where the lead or felt meets the masonry - around chimneys, dormer cheeks, parapet walls and roof abutments against a neighbouring wall. The pointing that holds the lead into the mortar joint dries and cracks over time, letting water in behind. This is one of the most common sources of internal damp that gets misdiagnosed as condensation.
Flat roof sections - felt or EPDM rubber - develop splits, bubbles and edge failures, particularly where the covering meets a upstand or fascia. On older felt roofs the material itself becomes brittle and can split in cold weather. EPDM systems tend to last longer but are not immune to poor original installation or physical damage.
Ridge and hip tiles are bedded in mortar. That mortar slowly carbonates and loses its bond, leaving tiles that rock, lift in wind or fall. A loose ridge tile is a serious safety issue as well as a water ingress route.
This is the part of the job most homeowners find difficult, and it is where things go wrong most often. A poor repair can cost you more to put right than the original fault would have done. Here is what a careful approach looks like.
Any contractor who is serious about the work should be able to tell you, before you pay anything, exactly what they plan to do. That means: which tiles are being replaced or re-fixed, whether the battens underneath need attention, what materials will be used and where, and whether any associated work such as pointing or flashing is included or excluded. Vague descriptions like "sort the tiles" or "fix the flashing" are not good enough. You cannot assess competing quotes if the scope is different on each one.
Ask for this in writing - even a short email setting out the works is better than nothing. A contractor who will not put the scope in writing is telling you something important.
Be cautious of anyone who calls at your door and tells you they have spotted a problem from the street. While genuine faults are sometimes visible from ground level, doorstep selling of roofing work is a known route for overcharging and unnecessary works. If someone tells you your roof needs replacing when all you have noticed is a couple of slipped tiles, ask them to show you evidence - photographs taken from the roof, ideally with you present or available to view immediately.
Be equally cautious of a price that seems very low. Cheap access - not putting up proper scaffolding where it is needed, or using a ladder only when the job warrants a tower or scaffold - cuts corners that affect both safety and the quality of the finished work.
Cash-only requests with no paperwork should prompt you to ask why. You do not need to demand anything elaborate, but a simple written record of who did the work, what they did and what you paid is reasonable for any job above a few hundred pounds.
Some properties may sit within a conservation area or be listed. If yours does, you may need consent before changing the material or appearance of your roof - even for a repair. Replacing plain clay tiles with a different profile, or swapping slate for a concrete alternative, can be caught by permitted development restrictions. If you are unsure, check with your local planning authority before work starts, not after. A good contractor will raise this with you if it applies.
An active leak - water coming in during or after rain - needs prompt attention to limit damage to ceilings, timbers and insulation. A temporary cover or repair can often stabilise things quickly while a fuller assessment takes place. If you have an active leak, contact a roofer as soon as possible.
If a ridge tile or chimney pot has fallen, treat it as a safety issue first. Cordon off the area below and call a roofer. Do not attempt to remove debris from a roof yourself.
As well as Histon, our roof repair work takes us across Newmarket and the surrounding area. If you are nearby and need a roofer, call us to arrange a survey.
If you have noticed a damp patch, a missing tile, or you simply have not had your roof checked in a long time, a proper survey from roof level - not a drive-by glance - will tell you what is actually there. Call Newmarket Roofers to arrange a roof survey in Histon and get a clear, written picture of what needs doing and what it is likely to cost.
No obligation · We usually respond within 2 hours
Storm damage, active leak, damaged ridge - we aim to be on-site within 24 hours.
