Re-Roofing in Shirehampton
When repairs stop being good value, a full strip and re-cover in clay, slate or concrete tile — with new membrane, battens and ventilation — done to BS 5534.
Signs a roof is due
Repeated repairs in different places
One slipped tile is a repair. Slipped tiles on every slope, year after year, usually mean the nails or battens underneath have had their day.
Sagging or uneven lines
A dip along the ridge or a wavy slope can point to tired battens or structural movement. We check from inside the loft as well as outside.
Old felt or none at all
Many older Shirehampton roofs predate modern breathable membranes. Torn or brittle felt, or bare battens, means wind-driven rain gets through.
Clay tiles that have spalled
Frost can flake the face off old clay. A few can be replaced; a slope full of spalled tiles cannot be economically patched.
Concrete tiles on a clay street
Some houses had clay replaced with heavy concrete tiles decades ago. Going back to clay can suit both the house and the conservation area.
Non-traditional houses
Steel-framed and concrete-panel houses, such as some in Sea Mills and Lawrence Weston, need the roof and structure considered together. We will tell you if specialist advice is needed first.
What a re-roof involves
Survey and written quote
We inspect inside and out, agree the covering, and put the full specification and price in writing.
Scaffold and strip
Scaffold goes up, old coverings come off, and any sound clay or slate is set aside for reuse where you want it.
Timber, membrane and battens
Rotten timber is reported and replaced by agreement, a breathable membrane goes on, then new treated battens at the right gauge for the tile.
Re-cover and detail
Tiles or slates are fixed to BS 5534, with ridges, hips, verges, valleys and lead flashings completed. Then we clear up and hand over the written guarantee.
Choosing the right covering
Clay pantile and double-Roman
The traditional coverings in much of the village, recorded by the council on Station Road, The Green and The Bradleys. Right for character homes and usually expected in the conservation area.
Natural slate
Also recorded in the village, and used on the Public Hall of 1904, which has Cornish slate. Slate is lighter than clay and suits steeper pitches.
Concrete interlocking tiles
Common on post-war and later housing. Cost-effective and durable; not usually the right choice where a street is predominantly clay.
Re-roofing questions
Do I need planning permission to re-roof?
Replacing like for like is normally fine. Changing material, adding rooflights or altering the roof shape can need consent, especially in the Shirehampton conservation area or on a listed building. Check with Bristol City Council planning; we will flag anything we think needs checking.
How much does a re-roof cost?
It depends on size, covering, access and what is under the tiles. Our cost guide explains the main factors, and we give a free written quote.
Can you reuse my existing tiles?
Often in part. Sound clay tiles and slates can be cleaned and refitted, usually on the front slope, with matching new or reclaimed on the rear.
Sources: Shirehampton Conservation Area Character Appraisal (Bristol City Council), Historic England: Shirehampton Public Hall, Sea Mills Character Appraisal (Bristol City Council), Kings Weston Action Group: building Lawrence Weston.
Get your free, no-obligation roofing quote
Tell us what is happening with your roof. We will come out, look properly, and put a written price in your hands before any work starts.