Newmarket Roofers carries out all types of roof repairs for homeowners in Soham, from isolated tile replacements and flashing work to more significant repairs where replacement becomes the better answer.
Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
When something goes wrong with a roof, the first question most homeowners ask is whether a repair will do or whether the whole roof needs to come off. Getting this wrong in either direction costs money. Replacing a roof that had years of useful life left is unnecessary. But spending money on repeated repairs on a roof that is fundamentally at the end of its life is equally wasteful.
This page covers the full range of repairs we handle in Soham, and then goes into the practical detail of how to judge which way to go on your own roof.
We handle all standard domestic roof repairs for properties in and around Soham. That includes:
For active leaks, prompt attendance is important, because the longer a leak runs, the more damage it does to the structure and the interior below.
Most roof problems, particularly on properties built in the last 30 to 40 years, are well suited to targeted repair rather than replacement. Repair is generally the right call when:
In these situations, a targeted repair carried out correctly will return the roof to watertight condition and you should not need to revisit the same area for many years, depending on the material used. The key phrase there is "carried out correctly". A tile relay without checking the batten underneath is not a complete repair.
There is a point on every roof where continued repair stops being economical. The indicators that you may be approaching that point include:
Flat roofs on extensions, garages and outbuildings follow a slightly different logic. A felt flat roof that is blistering or showing surface cracks but has no splits at the seams and drains properly can often be given additional life with a patch or a surface treatment. Once the felt starts to split at seams or at the edges, or once ponding water is not draining because the fall has failed, a full re-cover is nearly always the better answer.
A patch repair on a split seam can hold for a season, but once moisture has got under the felt and into the deck below, the deck itself starts to delaminate. Re-covering a flat roof on a standard single-storey extension typically costs between £800 and £2,000 depending on size, access and the system chosen. EPDM rubber, properly bonded, generally outlasts standard felt by a significant margin and is worth asking about when a re-cover is on the table.
If you are not sure whether your roof is a candidate for repair or replacement, a proper condition survey by an experienced roofer will give you a clear picture. A survey should cover the tile or slate surface, the ridge and hips, the flashings, the gutters and fascias, and where accessible, the underlay. If possible, a look from inside the loft space can reveal water staining on the rafters or sarking boards that is not visible from outside.
A condition survey should result in a written assessment telling you what is in good condition, what needs attention now, and what is likely to need attention within the next few years. That gives you the information to make a budgeted decision rather than reacting to each leak as it appears.
Minor tile or slate repairs typically run from around £150 to £350. Flashing repairs come in between £200 and £500. Ridge and hip work is usually £400 to £900 depending on the length of the run. A full re-roof on a typical three-bedroom semi ranges from roughly £5,000 to £10,000 depending on pitch, material and the complexity of the roof. These are general UK ranges; the actual figure for your property will depend on access, the materials required and what is found once the old covering is removed.
Where a property is subject to listed building consent or conservation area restrictions, the choice of replacement material may not be entirely free. If you are unsure about your property's status, check with the local planning authority before agreeing to any material change. A roofer experienced in working on older properties will be able to advise on what is typically acceptable, but the planning decision is not theirs to make.
We cover Soham as part of our wider service area from Newmarket, which also includes Fordham, Exning, Moulton, Kentford, Cheveley, and across to Bury St Edmunds. For properties on the edge of our area, call us and we can confirm whether we cover you.
How long does a tile roof last? Plain clay tiles can last 60 years or more. Concrete interlocking tiles typically perform well for 30 to 50 years. The tiles themselves often outlast the fixings, underlay and battens beneath them, which is why condition varies so much even on roofs of the same age.
Can I stay in the house during a re-roof? Yes, in most cases. A re-roof is normally completed section by section and properly weatherproofed each evening. It is noisy and there is scaffold around the house, but it does not require you to move out.
Is a partial re-roof possible? Yes. If one slope is failing and the rest is in good condition, re-tiling a single slope is common practice. The material match may not be perfect, but a roofer who takes care sourcing second-hand or discontinued profiles can get close.
If you are unsure whether to repair or replace, call Newmarket Roofers for a survey at your Soham property. We will inspect the roof thoroughly, give you an honest assessment and a written quote for whatever the right course of action turns out to be.
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Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
