Roof Repairs in Swindon

Common roof repairs in Swindon

Most roofs don't need replacing just because they leak. In Swindon, roofers spend much of their time on a handful of repairs:

• Slipped, cracked or missing tiles and slates. On older terraces with natural slate, the nails often rust through long before the slate wears out ("nail fatigue"). One or two slates can be refixed with clips; if dozens are sliding, it can be a sign the roof is nearing the end of its life.
• Ridge and hip tiles. Mortar-bedded ridges crack with age and frost and the tiles can rock or come off in high winds. Repairs mean rebedding in fresh mortar or fitting a mechanically fixed dry ridge system.
• Valleys. Lead or GRP valleys between roof slopes carry a lot of water. Split lead, blocked valleys and slipped valley tiles are a frequent cause of leaks in terraces and on homes with dormers.
• Lead flashing. Where the roof meets a chimney, wall or dormer, flashing keeps water out. Old lead cracks, and cheap repairs with sealant or flashing tape tend not to last.
• Verges. The edges of gable roofs are either mortared or fitted with dry-verge caps. Both can fail, letting tiles at the edge loosen.
• Underfelt. Old bitumen felt can tear or sag at the eaves so rainwater runs into the gutter line and timbers. Short sections can be repaired; widespread failure usually points to a re-roof.

Finding where the leak is coming from

Water travels along rafters and membrane before it shows, so the stain on your ceiling is often not under the actual hole. A roofer will usually look in the loft as well as on the roof, and should be able to explain, ideally with photos, what's wrong. Typical culprits are flashing around chimneys, valleys, cracked tiles near the eaves and poorly sealed roof windows. Condensation in a poorly ventilated loft can also look like a leak.

What a repair quote should include

• What's wrong and where, with photos if possible
• The exact work and materials (e.g. code of lead, type of ridge system)
• Whether scaffolding or a tower is needed. Small jobs can sometimes be done from ladders or roof ladders, but working at height must be done safely
• A guarantee period for the repair
• Whether there's anything else the roofer noticed that you should keep an eye on

Repair or replace?

If the problem is in one area, repair is usually best value. If tiles or slates are failing all over, the battens are rotten or you're paying for repeated repairs, a roof replacement may cost less over time. A good roofer will tell you honestly which side of that line your roof is on. For leaks that need attention right now, see emergency roof repairs.