Mildenhall Roofers provides roof repairs for homeowners in Eriswell and the surrounding area, using the right materials for the job every time.
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When a roofer comes to fix your roof, the material they use is not just a technical detail. It affects how long the repair lasts, whether it blends in with the rest of the roof, how much it costs, and what maintenance it might need in future. This page sets out the main materials used in roof repairs and gives you an honest picture of what each one is good at and where its limitations lie.
Homeowners in Eriswell asking for roof repairs should feel confident asking their roofer which material they plan to use and why. A good roofer will explain the choice, not just get on with it.
Concrete interlocking tiles are widely available, relatively inexpensive and straightforward to replace. The main drawback when repairing is matching the colour and profile. Concrete tiles fade and mottle over time, so a new tile alongside old ones can look noticeably different for several years until the new tile weathers in. Functionally this makes no difference, but it is worth knowing.
Clay plain tiles are harder to source exactly because there are many regional variations in size, colour and profile. Reclaimed clay tiles are often a better match for older roofs than new ones. Clay tiles are more brittle than concrete when walked on during a repair, so a roofer needs to use proper crawl boards to avoid cracking adjacent tiles.
Both types of tile can last 50-100 years if the underlying structure is sound and fixings are maintained, though individual tiles will need replacing over that time as nibs break or tiles crack.
Natural slate is a premium material and one of the longest-lasting roofing surfaces available, with lifespans of 80-100 years or more recorded on well-maintained roofs. It is also the most demanding to repair well.
The challenge with slate repairs is matching. Welsh slate, Spanish slate and Chinese slate all look different, and even different batches from the same quarry can vary in colour and thickness. Reclaimed Welsh slate is often the best option for matching older roofs, though availability varies.
A common problem on older slate roofs is nail sickness - the original iron fixing nails corrode until individual slates are held by nothing more than their neighbours. When this affects a large area, patching becomes impractical and a section re-roof is more sensible. A proper inspection will tell you how far the nail sickness has spread before you decide.
Honest assessment: Natural slate is worth repairing and maintaining rather than replacing with a cheaper alternative, if the structure beneath it is sound. The material itself is excellent; problems usually stem from fixings, flashings or the substrate, not the slate.
Lead is the standard material for flashing at chimneys, dormers, valleys, abutments and around skylights. It is malleable, long-lasting and, when fitted correctly, extremely reliable. A well-installed lead flashing dressed properly into the brickwork joints and secured with lead wedges should not need attention for 50 years or more.
The problems arise with poor original installation or with older lead that has fatigued through decades of thermal expansion and contraction. Cracks and lifting edges are the most common failure points.
What to watch for with cheaper alternatives: Aluminium flashing tape and butyl-backed strips are sometimes used as a quick fix. They are far cheaper than lead but have a much shorter service life, particularly in exposed positions. Silicone sealant over a gap is not flashing - it is a temporary measure that will fail, often within two or three winters. If a roofer proposes sealant as the only solution for a flashing problem, ask why they are not replacing the lead.
Code 4 lead (1.8mm thick) is the standard for most domestic chimney and abutment flashings. Code 3 is used for soakers (the hidden individual pieces under slates at a junction). Using the right code for the right application matters for longevity.
Flat roofs on garages, extensions and bay windows are one of the most common repair jobs. There are two main material choices for domestic flat roofs.
Mineral felt (torch-on or built-up felt) is the traditional option and is still widely used. A properly installed three-layer torch-on felt system can give a reasonable service life. The main limitations are that felt is susceptible to UV degradation over time, can blister in hot weather and is more vulnerable to damage if water ponds on the surface. Single-layer felt in particular has a shorter working life.
EPDM rubber membrane is a single-ply synthetic rubber that has become a popular alternative. It is extremely flexible, handles freeze-thaw cycles better than felt and does not crack or blister in the same way. It is installed in large single sheets with minimal seams, which reduces the number of potential leak points. It is generally more expensive to install than felt, but the longer expected service life means the cost over time compares favourably.
The right choice depends on the size and shape of the roof, your budget and how long you plan to stay in the property. For a small garage roof where budget is tight, a good torch-on felt job is perfectly adequate. For a larger flat roof or one that has already been repaired once, EPDM is worth the extra investment.
The mortar used in chimney repairs matters more than many homeowners realise. Standard modern cement mortars can be too rigid and strong for older brickwork, particularly on Victorian or Edwardian chimneys. As the chimney moves slightly with thermal expansion and wind load, a rigid mortar cracks and pulls away from the brick face. A lime-based or flexible mortar that is appropriate to the age and type of brick is less likely to cause problems long-term.
For flaunching (the sloped mortar around chimney pot bases), a slightly flexible compound is better than hard cement for the same reason. Some roofers use proprietary chimney repair mortars that remain flexible after curing.
Ridge tiles are traditionally bedded in mortar and pointed around the edges. The mortar weathers over decades and eventually cracks and loosens. A traditional mortar re-bed is the standard repair. Dry-fix ridge systems (mechanical fixings with plastic ventilated end caps) are an alternative that removes the mortar altogether and can be more durable in the long run, though they look different and suit modern roofs better than older ones.
We cover Eriswell, Mildenhall, Elveden, Herringswell, Icklingham, West Row, Barton Mills and the surrounding area.
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Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
