New roofs in Oxford

How your new roof goes on, step by step

1. Free survey. We look at the roof from the ground and from the loft hatch, and note the covering, the timbers, the ridge, the valleys, the chimneys and the roofline.
2. Written quote. You get the scope in writing: scaffold, strip-out, membrane, battens, covering, ridge and verge, plus any fascia, soffit and gutter work you asked for.
3. Scaffold and strip. The scaffold goes up, the old covering and battens come off and the rafters are checked. Rotten timber is pointed out to you and priced before it is replaced.
4. Membrane and battens. A new breathable membrane goes over the rafters, then new battens are set out to the gauge of the tile or slate you chose.
5. Covering, ridge and verge. The tiles or slates go on and the ridge and verges are finished. Our recent re-roofs use dry ridge and dry verge systems, fixed mechanically rather than bedded in mortar.
6. Clear-up and sign-off. Old materials leave site, the scaffold comes down and your 20 year guarantee is issued in writing on completion.

Signs a repair will not do and the roof needs replacing

• Slipped tiles on more than one slope, winter after winter
• Damp patches or daylight showing from the loft
• Patch repairs that keep failing in new places
• A dip or sag along the slope seen from the street
• Old felt that has torn or gone brittle at the eaves
• Ridge and verge mortar crumbling along the whole length

Coverings for a new roof

• Concrete interlocking tiles: The most common covering on post-war houses and bungalows around Oxford, in grey or red. Quick to lay and heavy enough to sit tight in wind. Our bungalow re-roof used grey tiles.
• Plain clay tiles: Small, double-lapped tiles found on older and period homes. More tiles go on each slope, so there is more labour, and the finish suits older streets.
• Natural slate: The covering on many Victorian terraces in Jericho and east Oxford. Each slate is fixed to the battens one by one, and the valleys and dormers need careful setting out, as on our Oxford slate re-roof.
• Slate-effect tiles: The look of slate in a larger tile, as on our Abingdon-area roof replacement.

How long it takes

Most re-roofs on a house or bungalow take days rather than weeks once the scaffold is up. The roof size, the number of hips, valleys and chimneys, the weather and any timber work set the pace. Ask for the expected number of working days to be written on your quote so you can plan around it.

What affects the price

• Roof size and pitch
• Scaffold and access, including side passages and conservatories
• The covering you choose: concrete, clay, slate-effect or natural slate
• Timber repairs found once the old roof is off
• Chimneys, valleys, dormers and roof windows
• Fascias, soffits and gutters added to the same job

See the new roof cost guide for what moves a quote up or down our price range.

Aftercare

Keep the gutters clear each autumn so rainwater leaves the new roof the way it was designed to. After a big storm, look along the ridge and verges from the ground. If anything looks out of place, send us a photo and quote your written guarantee.