Roofing guides

Straight-talking guides written by working roofers, not copywriters — 78 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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, free quotes, guaranteed.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Roof repair cost: typical prices for common fixes

What common roof repairs cost across Hampton, Teddington, Twickenham & East Sheen — slipped tiles, flashing, leaks, valleys. Honest fixed-price quotes.

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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 quotes, guaranteed work.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Fascia, soffit and guttering costs explained

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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, guaranteed work.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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What should a roofing quote include?

The eleven lines a proper roofing quote should contain, the exclusions to look for, and the payment terms to refuse. Free written quotes, guaranteed work.

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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.

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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 quotes, work guaranteed.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Access, neighbours and awkward properties

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 quotes, work guaranteed.

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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

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