We provide every kind of roofing service in Croydon and the nearby regions, from minor maintenance to full flat roofing replacements, and every associated service like fascias, soffits, and guttering. If it protects your home from rain or is on your roof, we can help.
Repairs on Your Roof
Most roofing problems start with the minor things: a few cracked or missing tiles, loose or missing bits of flashing, or tiny leaks from roof seams or other roof vulnerabilities. It is a good idea to get repairs on time and before problems get worse.
Roofing with tiles and broken or missing tiles is very common. If your roof has been under storms or in high winds, you can expect a few broken tiles. If this happens, we replace the tile with the exact same kind. If your roof is older, it might be a bit of work to find a match, but we spent a lot of time working with reclaim yards, so we have good contacts and a lot of experience to help you.
If your roof has chimneys or walls, Lead flashing is often the first to get cracks to develop and needs to be replaced first. With this flashing, lead theft used to be a bigger issue than it is now. If yours has been stolen, we can replace it with lead, but we can also use substitute products in place of lead, like replacement products that mimic lead.
Ridge Tiles Loose Over Time
Ridge tiles at the top of the roofs can get loose over time. They crack and start rocking during windy weather. We re-bed them properly to ensure they are secure – because loose ridge caps will fall, and it’s a bigger job for them to be re-placed. – Ridge caps loose are a bigger job.
Leaks Cause Problems
Where two roof slopes meet are problem areas for leaks. Valleys con-tain lead or tiles. Valleys lead and tiles hold more water than the rest of the roof. If water is getting through the roof, we fix the water.
Flat Roofing
Flat roofs aren’t actually flat, they are only slightly sloped for drainage. They are common on extensions, garages, and some older houses. Traditional felt roofs last for around 10-15 years as long as they are properly installed. When they start leaking, you’ve got two options: patch repairs if the damage is small or fix the entire roof if the roof is generally ‘knackered’.
Modern alternatives like fibreglass and Epdm rubber last longer than felt roofs for around 20-30 years. They cost more upfront, but over time, they are worth more than felt as they need less maintenance.
Fibreglass Roofing
Fibreglass roofing is great. It’s seamless, so there are no joints that could leak. It’s also tougher than felt when it comes to walking across it, so you don’t have to worry about damaging it if you do some maintenance on the roof.
Like fibreglass, EPDM is also waterproof, but it is lighter and easier to install. Instead of being installed in multiple sections, it comes in large sheets that are glued down. It’s good in the cold, and it is flexible, so it is able to withstand movement in the building without cracking.
We will gladly discuss the options we have in stock and will base our discussions on the size of your roof, your budget, and the time you intend to stay in the property. If the property is a sell in the next year, there is truly no point in adding the cost of a roof that is designed to last thirty years.
Pitched Roofing
The traditional style of roofing is the pitched roof, and it is standard on most houses. It is designed with slates and tiles, and they are fastened to the battens on the roof.
Complete re-roofs cost a lot to do, and it is a pretty big job, but it is necessary sometimes. If your roof is really old and you’re getting lots of leaks, or the wooden battens are rotten underneath, then patching it is a waste of time and money. In this case, we will remove everything all the way to the felt
Concrete tiles can last anywhere from forty to fifty years all while being the most affordable option. Not to mention they offer a multitude of colors. For a clay tile option this will last longer, but at a higher cost. Many prefer the style of the clay option.
Older properties often use roofs made of slate. Good slate can last anywhere from 100+ years but requires maintenance and checking as individual slates may crack or even slip. Welsh slate is of high quality but expensive. Spanish and Chinese slate would be the more affordable option but won’t last as long.
Before major jobs we access the roof structure first. Sometimes the roof covering will not be the only problem. The timber beneath may be rotting or even undersized. We try to be as honest as we can about what we think needs doing.
These are the bits most people forget about. Fascias are the boards at the edges of the roof where the guttering attaches. Soffits are underneath the fascias, closing off the space between the wall and roof edge.
Eventually rotting will be the fate of the wooden fascias and soffits. Especially if the guttering has been leaking or overflowing. Once rotting occurs the wood will need to be replaced and just painting over it won’t fix the problem.
These days a lot more people are going for UPVC fascias and soffits. They last for decades, don’t rot, and don’t need painting. They are more expensive than wood when buying them, but wood costs a lot more when you have to replace them.
Guttering is very important for preventing damp problems on walls and foundations. We fix and replace any damaged guttering, cut and fix any sagging parts, and ensure the down pipes drain away from the building the way they should.
Cast iron guttering is very appealing to have on older properties but can be a bit of a hassle. It can rust through if it is not painted every few years. If you want to keep the original appearance, we replace the guttering with new cast iron when it is not repairable. Some people prefer plastic to avoid the maintenance, but it can look out of place on older properties.
Emergency Roof Repairs
Leaks wait for no one. We respond to emergency situations with leaked roofs and roofs damaged by storms. Emergency repairs are to make the roof weatherproof quickly. We will come back when the weather is stable to do the repairs more thoroughly.
We sell tarpaulins and other emergency materials for temporary repairs. It’s not ideal, but it keeps the rain out until we can do a complete repair. Emergency callouts are more expensive than standard work because we have to drop other jobs to assist you, but when you need someone quickly, that’s how it works.
We tend to get busy after storms, and we do emergency repairs in the order that we think is most serious. An open hole in the roof is more serious than a few tiles that have slipped. If it’s just cosmetic damage and you’re not actually leaking, you may have to wait that bit longer.
We do need to use scaffolding for most roofing work, which we set up and includes in the quote. Safety is important to us, and we don’t skimp.
Weather always affects roofing work. We can’t work in heavy rain, strong winds, or icy conditions. We schedule jobs based on forecasts, but conditions changing sometimes requires us to get in touch and postpone.
Missing shingles, or other cosmetic roof damage, often prompts customer to begin the insurance claim process. We can work with insurers and supply the documentation they need. Make sure to have your insurance policy info available.
We guarantee workmanship on all roofs. Most materials have a 10-15 year manufacturers guarantee on felt, and longer for modern materials.
Getting Started
Contact us and tell us what issues you’re experiencing. We will come out, examine the roof, provide a detailed inspection, and write a quote. We will inform you of what needs to be done and the reasons for it, so you know what you financially committed to.
We are located in Croydon and service the surrounding areas. Roofing is one of our major services, and we’ve done everything from minor leak repairs to full Victorian houses re-roofing.