New Roofs & Re-Roofing in Cambridge

Re-roofing Cambridge's older homes

Much of Cambridge's housing is Victorian and Edwardian: long terraced streets in Romsey, around Mill Road and through Chesterton, many with natural slate roofs, chimneys and lead detailing that have been there a very long time. Alongside them are 1930s semis with clay or concrete tiles, bay windows and hipped roofs. These roofs were built well, but original slate nails corrode, battens rot, and older roofs often have no underlay at all, or underlay that has long since perished.

When slates slip faster than they can be refixed, or a roof leaks in several places at once, re-roofing is usually the lasting answer. Done well, a new roof should look right on the street and protect the house for decades.

Natural slate or tile?

On a slate terrace, natural slate is usually the right choice. It suits the house, keeps the look of the street consistent and lasts a long time when properly fixed. We cover this in more depth on our slate roofing page.

On 1930s semis and later houses, clay or concrete tiles are more common. Clay ages gracefully and suits many interwar homes; concrete tiles are a practical, durable option. We talk you through the choices that suit your house and your budget, and we price each option clearly so you can compare like with like.

Conservation areas and listed buildings

A large part of Cambridge is covered by conservation areas, and the city has many listed buildings. In general, replacing a roof like for like often needs no planning permission, but changing the material, the appearance or the shape of the roof can, and in a conservation area or on a listed building the rules are stricter. Listed buildings normally need consent for works that affect their character, roofs included.

We always recommend checking with the council before work starts if you are unsure. Our guide to planning permission for a new roof explains the general rules in plain English.

What a full re-roof includes

A proper re-roof is more than new tiles. We strip the old covering back to the rafters and check the timbers, replacing or strengthening anything that is rotten or damaged. We then fit a breathable membrane, which lets moisture escape from the roof space while keeping rain out, followed by new treated battens set out to the correct gauge for the slate or tile.

The new covering goes on with the right fixings, then ridges and hips are finished either in mortar or with a dry-fix system. Leadwork at chimneys, abutments and valleys is renewed and dressed by hand; we are leadwork specialists, so see leadwork in Cambridge for more on that side of the job. Where needed we renew gutters and fascias too, and when we finish we clear the site and take the waste away. Full details of the process are on our new roofs and re-roofing page.

Tight terraced streets and keeping you watertight

Many Cambridge terraces have narrow pavements, limited parking and little or no side access. We plan scaffolding, deliveries and waste removal around the street before work starts, and we keep you informed about what to expect.

We only strip what we can protect. Each section is made watertight before we leave it, and we keep a close eye on the weather throughout, so your home stays dry while the roof is being replaced.

When a repair is enough

Not every tired-looking roof needs replacing. If the covering is mostly sound and the problem is a slipped slate, a loose ridge or a failed flashing, a repair will do the job for a fraction of the cost. We will tell you honestly which you need; if a repair is the right answer, our roof repairs in Cambridge page explains how we go about it.

What our customers say

“After getting several quotes we chose this company and are glad we did. They were reliable, on time and easy to deal with. The new roof looks fantastic, the crew worked hard, turned up on schedule and cleaned up well after themselves. Very pleased with the whole experience.” — Tarley W., Google review

To arrange a free inspection and quote for a new roof in Cambridge, call 07862 885143 or send us your details.