New Roof

[SwissPaul]

Hi All,
House is just over the 50 years old and am looking at a replacement roof. I have some leaks and concrete gutters and so want to future proof as I think we will be here for a wee while yet.
House is a 2 up / down terraced

I have picked up that there are some online brokers, does anyone have any thoughst on them or used in the past?

Any hints, tips or suggestions.

regards

Swiss

[tjh290633]

Hi All,
House is just over the 50 years old and am looking at a replacement roof. I have some leaks and concrete gutters and so want to future proof as I think we will be here for a wee while yet.
House is a 2 up / down terraced

I have picked up that there are some online brokers, does anyone have any thoughst on them or used in the past?

Any hints, tips or suggestions.

regards

Swiss

I think your best plan is to get recommendations locally for competent roofing contractors. I have just had mine done, after two attempts by a local builder to solve leaking problems. The second firm did a proper job.

TJH

[mutantpoodle]

you say its a terraced house

what is position/condition etc etc of neighbours in the terrace?

a joint approach might get better result and price from roofers if doing the lot not just a part roof

[Dod101]

Hi All,
House is just over the 50 years old and am looking at a replacement roof. I have some leaks and concrete gutters and so want to future proof as I think we will be here for a wee while yet.
House is a 2 up / down terraced

I have picked up that there are some online brokers, does anyone have any thoughst on them or used in the past?

Any hints, tips or suggestions.

regards

Swiss

I think your best plan is to get recommendations locally for competent roofing contractors. I have just had mine done, after two attempts by a local builder to solve leaking problems. The second firm did a proper job.

TJH

I had an unused chimney removed a couple of years ago and I used a builder but it was entirely unsatisfactory. So the first thing I would say is to get a dedicated roofing contractor. I had no idea that there are so many different styles of tiles for a start. Good roofers are not in my experience easy to find and word of mouth is really the best way. If that is not possible, you can only google for your area, get a number of quotes and see where that takes you, how comfortable you are with they guy who comes along, what local jobs they have done, are they specialist roofers or just general builders. The trade tends to be full of more or less cowboys so you need to be careful. Price is not everything. Ideally you want a long established local business with a decent reputation.

Not sure what you mean by online brokers so I cannot comment on that query.

Dod

[BullDog]

My own experience of roofers is that the best firms either won't turn up or won't quote because they're already too busy with over a year backlog of work booked in. Anyone who can do it in the next two or three months probably isn't the person you want. Luckily, I got a good recommendation for a small firm who did a smallish job for me and then agreed to book me in the following year for a much bigger job. It's definitely worth doing your homework and waiting. There's a lot of cowboys in roofing.

[bluedonkey]

If getting a good roofer is as difficult as others say, then make sure you come across as a "good" customer when they come along to quote. The good ones can pick and choose who they work for.

[BullDog]

If getting a good roofer is as difficult as others say, then make sure you come across as a "good" customer when they come along to quote. The good ones can pick and choose who they work for.

Indeed. First challenge is getting a decent roofer to actually turn up to look at it. Second challenge is convincing them that the job is worth them taking on. It might be a bit easier now but last year there was so much work about they could pick the jobs they fancied and not bother with anything that was a bit harder work. I waited about nine months for the work I wanted doing by the people I wanted to do it.

[Dod101]

If getting a good roofer is as difficult as others say, then make sure you come across as a "good" customer when they come along to quote. The good ones can pick and choose who they work for.

Indeed. First challenge is getting a decent roofer to actually turn up to look at it. Second challenge is convincing them that the job is worth them taking on. It might be a bit easier now but last year there was so much work about they could pick the jobs they fancied and not bother with anything that was a bit harder work. I waited about nine months for the work I wanted doing by the people I wanted to do it.

Totally agree with that. I too after my unsatisfactory experience got a name from our local general ironmonger who knows all the tradesmen because they come to her for bits and pieces. The chap turned up to see me and promised me to come in about four months but actually came after about six. he was very good though and was worth the wait. At least he was very good as far as I can tell because the problem with roof work in general is that a bad job does not show up until much later so you need to use your instinct to pick and choose the best firm.

Dod

[88V8]

Hi All,
House is just over the 50 years old and am looking at a replacement roof. I have some leaks and concrete gutters and so want to future proof as I think we will be here for a wee while yet.

I am surprised that a relatively new house should need a new roof.
Who told you that?

I would get up there and have a good look for yourself.

What is the roof? Flat, pitched, tiles??

Concrete gutters a new one on me, but these people seem to specialise in deleting them.

V8

[Dicky99]

Fifty years seems quite young to have a leaking roof unless it's isolated impact damage of some kind. I've not come across concrete gutters on houses post 1960 ish (Finlock gutters). Maybe the house is older than you thought?

Finlock gutters leak from the joints but can be refurbished by re-lining but you'd need to seek out a specialist so that you get a meaningful guarantee. I believe, though I have no experience of such, that some specialist companies will diamond saw cut the oversailing gutter flush with the leading edge of the eaves tiles and then fix a conventional fascia board to which pvc rainwater goods can be attached. Being in a terraced house that might not be an option for you though unless you can join forces with your neighbours and all have it done together.

On the other hand if the leaks are just one or two isolated joints leaking, and you're happy to climb up a ladder or know someone who is, you can go at the leaking joint with copious amounts of brush applied compound such as Acrypol. My sister had two troublesome leaking joints on her Finlock gutters, dripping from the window heads in two bedrooms. I treated the two leaks with Acrypol about 7 years ago and it's still holding up well. The gutters don't have to be dry in order for it to work.

Regarding roof replacement it's reiterating much of the good advice already given but if it were me I would :-

1. Identify the contractors who have been a presence in my area for decades as they're not going anywhere if problems arise. If they are Ltd you can easily check on Companies House website how long they've been incorporated and if it's the same Director or Director's since inception. Be alert to any that have wound up then restarted with a very similar name and matching office address.
2. Walk the local streets looking at roofs. The roof coverings that are newer than the neighbouring roofs will be obvious and I'd have no problem knocking on a few doors and asking who did the work. People are often willing to talk to someone who wants their advice.
3. Keep an eye out in your local area for Roofers' Vans and note the names for checking out later
4. Get no less than three quotes, in writing and properly itemised / quantified so what is and, importantly isn't, included is properly recorded. If they just provide with a written lump sum price ask them to provide more detail.
5. Don't necessarily take the lowest quote if your judgement tells you that you related better to someone who turns out to be more expensive.
6. Don't pay anything up front. A reputable contractor will have a sufficient credit facility for a short duration job to paid in full on completion of the work. I'd be wary of anyone who needs some money up front to buy materials for example.
7. A reputable business is more likely to accept payment by credit card which would give you some additional peace of mind.

I'm doing all of the above at present but not in relation to roofing work and so I can claim to be practising what I preach

[funduffer]

I replaced the roof on my 1060's bungalow a couple of years ago and fitted solar panels at the same time. The basic roof structure was sound, but the felt had disintegrated and the old concrete roof tiles were no longer available, and a number were cracked.

I used a local company with a good reputation who had done previous work for me and my daughter. They were a general home improvements company, but they employed teo specialist roofers for the job - one for the tiled part and one for the flat roof part. They were very experienced and helped us a lot in selecting roof tiles and materials for the flat roof extension. They even coordinated the work with the solar company who installed the panel brackets before the tiles were installed.

I couldn't have asked for a better job.

FD

[scotview]

I replaced the roof on my 1060's bungalow a couple of years ago and fitted solar panels at the same time.

FD

You also get "built in" solar panels or solar slates which completely replace roof tiles but I don't really know how effective they are and also depend on roof orientation.

[Dod101]

I replaced the roof on my 1060's bungalow a couple of years ago and fitted solar panels at the same time.

FD

You also get "built in" solar panels or solar slates which completely replace roof tiles but I don't really know how effective they are and also depend on roof orientation.

If funduffer's roof had problems it is not a surprise. The 1060's is a long time ago.

Dod

[funduffer]

You also get "built in" solar panels or solar slates which completely replace roof tiles but I don't really know how effective they are and also depend on roof orientation.

If funduffer's roof had problems it is not a surprise. The 1060's is a long time ago.

Dod

Yes, somehow it survived William the Conqueror!

[DrFfybes]

I replaced the roof on my 1060's bungalow a couple of years ago and fitted solar panels at the same time.

FD

You also get "built in" solar panels or solar slates which completely replace roof tiles but I don't really know how effective they are and also depend on roof orientation.

Going well OY, but the 'solar tiles' are slightly less efficient than normal ones, and a lot more expensive. Apparently the efficiency loss is partially due to less cooling.

Paul

[Mike88]

Just be careful of the materials used for re roofing. Tiles are heavier than slates and there are many examples of slate rooves being re roofed with tiles that results in the beams sagging.

[redsturgeon]

Just be careful of the materials used for re roofing. Tiles are heavier than slates and there are many examples of slate rooves being re roofed with tiles that results in the beams sagging.

I'd doubt if a 60's build has a slate roof.

[Dod101]

Just be careful of the materials used for re roofing. Tiles are heavier than slates and there are many examples of slate rooves being re roofed with tiles that results in the beams sagging.

I'd doubt if a 60's build has a slate roof.

Slate roofs are making a come back. At least a couple of new builds near me have new slates (as opposed to recycled slates) on their roofs They last much longer although are no doubt more expensive at the outset.

Dod

[Mike88]

Just be careful of the materials used for re roofing. Tiles are heavier than slates and there are many examples of slate rooves being re roofed with tiles that results in the beams sagging.

I'd doubt if a 60's build has a slate roof.

New houses near me have slate rooves.

[redsturgeon]

I'd doubt if a 60's build has a slate roof.

New houses near me have slate rooves.

I'd not call a 60's house "new'.