Bristol Roofing FAQs

Every roof is different. The cost depends on what is wrong, the materials needed and how easy the roof is to reach, and access such as scaffold often makes the biggest difference. We inspect first and give you a fixed written quote before any work starts, so you know exactly where you stand. You can request a free quote online.

It depends on the size and shape of the roof, the material you choose (natural slate, clay tiles or concrete tiles), the access and whether any timbers need replacing. Scaffold is also a significant part of most re-roofing jobs. We inspect the roof and give you a fixed written quote listing every part of the job. Read more about roof replacement in Bristol or request a free quote.

Yes. Our quotes are free and there is no obligation. Use the form on this page, call 07733 236110 or request a quote online. A photo of the problem helps.

If you agree a contract in your own home, the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 usually give you a 14-day cancellation period. If you need urgent work to start sooner, you can ask for it to begin within that period. If you receive a written quote and decide later, different rules apply, so always read the quote terms.

No. Small repairs within safe reach of a ladder may not need it. Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, roofers must use safe access, so chimney work, valleys, high roofs and full re-roofs usually need scaffold or a cherry picker.

If scaffolding stands on a public pavement or road, a scaffolding licence from Bristol City Council is needed before it goes up. Bristol City Council says licences can take 3 to 10 days to process. Your roofer or scaffold company normally arranges this and includes the cost in the quote.

The most common causes are slipped or cracked tiles and slates, worn lead flashing around chimneys, blocked or failed valleys, cracked ridge mortar, perished felt and failed seals around roof windows. Water often travels before it shows on a ceiling, so the leak is rarely directly above the stain. See our roof leak repair page.

Roofers can often keep working through light showers, but work stops in heavy rain, strong wind, ice, snow or lightning for safety. In wet weather a good roofer covers any open area so your home stays dry.

As a rough guide, old-style felt flat roofs last around 15 to 20 years, concrete and clay tiled roofs around 40 to 60 years, and natural slate can last over 100 years. The nails, battens, felt and lead usually wear out before the slates or tiles themselves.

Not usually, but it should be fixed soon. A gap lets rain reach the felt and battens, and the next strong wind can lift more tiles. If water is already coming in, call us about an emergency roof repair.

BS 5534 is the British Standard code of practice for slating and tiling pitched roofs. Its 2014 revision tightened the rules so that every single-lap tile is mechanically fixed and ridge and hip tiles are no longer held by mortar alone. It is not a law, but it is regarded as best practice for repairs and re-roofing.

If the problem is limited to one area, a repair is usually the better value. If tiles are slipping across the whole roof, the felt has perished and leaks keep appearing in different places, a roof replacement is often cheaper over the next ten years.

Usually not. The Planning Portal explains that re-roofing which does not materially change the look of the house is normally allowed without planning permission. Conservation areas, listed buildings and areas with an Article 4 direction can have tighter rules, so check with Bristol City Council if your home is affected.

Often, yes. Renovating a large part of a roof normally brings in the energy efficiency rules in Approved Document L, which can mean upgrading insulation. The work then needs building control approval, unless it is carried out by a contractor registered with a competent person scheme who can self-certify it. Bristol City Council Building Control can advise if you are unsure.

A typical terraced or semi-detached house takes around one to two weeks, including putting up and taking down the scaffold. Slate roofs, complex roofs and bad weather can add time.

Yes. Most people stay at home throughout. The roof is covered and made watertight at the end of each working day.

Usually not. Planning Portal guidance says new roof lights are normally fine if they stick out no more than 150mm from the roof slope and are no higher than the highest part of the roof. Side-facing windows must be obscure glazed and either fixed shut or more than 1.7 metres above the floor. Listed buildings and conservation areas need checking first. See VELUX windows.

For most extensions, garages and dormers, EPDM rubber or GRP fibreglass are the most popular choices because they last far longer than old single-layer felt. Modern torch-on felt also suits some roofs. See flat roof repair.

Standing water, often called ponding, usually means the roof does not have enough fall or the deck has started to sag. It speeds up wear and is a common cause of leaks, so it is worth getting checked.

It could. Asbestos cement sheets were widely used on garages and outbuildings until asbestos was banned in the UK in 1999. Do not drill, cut, break or jet wash an old sheet roof. It should be tested first and handled under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.

All UK bat species and their roosts are protected by law. If bats are found, work must stop and an ecologist should be consulted, and a licence from Natural England may be needed before work continues. Timing the work for the right time of year can help.

Yes. Active nests of wild birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Work at the eaves and soffits is best planned outside the main nesting season, which typically runs from spring into late summer.

Bristol has many conservation areas, including large parts of Clifton, Redland, Cotham and the city centre. Bristol City Council publishes maps of each one. Like-for-like repairs are usually fine, but changes to materials or roof windows may need consent. See roofers in Clifton for local advice.

Speak to your neighbour early. Shared stacks are best repaired as a whole, and if the work involves cutting into or rebuilding the shared structure, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 may apply. See chimney repair.

Many policies cover sudden damage from storms or falling trees, but most do not cover gradual wear and tear or poor maintenance. Check your policy wording. We can provide photos and a written report to support a claim. See insurance roof repairs.

Make sure everyone is safe, keep away from anything that could fall, and photograph the damage inside and out. Put buckets under any drips, switch off electrics in wet areas if it is safe, and call a roofer to make the roof safe. Keep all receipts for your insurer.

Yes, when flown within Civil Aviation Authority rules. Operators of most camera drones need a CAA Operator ID, and flights should respect neighbours and their privacy. See drone roof inspections.

No. Roofing is not a licensed trade in the UK, so anyone can call themselves a roofer. Trade bodies and schemes, such as the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC), TrustMark and CompetentRoofer, are voluntary, which is why checking a roofer before you book matters.

Ask for a written quote that lists the work and materials, proof of public liability insurance, details of any guarantee in writing, and recent reviews or references. Be wary of anyone who knocks on your door, pressures you to decide on the spot or asks for full payment upfront.

Avoid paying the full amount before work starts. A deposit towards materials on larger jobs is common, with the balance paid when the work is complete and you are happy with it.