Re-roofing in Portishead
When repairs stop making sense: a full strip and re-cover in slate or tile, with new membrane, battens and fixings, and a 20 year written guarantee.
When a roof needs replacing, not repairing
A re-roof is a big decision and an expensive one, so we only recommend it when the evidence is there. The signs we look for are not one or two slipped slates but a pattern: slates sliding across the whole slope because the nails have rusted through, concrete tiles that have gone soft and porous, battens that have rotted, or an old bitumen felt that has perished and sags between the rafters.
Portishead has roofs from almost every period. Georgian terraces on Woodhill Road, Victorian villas on West Hill and around the High Street, post-war estates on Down Road and North Weston, 1970s housing around Brampton Way and Raleigh Rise, and the post-2000 streets of the Marina and Village Quarter. A 1950s concrete-tile roof and a slate roof from the 1860s fail differently, and we will explain which you have and what it is doing.
If a repair will give you years of good service, we will quote for that instead.
A proper re-roof, start to finish
Scaffold and protection
Scaffold designed for the building, with the garden, conservatory and neighbours protected. Taller hillside houses that drop several storeys on the downhill side need more planning, and we do that before we start.
Strip to the rafters
Old covering, battens and felt removed and the timbers inspected. Any rafters or wall-plates that need attention are reported to you with photos before we carry on.
Breathable membrane and new battens
A modern vapour-permeable underlay and graded battens, fixed to suit the covering and the exposure of the site.
Fixings to the standard
Tiles and slates fixed in line with BS 5534, the British Standard for slating and tiling. On exposed slopes that usually means more mechanical fixing than the original roof had.
Ridges, hips and verges
Dry-fix or mortar-bedded, chosen to suit the roof. Dry-fix systems avoid the cracked mortar that is a common problem on wind-exposed ridges.
Leadwork and gutters
Chimney flashings, valleys and abutments renewed in lead while the roof is open, and gutters checked or replaced at the same time.
Things worth knowing
Slate or tile?
Natural slate is heavier to buy and slower to lay but suits the older houses. Concrete tile is the covering on much of post-war Portishead. We will price both where either is sensible.
Conservation areas and listed buildings
In the Woodhill Road, West Hill and Welly Bottom, East Wood and Court Farm Environs conservation areas, or on any of the town’s 38 listed buildings, a change of roof material may need permission. Historic England’s listing for terraces on Woodhill Road records that their original slate has largely been replaced in modern tile; going back to slate is often welcomed, going the other way is not.
Building Regulations
Replacing a roof covering can bring Building Regulations into play, including insulation. We will tell you what applies to your roof and handle the notification where needed.
One price, in writing
The quote lists what is included and what is not, including scaffold. If we find rotten timbers once the roof is open, you see photos and a price before we do any extra work.
Re-roofing questions
How long does a re-roof take?
It depends on the size, the covering and the weather. We give you a realistic programme with the quote and keep the roof watertight every night while the work is under way.
Can I stay in the house?
Yes. Most people do. The loft gets dusty, so we suggest clearing or covering anything stored up there.
Do I need to tell my neighbours?
It is good practice, especially on terraces and semis where scaffold may need access across a boundary or a shared ridge is involved. We can talk to them with you.
Can you add insulation or roof windows at the same time?
Yes. A re-roof is the cheapest time to add rooflights or improve ventilation and insulation. Ask when we visit.
What guarantee do I get?
Our 20 year written guarantee covers the work we do.
Sources: Portishead Community Character Statement; Historic England list entries 1291022 and 1291008 (Woodhill Road); planning.data.gov.uk conservation area records; BS 5534.
Wondering if your roof needs replacing?
We will tell you honestly, with photos, and quote for whichever option makes sense.