If your roof in Ely is beyond patching, Mildenhall Roofers can give you an honest assessment and carry out a full replacement using quality materials built to last.
Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
Most homeowners hope a repair will solve the problem. Sometimes it does. But when a roof has been leaking in the same spots year after year, when tiles are slipping faster than they can be replaced, or when the felt underneath has perished, repairs become a short-term fix that costs more in the long run. A full roof replacement strips the old structure back, addresses whatever is happening to the deck and timbers underneath, and starts fresh with materials rated to last decades.
Mildenhall Roofers carries out complete roof replacements for homeowners in Ely and the surrounding area, including nearby towns and villages. We cover pitched roofs, flat roofs, garage roofs and outbuildings. Before any work begins, we give you an honest view of what the roof actually needs, not just what generates the largest job.
Roof replacement is one of the larger investments a homeowner makes. Getting it wrong is expensive and stressful. The single most useful thing you can do before signing anything is ask the right questions. Here is what matters, and why.
A price on its own tells you very little. Two quotes for the same house can differ by thousands of pounds because one includes replacing the batten and felt underneath the tiles and the other does not. Before you compare prices, make sure every quote covers the same scope. Ask each contractor to list in writing what is being stripped off, what is being inspected, what is being replaced (tiles, battens, felt, lead flashings, ridge tiles, verge mortar) and what is being left in place. If a quote is vague, that vagueness will cost you later.
When the old tiles and felt come off, the rafter structure and roof deck are exposed. Rotten or sagging timbers cannot simply be tiled over. A good contractor should be able to tell you in advance how they assess the structure, what they do if they find rot or movement, and whether structural timber repairs are included in the price or quoted separately once the roof is open. The honest answer to that last question is sometimes "we price that separately because we cannot know until it is open" - that is fair, as long as they explain it up front and give you an idea of what that work costs per metre.
Clay and concrete tiles are the two main options for most pitched roofs. Clay tends to last longer and holds its colour better; concrete is often cheaper upfront. Slate - natural or fibre cement - is another option with a long service life. Ask the contractor which product they are specifying and why. Ask for the manufacturer's name so you can look up the product yourself. For flat roofs, the main modern options are EPDM rubber membrane or modern torch-on felt systems. Ask which system they use, and ask how it is fixed and sealed at the edges, because that is where flat roofs most often fail.
A full roof replacement requires proper scaffold. Any contractor who proposes to do it from a ladder is not working safely. Ask who erects the scaffold, how long it will be in place, and whether its cost is included in the quote. Scaffold hire adds to the overall price, but it is non-negotiable for a job of this scale.
Stripping a roof produces a significant amount of rubble - old tiles, broken mortar, perished felt and worn battens. Ask whether the contractor organises a skip, how long it will be on site, and whether removal is included in the price. A clear site at the end of the job is part of the work, not an optional extra.
Lead flashings around chimneys, dormers and abutments are often the point where water gets in. During a replacement, all the lead work should be inspected and any sections that have cracked, lifted or been poorly pointed previously should be replaced. Ask the contractor specifically whether new lead flashing is included or whether they are planning to re-use existing lead. Re-using good lead is fine; re-using cracked or undersized lead is not.
This is not about checking a list of jobs - it is about asking whether they understand local roof types and materials. Roofs vary widely in age and construction, and each type handles differently during a strip and relay. A contractor who is familiar with the range of roof types in this part of Cambridgeshire will spot potential problems faster.
Ask for references from recent jobs and actually follow them up. A quick call or message to a previous customer takes five minutes and tells you far more than any website. Ask the previous customer whether the price changed between quote and final invoice, whether the site was kept tidy, and whether the contractor communicated well during the job.
A straightforward pitched roof replacement on a semi-detached house typically runs between £5,000 and £10,000, depending on roof size, material choice, and whether any structural repairs are needed. Larger detached properties or those with complex roof shapes, dormers or chimneys will cost more. Flat roof replacements on a garage or extension are generally between £1,000 and £3,500 depending on area and the system chosen. These are typical current UK ranges - any quote should be itemised so you can see exactly where the money goes.
We work across Ely and take on roof replacement jobs in the surrounding area, including towns and villages close to Mildenhall such as Barton Mills, Culford, Cavenham, Icklingham and Elveden. If you are not sure whether we cover your location, just ask when you call.
Before you decide whether a replacement is genuinely necessary, you need a proper inspection from someone who will tell you the truth. Call Mildenhall Roofers to arrange a roof survey in Ely - we will tell you what the roof actually needs, and give you a clear written breakdown of what the work involves.
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Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
