UK Roofers: It does not matter if the roof on your house in the UK is thatched, slated, tiled, flat, metal or sloped, at some point in time you will need the expertise of a professional roofer. It might be that you need all of your roof replacing after a storm or similar disaster, or something simple like replacing a tile. In both cases, you're going to need help from a qualified roofer.
If your roofing requirements include leadwork, steel cladding, concrete and clay tiling, thatching, flat roofing, weather resistant fibreboard sheeting, bitumen laying and stripping, metal roofing, slate work or guttering, soffits and fascias, you should not fret, they can all be tackled by a professional UK roofing contractor. It takes the experience of a specialist roofer to understand all these components since each has its own special idiosyncracies and quirks. This is the reason why it is so critical to find a suitable UK roofer for this work.
Previous to any work beginning, an assessment of your roof by a qualified UK roofer will be required. The thinking behind this is to make certain that the correct level of service and workmanship can be provided. From this they are able to determine what materials are required, whether tricky locations are involved and what the layout and shape of the roof actually is. If your roofer doesn't get up onto the roof and take a proper look, but merely comes up with a cursory estimate from down on the ground, get another tradesman.
One of the primary concerns for a roofer in the UK is how to work safely. The truth is that for those working up on a roof, safety could mean the difference between life and death. Steeply sloping roofs cause significant problems for roofers in regards to health and safety. Every roofing company in the UK should train their employees to pay attention to the health and safety of not only themselves, but also the property owner and the property as well. Roofers who heed these safety guidelines demonstrate that they don't just care about themselves but also the reputation of their employers. The best roofing firms in the UK will be proud of their safety record and will do everything in their power to sustain it.
Building regulations in the British Isles enforce specific stipulations in the case of rooves. If more than 50% of your roof is going to be replaced you must give the relevant authorities a minimum of 48 hours notice. You've got to do this if the proposed work is on account of the age of the roof, is due to accidental damage or is for cosmetic purposes. If fail to do this you can be fined up to £5000, and will still have to shell out to have the roof put right if it is not up to standard.
It is important that any UK roofers you let loose on your property have got liability insurance to protect themselves and their clients. This not only protects you from all sorts of risks, but it also helps to make certain that they're legitimate roofers who understand what they are doing, and undertake their business in the right manner. Most respectable UK roofing contractors will in fact have three different types of insurance plan: contractor all risks insurance, employer's liability insurance and public liability insurance. It's not a good idea to use a roofer who does not have insurance coverage, even if you're tempted because they've given you a cheap quotation.
You should definitely get a lengthy guarantee with any new or replacement roof that you have installed, or roof repair made on your property in the UK. If substandard materials or components are employed, or mistakes are made whilst working on your roof, you will then be safeguarded. Before commencing any work, you should also understand that different construction materials will have different lengths of guarantee. To verify what warranties you are going to get with your roofing work - check with your chosen roofing contractor.
Roof Repointing and Pointing UK
The cement mortar mix that secures the ridge tiles of a roof in place is called roof bedding, and even though this will probably last for several years without a lot of maintenance, it is in the worst place in regards to exposure to weather. The ridge tiles as well as their bedding mortar undergo the hot and cold temperatures and take the full brunt of the constantly changing climatic conditions. One of the main factors behind damage and cracks to the bedding mortar is ice. Once this builds inside small gaps in the mortar joints, it may lead to bigger fissures and lumps falling off. The bedding will last longer if it is re-pointed every few years and this will help to preserve the performance, durability and look of your roof. If mortar is allowed to become weak you might have to get all of the ridge tiles taken off and newly bedded. A flexible pointing material is normally used nowadays, and this keeps the mortar intact since it moves with the changing weather conditions. If you're unclear about which is repointing and which is bedding then the best description would be that re-pointing is the secondary layer that's applied over the bedding mortar, maximizing the seal and blocking the ingress of dirt, dust and water.
Thatched Roof UK
The age-old craft of building roofs out of dried vegetation like marram grass, heather, rushes, water reed, straw or sedge is called thatching, and it is unfortunately a bit of a declining profession nowadays. The firmly packed material makes it possible for rain water to run easily off and additionally offers efficient insulation for the space below. Customarily thatching was passed through the generations with father teaching son the trade secrets. A combination of high cost and the lack of thatchers to carry out the work has resulted in a fall in the numbers of thatched roofs, although they remain favoured in various rural villages. Few people would dispute that a thatched roof is more attractive than a contemporary tiled roof and at times can appear as a work of art. Once finished a brand new thatched roof ought to stay sound approximately thirty years or so, however since the ridge area suffers from more wear, re-ridging needs to be done after 10 years or so.
Different Sorts of Roof
- Domed Roof
- Shed or Lean-To Roof
- Open Gable Roof
- Half-Hipped Roof
- Cross Gable Roof
- Flat Roof
- Gambrel Roof
- Mansard Roof
- Dormer Roof
- Hip Roof
- Gable Roof
Replacing a Flat Roof UK
When you have an old and delapidated flat roof in the UK that continually leaks and requires attention, it may be an appropriate time to bite the bullet and get that tired roof replaced. Even though a number of bad quality flat roofs were without doubt erected during the extension explosion of the Seventies and Eighties, modern roofs using high-tech materials are a whole lot more hard wearing and dependable. Instead of shelling out for costly repairs that aren't guaranteed to fix the problem, get yourself a brand new flat roof which you can expect to give good service for the next 20 years or so with little or no maintenance costs.
Damaged Roof Tiles
Defective or broken roof tiles are probably the most popular factors behind calling out a roofing contractor. Roof components are exposed to all sorts of severe weather conditions and quite a few factors can cause roofing tiles to get broken, damaged or dislodged. Following blustery weather it is wise to check your roof for missing tiles and other sorts of damages. If damage is evident bring in your local roofing contractor and have it seen to straight away. When left unattended to cracked tiles can bring about more serious issues inside your property when water begins to seep through, which is going to be far more costly than simply swapping a broken tile. The types of repairs which may well be needed include: damaged guttering, cracked slates, missing/broken roof tiles, loosened ridge tiles or faulty lead flashings.
Some Materials Used in Roofing
- EPDM (rubber)
- Metal Tiles (steel or aluminium)
- Bitumous Roofing
- Zinc Roofing
- Thatch
- Stone Tiles
- Slate Tiles
- Green Roofing (growing medium and vegetation)
- Polycarbonate
- Corrugated Metal Roofing
- Roof Tiles (clay or concrete)
Roofing Services UK
Most decent UK roofers will most likely be able to help you with chimney demolition in the UK, roof vents, GRP roofs, water ingress, ridge tiles, plastic roofs, cracked tiles, cracked gutters, roof insulation UK, gable roofing in the UK, roofing quotes, roof replacement, new roofs in the UK, gutter clearance, roof scaffolding, seamless guttering in the UK, rubber roofing, residential roofing, leadwork, roof shingles, roof windows, tiled roofs, cladding, roof inspections UK, roof maintenance, glass roofs in the UK, roof renovation in the UK, Velux roof window installation UK, roof cleaning, gutter maintenance in the UK, soffits UK, zinc roofs, metal roofing, roof construction UK, flat roofing, fibreglass roofing and other roofing related work in the UK, UK. These are just a handful of the tasks that are handled by roofers. UK specialists will let you know their whole range of roofing services.
Help and Guidance
To view the social media reaction to roofing developments and trends, check this out. To do a search for recommended and approved roofers in the UK you could visit Rated People or the government authorized Trustmark. To find out more regarding roof drainage, roofing forms, roof insulation, the elements of a roof, solar roofing, roof design elements and roofing support, you can take a look at Wikipedia and search for "Roof". To discover what's occurring in the realm of roofing pay a visit to a roofer forum, threads include things like Flat Roofs, Tiling, Loft Conversions, Dormers, Slating, Roofing, Roof Windows and Skylights. There are plenty of nice articles about roofing on the net, so if you're interested in learning about hiring a roofer or roofing contractor check this out.
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