Roof Replacement and New Roofs in Swindon

When does a roof need replacing?

Signs that a roof is reaching the end of its life include tiles or slates slipping across many areas, rotten battens, sagging or torn underfelt, frequent leaks in different places and a roof line that dips between rafters. On Swindon's older Victorian terraces, many roofs are on their first or second covering and may have been re-covered with heavier concrete tiles at some point, which is worth checking because the extra weight can affect the timbers.

What a re-roof usually involves

1. Scaffolding put up around the work area (including a licence from the council if it stands on the pavement). 2. The old tiles or slates, battens and underfelt stripped off. 3. Timbers inspected; any rotten rafters or wall plates repaired. 4. A new breathable membrane and treated battens fitted. 5. New tiles or slates laid, with new ridges, hips, verges and valleys, and new lead flashings where needed. 6. Ventilation provided at the eaves and ridge to reduce condensation. 7. Waste removed and the site cleared.

Choosing roofing materials

• Concrete interlocking tiles: common on post-war and modern Swindon homes; relatively quick to lay.
• Clay tiles: plain clay tiles suit older houses and some conservation areas.
• Natural slate: the original covering on many Victorian terraces; long-lasting, but costlier to lay.
• Fibre cement or artificial slate: lighter and cheaper than natural slate, though not always acceptable on listed buildings or in conservation areas.

If you're in the Railway Village, Old Town or another conservation area, or the building is listed, ask Swindon Borough Council whether you need consent before changing the material.

Building Regulations and insulation

Replacing more than a quarter of a roof's covering usually counts as renovating a thermal element under the Building Regulations, which normally means bringing the roof up to current insulation standards where practical. The roofer should be able to explain how they'll meet this, either through a competent person scheme that self-certifies the work or by applying to Building Control. Keep the paperwork; buyers' solicitors often ask for it.

Questions to ask before you sign

• What's included and what isn't (scaffolding, skip, new fascias, chimney work)?
• How long is the guarantee, and is it insurance-backed or from the manufacturer?
• What happens if they find rotten timbers once the roof is stripped?
• How will the house be protected from rain while the roof is open?
• What payments are due and when? Be cautious about large up-front payments.

Not sure whether you need a full replacement? Start with roof repairs and ask the roofer for an honest view. Flat roof sections are covered on our flat roofing page.