Newmarket Roofers carries out all types of roof repairs in Lakenheath, from individual tile replacements to flat roof work - and we will tell you honestly which material is the right one for your job.
Every roof repair involves a choice of materials, even when that choice seems straightforward. Picking the wrong one - or letting a roofer pick on cost alone - can mean a repair that fails early, looks out of place, or causes problems when you come to sell. Newmarket Roofers covers Lakenheath and the surrounding area, including Newmarket, Moulton, Fordham and Exning, and we carry out repairs to pitched and flat roofs using the materials that are genuinely appropriate for each job.
The covering on a pitched roof determines how repairs are carried out, what replacement tiles cost, and how long a repair is likely to last. Here is a plain account of the main types and their implications for repair work.
Concrete interlocking tiles have been the most widely used covering on new builds and re-roofs since the 1970s. They are durable, relatively low in cost, and straightforward to source. A single cracked or slipped concrete tile typically costs £20-£60 to replace including labour on a straightforward pitch, though access and the age of the surrounding tiles affect that figure.
Pros: Widely available, low material cost, good range of profiles and colours.
Cons: Older concrete tiles become more porous over time and can absorb water, making them heavier and more prone to freeze-thaw cracking. Matching an exact profile discontinued by a manufacturer can be difficult on older roofs - a tile that looks similar from the ground may not interlock correctly with the surrounding tiles.
Plain clay tiles are a traditional covering on older properties. They are fired rather than cast, and a good quality plain clay tile is genuinely long-lasting - some examples remain serviceable after 80-100 years. Replacement tiles cost more than concrete, typically £1-£3 per tile for materials, and the labour involved in lifting surrounding tiles to replace one means a single tile repair commonly runs to £150-£300 depending on access.
Pros: Attractive, long-lasting when the original batch was good quality, breathable, and often required in conservation areas or on listed buildings for aesthetic reasons.
Cons: Original clay tiles from older properties can be hard to match exactly by colour and size. Modern replacements are sometimes slightly different in tone, which can be visible. Second-hand salvaged tiles are an option for a closer match but their condition needs checking carefully - a salvaged tile that is already porous will not last.
Natural slate is the premium pitched roof material. Welsh, Spanish and Brazilian slates are all available, with significant differences in quality, thickness and longevity. Good Welsh slate is considered the benchmark and can last well over a century in the right conditions. Spanish slate varies more in quality, and Brazilian slate, while lower in cost, can be softer and more prone to delamination.
Pros: Excellent lifespan when correctly specified and fixed, low water absorption, attractive appearance, appropriate for listed buildings and conservation areas.
Cons: Higher material and labour cost than concrete or clay. A slipped or cracked natural slate repair costs roughly £200-£400 per visit depending on the number of slates and access. Matching existing slates for colour, thickness and origin is important - mismatched slates are visible and can affect resale perception.
Natural slate repairs use a technique called nailing or tingles - a small strip of lead or copper is nailed below the course and bent up to hold the new slate in place. It is a small but skilled operation, and a slate secured with the wrong method will work loose again quickly.
Fibre cement slates are a manufactured alternative to natural slate. They are lower in cost, consistent in quality and widely available. They are sometimes used to replace individual broken slates on a natural slate roof as a stopgap, though the difference in thickness is usually visible up close.
Pros: Lower cost than natural slate, widely available, consistent dimensions.
Cons: Do not match natural slate in appearance at close range. Some earlier fibre cement products from the 1990s have performed poorly over time, so product quality matters. Not appropriate where planning or listed building consent requires natural materials.
Flat roofs on extensions, bay tops and outbuildings use different systems from pitched roofs, and repair options depend entirely on what is already installed.
Three-layer torch-on felt is the long-standing standard for flat roofs. It is a proven system when correctly installed with the right number of layers and properly dressed at edges and abutments. Repairs to felt roofs are straightforward when the damage is localised - a split or open seam can be patched, and a poorly finished edge can be redressed.
Pros: Familiar, repairable, relatively low cost for new installation and minor repairs.
Cons: The top layer is vulnerable to foot traffic damage and pooling water if the fall of the roof is inadequate. A felt roof that has been patched multiple times is often better replaced than repaired again - repeated patching traps moisture between layers and can accelerate deck deterioration. Flat roof felt replacement typically costs £50-£80 per square metre installed.
EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) is a single-ply rubber membrane that has become the preferred material for flat roof replacement on domestic extensions. It is supplied in large sheets that reduce the number of seams - and seams are where flat roofs most often fail.
Pros: Very low number of joints, flexible in cold weather, light in weight, resistant to UV degradation, long service life when correctly installed. Well-installed EPDM is considered one of the most durable flat roof options available for domestic use.
Cons: Higher material cost than felt, though this is often recovered in longevity. Repairs to damaged EPDM require specific adhesive and patch material - a felt patch or sealant will not bond correctly and will fail. Installation quality matters significantly: EPDM that is bonded poorly or trimmed badly at the edges will lift and allow water in.
EPDM flat roof installation typically costs in the range of £70-£100 per square metre, varying with the complexity of the roof, number of penetrations and deck condition.
Lead remains the standard for flashings at chimneys, dormers, skylights and roof-to-wall junctions. The code number refers to its thickness - Code 3 (1.32mm) is the minimum for most flashing applications, but Code 4 (1.80mm) is more commonly specified for step and cover flashings because it lasts longer and is more resistant to cracking at bends. Using Code 3 where Code 4 is the appropriate specification is a way of cutting cost at the expense of longevity.
Aluminium and lead-free alternatives exist for situations where lead is not appropriate - for example, near roof gardens or where runoff enters a water collection system. These alternatives are more limited in how they can be dressed and shaped, so they are not a direct substitute in every application.
Like-for-like repairs do not typically require planning permission. Changing the material - for example replacing natural slate with concrete or clay, or changing the colour of a tile - may need consent if the property is listed or in a conservation area. Always check with the planning authority before agreeing to a material change, even on a small repair area.
We cover Lakenheath, Newmarket and the surrounding area. For an emergency where water is getting into your home, contacting a roofer directly by phone rather than using an online form will generally get the fastest possible response.
Can I mix different tile types on the same roof? Mixing profiles is not advisable - interlocking tiles from different manufacturers rarely sit together correctly. Mixing clay and concrete is sometimes done for repairs when clay is unavailable, but the different weights and thermal behaviour can cause problems over time. A salvaged clay match is preferable where one exists.
How do I know if a roofer is using the right material grade? Ask specifically. For lead work, ask what code is being used and where. For felt, ask how many layers and whether it is torch-on or cold-applied. For EPDM, ask about the bonding method and how the edges are terminated. A roofer who can answer those questions clearly is working to a proper specification.
Is a flat roof always a problem? Not if it is correctly installed and maintained. The majority of flat roof failures come down to inadequate fall (the roof is too level, so water sits rather than draining), poor edge detailing, or a surface that has been patched beyond its useful life. A correctly specified and installed flat roof with adequate fall is not an ongoing problem.
No obligation · We usually respond within 2 hours
Storm damage, active leak, damaged ridge - we aim to be on-site within 24 hours.
