Mildenhall Roofers installs new roofs in Burwell and the surrounding area, helping homeowners spot the point at which repair is no longer enough and a full replacement is the right call.
Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
Most homeowners prefer to repair rather than replace, and that is usually the sensible approach. But there comes a point where patching a roof costs more over time than replacing it properly. Understanding the warning signs early means you make that call on your terms, not under pressure after a wet ceiling or a damaged ceiling joist.
A new roof is a significant investment, so this page is written to help you work out whether you actually need one, what causes roofs to fail, and what to expect from the process if you go ahead.
A single slipped tile or a small area of cracked mortar on a chimney stack does not mean you need a new roof. These are normal maintenance issues on any pitched roof. The signs that suggest something more serious include:
None of these signs on their own is automatically a death sentence for a roof. A thorough inspection from ground level and ideally from inside the loft will tell you far more than a quick look from the pavement. If you are unsure, call us and we will take a look and give you an honest assessment rather than a sales pitch.
Roofs do not usually fail overnight. The causes are almost always gradual, and most come down to three things: age, the quality of the original installation, and maintenance history.
Age and material fatigue. Concrete interlocking tiles from the 1960s to 1980s have a finite lifespan. By the time a roof reaches 50 to 60 years old, the tiles, the battens, the fixings and the underfelt will all be approaching the end of their useful life at roughly the same point. Replacing like for like on a roof this age rarely makes sense. A slate roof installed with good quality materials can last considerably longer, but the supporting timberwork and the lead details still need to be checked at that age.
Poor original workmanship. A common problem is battens fixed without adequate spacing, tiles laid without the correct headlap or sidelap, or ridge tiles bedded in a mortar mix that is too strong. Overly strong mortar cracks as the roof moves with temperature changes, opening joints that water then tracks along. If a roof has been failing repeatedly in the same spots since it was installed or last replaced, workmanship on the original job is worth questioning.
Lack of maintenance. Blocked gutters overflow against fascia boards and soffits. Moss holds moisture against tiles and works into joints. Flashings that are never inspected gradually lift and allow water behind them. None of these issues is catastrophic on its own, but left over years they combine into something much more costly to put right.
On a standard pitched roof, the process starts with stripping the existing covering right back to the rafters. The timberwork is inspected and any damaged or rotten sections are cut out and replaced. New breathable membrane is laid over the rafters before battens are fixed at the correct gauge for the chosen tile or slate. Every tile or slate is then laid from eaves to ridge, with new ridge and hip details bedded or dry-fixed as appropriate. Lead flashings around chimneys, skylights and abutments are replaced at the same time.
On a flat roof, the process depends on the system being used. Torch-on felt systems are stripped back and the deck is inspected for softness or rot before new layers are applied. EPDM rubber systems are laid over a new or refurbished deck in large sheets with very few joins, which reduces the number of potential leak points.
For new-build properties, we specify the roof system at the outset based on the pitch, the planning requirements and the budget.
Before you agree to a full replacement, there are some questions worth asking any roofer:
A roofer who cannot answer these questions clearly is one to be cautious of. The cheapest quote is rarely the one that accounts for all of the above.
A straightforward pitched roof replacement on a semi-detached house in the Burwell area will typically fall somewhere in the range of £5,000 to £12,000, depending on size, access, the material chosen and the condition of the timberwork found once stripping starts. Slate is more expensive than concrete tile both for the material and for the time to lay it. Dry-ridge systems cost more upfront than mortar bedding but require less maintenance over time.
Flat roof replacements on garages and extensions are generally priced per square metre. Torch-on felt systems typically run from around £60 to £90 per square metre installed. EPDM rubber systems tend to sit at the higher end of that range or slightly above it, but the material itself is more durable and more resistant to pooling water.
These figures are general guidance. The only way to get an accurate price for your property is to have it inspected properly.
We carry out new roof installations across Burwell and the surrounding area. We also work regularly out of our base in Mildenhall, covering Barton Mills, Cavenham, Lackford, Icklingham, West Row, Herringswell, Elveden, Risby and Culford. If you are not sure whether we cover your location, just ask.
If you have noticed any of the warning signs described above, the sensible first step is a proper inspection - not a quote based on a drive-past. Call us to arrange a roof survey in Burwell and we will tell you honestly whether you need a new roof, a targeted repair, or just some maintenance work.
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Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
