Mildenhall Roofers installs new roofs for homeowners and commercial properties in Ely, specifying the right materials and carrying out the work properly from start to finish.
Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
A new roof is one of the largest single investments you will make in a property. Whether you are replacing an ageing roof that has gone beyond repair or covering a new build, the job covers far more than simply laying tiles. The existing structure - rafters, sarking felt or breathable membrane, battens and any insulation - all need to be assessed and dealt with correctly before a single slate or tile goes on.
On a typical pitched roof replacement we strip back to the bare timbers, check every rafter for rot or movement, replace damaged timber, lay a new breathable underlay, batten out, and then fix the chosen tile or slate. Ridge and hip tiles are bedded or dry-fixed depending on the specification. Lead or code-5 flashing is dressed around chimneys, abutments and valleys. Done properly, a pitched roof in good materials should perform reliably for several decades without needing major attention.
Flat roofs on extensions, garages and outbuildings follow a different process. Felt systems use multiple layers of bonded felt, while EPDM rubber membrane is a single-ply system heat-welded or adhesive-fixed to a timber deck. Both need correct falls built into the deck so water drains rather than ponds. A flat roof that sits level will always fail prematurely, regardless of the membrane quality.
The roofing trade has no shortage of people willing to take your money and disappear. Protecting yourself starts before you agree a price or sign anything. Here is what to ask, and what the answers should tell you.
A contractor who cannot point you to completed jobs - ideally with a homeowner you can speak to - is a contractor to be cautious of. A new roof replacement is a substantial project; any tradesperson doing this work regularly will have satisfied customers willing to vouch for them. If they hesitate or change the subject, walk away.
A written, itemised quote tells you exactly what you are paying for: strip and disposal of old materials, timber repairs if needed, underlay specification, batten size, tile or slate type, fixings, lead flashing work, ridge detail and scaffolding. A single lump-sum figure makes it impossible to compare one contractor against another or to check later whether the work was done as agreed. Ask for line-by-line detail as a minimum.
Rotten timbers, failed noggins or undersized rafters are sometimes only visible once the old covering is off. A reputable contractor will show you any problems found, explain what needs doing and agree a cost before proceeding - not present a much larger bill on completion. Get this agreed in writing at the start: what happens if additional timber work is needed, and how will it be priced?
Some roofing companies price the job and then subcontract it to whoever is available. That is not automatically a problem, but you should know whether the people who assessed your roof are the ones who will be on it. Ask directly whether the firm uses its own workers or subcontractors, and whether a supervisor will be on site during the job.
A roof strip generates a significant volume of broken tiles, old felt and timber offcuts. Ask whether a skip or grab lorry is included in the price, or whether you are expected to arrange that separately. Ask how the property will be secured if the job runs over more than one day - leaving a stripped roof overnight without adequate protection is unacceptable.
Scaffold on a two-storey house needs erecting by a scaffold contractor and must comply with working-at-height regulations. Check whether scaffolding is in the quote or is being added separately, and who is responsible for having it inspected and taken down safely after the job.
Three quotes is a sensible minimum for a new roof. When you receive them, resist the temptation to simply pick the lowest. Instead, compare the specifications. If one quote uses a heavier gauge lead flashing and a better-quality tile than the cheapest option, the price difference may be justified. If all three quotes specify the same materials and one is significantly cheaper, ask why - it may indicate fewer battens, thinner underlay or cut corners on fixings.
A new concrete tile roof on an average semi-detached house typically costs between £5,000 and £10,000 depending on pitch, complexity and access. Natural slate is more expensive, often £8,000 to £15,000 or above for the same property, because the material itself costs more and takes longer to fix correctly. These are guide figures; your actual quote will reflect the specific roof.
The tile or slate you choose affects how long the roof lasts and how it looks. Concrete interlocking tiles are the most common choice on modern and post-war homes: they are cost-effective, durable and easy to source for repairs in later years. Natural slate - either Welsh or imported Spanish - is harder wearing but more expensive, and demands accurate nailing to avoid slipping over time. Clay plain tiles suit period properties and, when fixed correctly, can last well over a hundred years.
The underlay beneath the tiles matters just as much. An old-style impermeable felt traps condensation; a modern breathable membrane allows moisture vapour to escape, reducing the risk of timber deterioration in the roof space. On any replacement job, it is worth specifying a breathable underlay even if the existing roof did not have one.
For chimneys, the lead specification matters. Code 4 lead is acceptable in some positions; code 5 is the correct weight for step flashings and back gutters. Under-specified lead work is one of the most common sources of early leaks after a new roof is fitted.
If you need a new flat roof on a garage, porch or extension, EPDM rubber membrane is worth understanding. A properly installed EPDM roof uses a single sheet with no seams across the main field, making it inherently less likely to leak than a traditional felt system. The deck beneath needs to be sound and laid to a fall of at least 1:80 - ideally steeper. If the existing deck is soft, springy or uneven, it should be replaced before the membrane goes on.
Felt flat roofs using modern torch-on systems are also a practical option. Three-layer torch-on felt, properly bonded and taken up the upstands to the correct height, performs well when installed on a good substrate. The key is the preparation and the falls, not just the membrane itself.
From our base in Mildenhall we work across Ely and the nearby villages. If you are unsure whether we cover your location, call us and we will tell you directly.
For a detailed survey of your roof and a written, itemised quote, call Mildenhall Roofers. We will assess the structure, explain what we recommend and why, and give you the information you need to make a decision you are comfortable with.
No obligation · We'll call you to arrange a free visit
Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
