Roofing guides

Straight-talking guides written by working roofers, not copywriters — 117 of them, grouped by what you're trying to work out.

Repairs & problems

Wind-damage roof repair: what to do after a storm

Storm damaged roof? Same week response across Hampton, Twickenham, Teddington and Richmond. Insurance reports, free quotes, work guaranteed.

Read: Wind-damage roof repair

Lead flashing: when it fails and what it costs to fix

Lead flashing repair and replacement across Hampton, Twickenham and Teddington. Chimney, parapet, valley and bay lead. Free quotes, 10+ years local.

Read: Lead flashing

EPDM rubber roofing: is it worth it for your flat roof?

Single-piece EPDM rubber flat roofs across Hampton, Twickenham, Teddington & East Sheen. 20+ year life, no seams, manufacturer-backed. Free quote.

Read: EPDM rubber roofing

Slipped roof tile repair: causes, cost and how to fix it

Slipped tiles fixed properly across Hampton, Twickenham, Teddington and Richmond. Often same week response. Photo documented work and free quotes.

Read: Slipped roof tile repair

Ridge tile replacement: mortar bedding vs dry-fix ridge

Cracked or lifted ridge tiles rebedded or converted to dry fix across Hampton, Teddington and Twickenham. Family-run team with free written quotes.

Read: Ridge tile replacement

Chimney flashing repair: stop the most common roof leak

Leaks around the chimney? We re-lead, re-point and re-cap chimneys across Hampton, Twickenham, Teddington & Richmond. Free quote from a local family team.

Read: Chimney flashing repair

Roof moss removal: when it matters and when it doesn't

Heavy moss damaging your roof? Manual scrape, gutter clear and treatment across Hampton, Twickenham, Teddington & East Sheen. Free quote from local roofers.

Read: Roof moss removal

Flat roof replacement cost: what to actually budget

Real flat roof replacement costs across Hampton, Twickenham and Teddington. EPDM, GRP and felt, and what drives the price. Free quotes, 10+ years.

Read: Flat roof replacement cost

Slate roofs: lifespan, repair and what to watch for

Natural slate roofs across Hampton Hill, Twickenham, Teddington & Richmond — lifespan, nail fatigue, re-slating costs and conservation matching. Free quote.

Read: Slate roofs

Clay tile roofs: plain tiles, pantiles and longevity

Plain clay tile and pantile roofs across Hampton, Teddington, Twickenham & East Sheen — lifespan, frost damage, repair and matching. Free local quote.

Read: Clay tile roofs

Concrete tile roofs: when to repair and when to re-roof

Concrete interlocking tile roofs across Hampton, Surbiton and Feltham: spalling, lifespan, re roof timing and matching profiles. Free quotes.

Read: Concrete tile roofs

GRP fibreglass flat roofs: pros, cons and when to choose them

GRP fibreglass flat roofs across Hampton, Teddington, East Sheen & Richmond — seamless finish, walked-on decks, lifespan vs EPDM. Free quote.

Read: GRP fibreglass flat roofs

New roof cost: what a re-roof really costs in 2026

Real new-roof and re-roof costs across Hampton, Twickenham, Teddington & Surrey — tile vs slate, scaffolding, what drives the price. Free fixed-price quote.

Read: New roof cost

Fascia, soffit and guttering cost: what to budget

Real uPVC fascia, soffit and guttering costs across Hampton, Teddington and Twickenham, with per metre prices explained. Free written quotes.

Read: Fascia, soffit and guttering cost

Plastic vs aluminium gutters: which is best for your home?

Plastic and aluminium gutters compared on durability, cost per metre and upkeep, with fitting across Hampton, Twickenham and Surrey. Free quotes.

Read: Plastic vs aluminium gutters

Why is my roof leaking? The common causes, in order

The real causes of a leaking roof in the order we find them: flashing, slipped tiles, valleys, gutters and condensation. Fast local response, free quotes.

Read: Why is my roof leaking? The common causes, in order

Damp patch on the ceiling: leak or condensation?

Tell a roof leak from loft condensation before you pay anyone: timing, shape and the loft check that settles it. Free quotes from a Hampton roofer.

Read: Damp patch on the ceiling

Missing or slipped tiles: how urgent is it really?

Honest advice on slipped and missing tiles: when it can wait, when it cannot, and what one gap costs you. Free quotes across Hampton and Twickenham.

Read: Missing or slipped tiles

Sagging or dipping roof: what it means

What a dip in a roof line means, which sags are cosmetic and which are structural, and what an inspection involves. Free quotes, family run, 10+ years.

Read: Sagging or dipping roof

Storm damage: what to do first and what insurance covers

The first hour after storm damage: make it safe, photograph it, contain the water, and what insurance pays for. Same week response across TW and KT.

Read: Storm damage

Roof leak nobody can find: how we track it down

Why some leaks defeat two or three roofers, and how to trace one properly: water paths, staged hose testing and loft evidence. Free quotes in TW and KT.

Read: Roof leak nobody can find

Moss on a roof: does it actually matter?

When roof moss is harmless and when it causes real damage. Why pressure washing ruins tiles, and what safe removal involves. Free surveys, own team.

Read: Moss on a roof

Condensation and poor loft ventilation

How to spot loft condensation rather than a leak, why insulation upgrades cause it, and the vents that fix it. Free surveys from a family run local roofer.

Read: Condensation and poor loft ventilation

Storm damage: what insurance covers and what it does not

What buildings insurance covers after storm roof damage, why wear and tear claims fail, and the evidence to gather first. Fast local make safe response.

Read: Storm damage

Pitched roof repairs: what's worth fixing and what isn't

Which pitched roof repairs are worth doing, which signal a re-roof, and what each job involves. Practical guide from family-run Hampton roofers.

Read: Pitched roof repairs

Hip and gable roof repairs: the edges that fail first

Hip tiles, bonnet hips, gable verges and bargeboards — where roofs fail at the edges and what repairs cost. Local family-run roofers, free quotes.

Read: Hip and gable roof repairs

Roof battens and nail fatigue: the hidden clock in every old roof

Why tiles start slipping after 60 years, how to check battens and nails from your loft, and when repairs stop being worthwhile. Free local survey.

Read: Roof battens and nail fatigue

Blocked gutters and damp walls: tracing the cause properly

How overflowing gutters cause internal damp, how to tell rainwater damp from rising or condensation damp, and what the fix costs. Free local survey.

Read: Blocked gutters and damp walls

Hail, falling branches and debris damage: assessing the harm

How to assess hail strikes, branch impacts and blown debris on tiles, slate, flat roofs and rooflights, and what insurers need. Free local survey.

Read: Hail, falling branches and debris damage

Why do roof lanterns leak?

Trace a leaking roof lantern through its glazing, kerb, flashings, upstands, outlets and surrounding flat roof before choosing the repair.

Read: Why do roof lanterns leak?

Leaking gutter joint: causes and fixes

Find out why gutter joints drip, how seals, alignment, fall, brackets and blockages affect the repair, and when the gutter run needs replacing.

Read: Leaking gutter joint

Chimney flaunching repair guide

What chimney flaunching does, how it fails, what a proper repair involves and which access, pot, pointing and flashing factors affect the quote.

Read: Chimney flaunching repair guide

Flue lining explained: when a chimney needs relining

What flue lining is, the signs a chimney needs relining, how a stainless liner is sized and installed, and what a proper quote should cover.

Read: Flue lining explained

Can render be removed? Render removal and repair explained

Whether render or pebbledash can come off brickwork, what removal involves, what affects the price, and when patch repair or re-rendering is the better choice.

Read: Can render be removed? Render removal and repair explained

Emergency roof repair: what happens when you call

What to do while you wait for an emergency roofer, what making a roof safe involves, how temporary and permanent repairs differ, and what to record for insurance.

Read: Emergency roof repair

Costs & budgeting

Roof repair costs: what drives the price up or down

What drives a roof repair price: access, height, materials and scaffolding. Plain English guide from a family run Hampton roofer. Free quotes.

Read: Roof repair costs

Chimney repair costs: repointing, re-flaunching and rebuilds

What repointing, reflaunching, flashing renewal and part rebuilds cost, and why. Family run local roofers, 10+ years in TW, KT and SW. Free quotes.

Read: Chimney repair costs

Fascia, soffit and guttering costs explained

What fascia, soffit and gutter replacement costs, and how capping over differs from full replacement. Family run, with free written quotes.

Read: Fascia, soffit and guttering costs explained

Scaffolding for roof work: when you need it and what it costs

Why some roof jobs need a full scaffold and others don't, how hire periods and pavement licences affect the price, and how to compare quotes fairly.

Read: Scaffolding for roof work

Dormer roofs: repair, re-cover and what it costs

Dormer roofs leak at the cheek junctions and the flat top. What re-covering involves, which membrane suits, and what makes one dormer dearer than another.

Read: Dormer roofs

Roof window installation: what it costs and what's involved

What a roof window install involves: rafter trimming, flashing kits and internal finishing, plus what pushes the price. Free quotes, 10+ years local.

Read: Roof window installation

Roof cleaning: what it costs and when it's a bad idea

Soft washing versus pressure washing, why jet washing damages older tiles, and when roof cleaning is genuinely worth doing rather than cosmetic.

Read: Roof cleaning

Garage and outbuilding roof replacement

Replacing a failing garage, shed or outbuilding roof: deck condition, membrane choice, falls and drainage, and what makes one quote higher than another.

Read: Garage and outbuilding roof replacement

Cost to replace slipped tiles or slates

What sets the price of replacing slipped tiles and slates: access, height, matching and how many have gone. Free quotes from a family run Hampton team.

Read: Cost to replace slipped tiles or slates

How much does a new roof cost?

What a new roof really costs and why quotes differ: size, pitch, tile choice, scaffolding and hidden timber. Free surveys from a family run local roofer.

Read: How much does a new roof cost?

Roof replacement cost by roof type and property size

How roof shape and property size change a replacement price: gable, hipped, mansard, dormers and bungalows. Honest breakdown, free surveys, own team.

Read: Roof replacement cost by roof type and property size

Roof repair cost by job: tiles, flashing, chimney, valley, ridge and felt

What each roof repair actually involves and why prices differ: slipped tiles, lead flashing, chimneys, valleys, ridges and flat roof felt. Free quotes.

Read: Roof repair cost by job

Flat roof cost: GRP versus EPDM versus felt

What each flat roof system costs to install and own: GRP, EPDM rubber and torch on felt. Deck, insulation and detailing explained. Free local surveys.

Read: Flat roof cost

Chimney repointing and lead flashing costs

What chimney repointing, flaunching and lead flashing cost and why access drives the price. Do all three in one visit. Free surveys and written scopes.

Read: Chimney repointing and lead flashing costs

Scaffolding: when it is needed and what it adds

When roof work genuinely needs scaffolding, when a tower or ladder is safe, and how hire periods, pavement licences and cranes affect the price.

Read: Scaffolding

Roof cost by house type: terrace, semi, detached and bungalow

How house type changes a roof price: mid terrace access, hipped semis, detached complexity and the large roof area on a bungalow. Free written quotes.

Read: Roof cost by house type

Repair or replace: how to decide

Five honest tests for whether to repair or replace a roof: underlay, battens, nail fatigue, spread of failures and how long you are staying. Free surveys.

Read: Repair or replace

What a flat roof extension actually costs to roof

Real costs for roofing a single-storey flat roof extension: deck, insulation, membrane, trims and glazing. Family-run Hampton roofers. Free quotes.

Read: What a flat roof extension actually costs to roof

Comparisons

Repair or replace? How to decide honestly

A practical test: battens, underlay, nail fatigue and the five year cost comparison. Honest advice from a family run Hampton roofer. Free quotes.

Read: Repair or replace? How to decide honestly

Felt vs EPDM vs GRP: choosing a flat roof system

A side-by-side comparison of torch-on felt, EPDM rubber and GRP fibreglass flat roofs: lifespan, seams, foot traffic, complexity and where each one wins.

Read: Felt vs EPDM vs GRP

Slate vs tile: which suits your property

Natural slate, fibre cement, clay and concrete tile compared on weight, lifespan, pitch and looks on period homes. Free written quotes.

Read: Slate vs tile

Dry-fix vs mortar-bedded ridges

Why mortar-bedded ridges crack and fail, how mechanically fixed dry-ridge systems work, and when re-bedding in mortar is still the right call.

Read: Dry-fix vs mortar-bedded ridges

uPVC vs timber fascias and soffits

Maintenance, appearance, cost and longevity compared for uPVC and painted timber fascias and soffits — including when timber is the right choice.

Read: uPVC vs timber fascias and soffits

Warm roof vs cold roof construction

How warm and cold flat roof build-ups differ, why cold roofs suffer condensation, and which is appropriate when re-covering an extension or dormer.

Read: Warm roof vs cold roof construction

Full re-roof vs overlaying an existing covering

Why overlaying tiles or felt is sometimes acceptable and often not — weight, hidden batten condition, underlay renewal and what you lose by not stripping.

Read: Full re-roof vs overlaying an existing covering

Roofer or general builder: who should do the work

When roof work belongs with a specialist roofer, when a general builder is fine, and the specific details where the difference shows up years later.

Read: Roofer or general builder

How long should a roof last?

Realistic UK roof lifespans for slate, clay, concrete, felt, EPDM and GRP, plus the parts that wear out first. Free quotes from a Hampton based roofer.

Read: How long should a roof last?

Flat roof systems compared and how long each lasts

Felt, EPDM, GRP and warm roof build ups compared on lifespan, cost, walk on strength and repairability, with the case for each. Free quote across TW and KT.

Read: Flat roof systems compared and how long each lasts

Single-ply vs mastic asphalt: which flat roof suits your property

Single-ply TPO and PVC versus mastic asphalt for flat roofs: lifespan, cost, repairability and best use. Practical advice from Hampton-based roofers.

Read: Single-ply vs mastic asphalt

Dormer or rooflight loft conversion: which is right for your house

Dormer versus rooflight-only loft conversions: cost, headroom, planning, light and resale. Practical comparison from Hampton-based roofers.

Read: Dormer or rooflight loft conversion

Breathable membrane vs vapour control layer

Breathable roof membrane and vapour-control layers compared: where each sits, what each controls and why neither replaces roof ventilation.

Read: Breathable membrane vs vapour control layer

Soffit ventilation options compared

Compare continuous vented soffit boards, individual soffit vents and over-fascia vents, including airflow paths and roofline replacement choices.

Read: Soffit ventilation options compared

Process & paperwork

What actually happens during a roof survey

Step by step: ground level check, loft inspection, high level access, photos and the written findings you should get. Free surveys and quotes.

Read: What actually happens during a roof survey

How to choose a roofer without getting stung

The checks that protect you: written scope, insurance, photo evidence, payment structure and the pressure tactics to walk away from. Free quotes.

Read: How to choose a roofer without getting stung

Roof insurance claims: how the process works

How storm damage claims work: evidence, make safe versus permanent repair, and the wear and tear exclusion that catches people out. Free quotes.

Read: Roof insurance claims

How long a new roof takes, day by day

A realistic re roof timeline: scaffold, strip, timber, underlay, covering, ridge and flashings, plus what weather delays. Free quotes, 10+ years local.

Read: How long a new roof takes, day by day

Access, neighbours and awkward properties

Access for terraces, flats, shared drives and rear extensions: neighbour permissions, pavement licences and working around conservatories. Free quotes.

Read: Access, neighbours and awkward properties

When roof work needs planning permission

Repairs, re-roofs, material changes, dormers and roof windows — which roof works typically need permission, and why conservation areas change the answer.

Read: When roof work needs planning permission

Party walls, shared roofs and semi-detached houses

How roof work interacts with party walls in terraces and semis — shared valleys, parapets, flashings at the boundary, and coordinating with your neighbour.

Read: Party walls, shared roofs and semi-detached houses

Roof warranties and aftercare: what's actually covered

The difference between workmanship guarantees, manufacturer product warranties and insurance-backed cover — and what typically voids each one.

Read: Roof warranties and aftercare

What should a roofing quote include?

The seven things every roofing quote should state in writing, and the exclusions that make cheap quotes look cheap. Free quotes, 10+ years local.

Read: What should a roofing quote include?

Fascia and soffit replacement: what actually happens on the day

Step by step through a fascia, soffit and guttering replacement: access, strip-out, eaves check, ventilation and finish. Hampton-based roofline specialists.

Read: Fascia and soffit replacement

Planning permission for a loft conversion in south-west London

Permitted development limits, when a loft conversion needs planning permission, and how conservation areas in Richmond and Hampton change the rules.

Read: Planning permission for a loft conversion in south-west London

Loft conversion roof structure: what has to change and why

Trussed versus cut roofs, purlins, steels, dormer construction and re-weathering — what a loft conversion does to your roof and where costs sit.

Read: Loft conversion roof structure

How to check a roofer is genuinely insured and trading properly

The documents to ask for, how to verify public liability cover, VAT and company status, and the deposit and payment terms that protect you.

Read: How to check a roofer is genuinely insured and trading properly

Roofing deposits, stage payments and contracts explained

What deposit is reasonable for roofing work, how stage payments should be structured, retention, variations and your cancellation rights. Plain English.

Read: Roofing deposits, stage payments and contracts explained

Asbestos roof removal: what to expect

How an asbestos cement garage or outbuilding roof is identified, removed, wrapped and disposed of, and what replaces it once the sheets are gone.

Read: Asbestos roof removal

Commercial cladding refurbishment: what it involves

When refurbishing profiled metal cladding makes more sense than re-cladding, how the survey, cleaning, repair and coating stages work, and what to ask.

Read: Commercial cladding refurbishment

Skylight and roof window installation: what to expect

How a skylight or roof window is fitted into a pitched roof: survey, opening and trimming, the flashing kit, internal reveals and when approval is needed.

Read: Skylight and roof window installation

Chimney removal: what to expect when a stack comes down

What chimney stack removal involves: scaffold, taking down to below the roof line, re-roofing the gap, what happens to the breast inside, and building control.

Read: Chimney removal

Dormer loft conversion: what to expect from start to finish

The stages of a dormer loft conversion: feasibility, drawings and approvals, party wall notices, scaffold, structure, roofing the dormer, stairs and finishing.

Read: Dormer loft conversion

Materials & systems

Roof underlay: bitumen felt vs breathable membrane

Why the layer under your tiles matters more than the tiles, how old bitumen felt fails, and what changes when a breathable membrane is fitted.

Read: Roof underlay

Loft condensation: ventilation, not leaks

Damp in the loft with no leak is usually condensation. How eaves, ridge and tile vents work and what blocks the airflow. Free quotes, family run team.

Read: Loft condensation

Loft insulation and your roof: getting both right

How insulation interacts with roof ventilation, why blocked eaves cause damp, and what to check before topping up. Free quotes from a Hampton roofer.

Read: Loft insulation and your roof

Lead alternatives: when they work and when they don't

Lead substitute flashings and self adhesive tapes compared with milled lead: where they work and where they age badly. Free written quotes.

Read: Lead alternatives

Roof valleys: the highest-risk detail on a pitched roof

Why valleys carry the most water and fail first — open lead, GRP, and mitred valleys compared, plus the debris problem nobody thinks about.

Read: Roof valleys

Soffit vents, over-fascia vents and airflow at the eaves

The eaves are where roof ventilation starts. How circular soffit vents, continuous strip vents and over-fascia vents differ, and when to use each.

Read: Soffit vents, over-fascia vents and airflow at the eaves

Insulating a flat roof properly

PIR boards, tapered schemes and vapour control on flat roofs — how to insulate a re-cover without creating condensation or losing door threshold height.

Read: Insulating a flat roof properly

Roof lanterns and flat-roof glazing: the leak risks

Roof lanterns and flat rooflights leak at the kerb, not the glass. How upstands, membrane dressing and drainage should be detailed on an extension roof.

Read: Roof lanterns and flat-roof glazing

Flat roof drainage and falls: why ponding wrecks flat roofs

Why standing water shortens flat roof life, what fall your roof needs, and how outlets, firrings and tapered insulation fix it. Free local quotes.

Read: Flat roof drainage and falls

Roof insulation and U-values explained without the jargon

What U-values mean, the targets for lofts, warm roofs and flat roofs, and how much insulation you actually need. Practical guide from local roofers.

Read: Roof insulation and U-values explained without the jargon

Insulating a loft conversion roof without losing the room

How to hit U-value targets at rafter level without eating headroom: between-and-under PIR, over-rafter boards, condensation risk and ventilation.

Read: Insulating a loft conversion roof without losing the room

Spray foam loft insulation: the risks before you commit

Why spray foam on rafters causes mortgage, survey and ventilation problems, the difference between open and closed cell, and what removal costs.

Read: Spray foam loft insulation

How long does a felt roof last?

How felt type, deck condition, drainage, upstands and workmanship affect flat-roof life, plus the signs that repair or replacement is due.

Read: How long does a felt roof last?

Green roof installation: how a sedum roof is built

How a green roof is built on an extension, garage or garden room: structural check, waterproofing, root barrier, drainage layer, substrate and planting.

Read: Green roof installation

Lead sheet roofing: bays, valleys, dormers and flat lead roofs

Where lead sheet is used on roofs, how bays, dormers, valleys and small flat lead roofs are laid, why bay sizes and fixings matter, and common lead faults.

Read: Lead sheet roofing

Commercial flat roofing: systems, surveys and planning the work

How commercial flat roofs are surveyed and specified: single-ply, built-up and liquid systems, overlay or strip, warm-roof insulation and keeping a building running.

Read: Commercial flat roofing

Property types

Victorian terrace roofs: the recurring problems

Butterfly roofs, parapet gutters, slate nail fatigue and shared valleys: the faults that repeat on Victorian terraces, properly fixed. Free quotes.

Read: Victorian terrace roofs

1930s semi roofs: what to expect and when to act

Hipped roofs, clay tiles, mortar bedded ridges and undersized underlay — the typical condition of a 1930s semi roof and the fixes that add real life.

Read: 1930s semi roofs

New-build roof defects and how to get them fixed

Mortar shortcuts, poor flashing, blocked ventilation and dry verge failures, plus how developer and warranty claims work. Free quotes, 10+ years local.

Read: New-build roof defects and how to get them fixed

Landlord roof maintenance: preventing the expensive call

Inspection intervals, tenant reporting, damp versus condensation and budgeting for replacement on rentals. Free quotes from a family run roofing team.

Read: Landlord roof maintenance

Listed buildings and conservation areas: roof repairs

What changes when a roof is listed or in a conservation area — material matching, consent, lead detailing and why modern shortcuts aren't acceptable.

Read: Listed buildings and conservation areas

Flats and blocks: managing a shared roof

How roof works on blocks of flats are scoped, authorised and communicated — freeholder consent, section notices, leaseholder cost and phased programmes.

Read: Flats and blocks

Roofing for period and historic homes

How to repair or renew the roof of a Victorian, Edwardian or older home without losing its character: materials, matching, lime, leadwork and ventilation.

Read: Roofing for period and historic homes

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