There are many things to consider when deciding if you need a new roof but one of the main things to consider is that a new roof will add a lot of value to your home if you decide to sell. Not only will it make your house look more attractive it will more importantly shield you from all types of weather while you are living in it. It is a hard decision to make as many people do not like to spend money on things they don’t necessarily see when they are in their home. Most people will only notice their roof when it is leaking.

If you are planning to live in your home for a long time then a new roof is a very worthwhile investment. People will spend a small fortune repairing the same problems on their roofs year after year even though they will live in it for a long time. Of course not everyone has the money to splash out on a replacement roof but considering it an investment is an important factor.

A new roof will provide you with

  • Years of maintenance free worries

  • Added value to your home

  • Increased sale ability when selling your home

  • Reduced risk of injury or damage caused by falling debris

  • Increased thermal insulation

The key stages of a new roof are now shown below. Materials and the process may change from job to job but here you can get an idea of the general process.

  • Installing a new roof will start with a proper assessment of the existing roof and deciding what materials will be used or re-used.

  • Ordering new materials and having them delivered to the site along with a skip for disposing of all the waste material.

  • Scaffolding be erected and can cost quite a fair bit of money depending on the complexity of the job. A standard terrace house would be much cheaper than a detached 4 sided house with 2 chimneys to scaffold round for example. If there are conservatories or a carport the scaffolding has to go over then this will also increase the cost of the job. Scaffolding is not only necessary for safety but the amount of working space and material storage needed when re roofing a house.

  • The existing roof materials have to be carefully stripped and removed starting from the top of the roof with the ridge tiles. Slates and tiles are then passed down exposing the roof timbers and tile laths. By now the roof will pretty much look like a skeleton!  The laths are removed so only the main structure of the roof is left and now is the time any rotten or split roof joists are replaced.

  • The timbers are now covered with a layer of breathable felt which is layered from the bottom of the roof upwards. This allows any moisture or rain penetrated from a broken tile to run down the roof and into the gutter. It acts like a second shield. At this stage even though there are no tiles on the roof you can consider the roof watertight.

  • Tile battens are fixed into place with galvanised nails at the correct gauge depending on the size and type of the tile. These create the ‘rows’ of tiles. It is important these are space correctly to give the proper overlap of each tile or slate.

  • The roof tiles or slates are now fitted to the battens. Concrete tiles only need fixing and certain intervals where as slates that do not have hanging nibs need to be fixed with individual nails. Any tiles up against valleys or roof windows are cut to size.

  • Any ‘first fix’ leadwork such as soakers or secret gutters are now fitted into place and covered over with the tiles.

  • Any remaining leadwork such as flashings are now completed and ridge/hip tiles are now bedded on with fresh mortar to finally make your new roof 100% watertight!

How much does a new roof cost?

There are many factors that will alter the cost of a new roof such as style of your house, materials used, access and if there are any objects such as dormer windows or valleys which require a large amount of cutting of the tiles. Here are some factors that will definitely increase the cost of your roof.

  • Area of the roof. A 4 sided detached house will have a greater area to recover than a 2 sided terrace house.

  • The amount of leadwork involved. Valleys, chimneys and flashings increase the cost dramatically.

  • The type of slate/tile used. A standard concrete tile is much quicker to lay than a slate that requires individual nailing.

  • Upgrading loft insulation. Building regulations now require all new roofs to conform to current building regulations.

  • Replacing any rotten timbers.

Each new roof will be a different job altogether and every year the cost of materials rise or labour costs vary from company to company.

Choosing a new roof

In planning your next major re-design project, don’t forget to consider the look and style of your roof. When you consider that the average roof comprises 40 percent of a home’s visible exterior, you want it to look good.

Inspect your roof from a safe vantage point using binoculars. Look for cracking, broken, and missing slates or tiles. You can examine your roof from the inside, too. In your attic space, check for daylight or use a torch to look for water stains that may indicate a growing roof leak. For most of us the roof is an afterthought, at least until it starts to leak. In addition to keeping the house dry, the roof contributes greatly to the look of the house, so when building a new house, adding on, or re-roofing, it may pay to consider the options. When it comes to roof remodelling, there are a number of areas homeowners need to be aware of, from selecting a contractor to the actual start of work of the re-roofing.
There are several areas to look at when choosing a roof covering. To begin, you need to measure your roof. materials can then be priced per square metre. The manufacturer’s warranty can range from 20 years to lifetime. The length of the warranty is an indicator of performance and value. .
Some roof slopes can limit the choice of material that can be used. Your roofing contractor will determine your roof slope and guide you to what type of tile will be best for your roof. Although you will be hiring a professional roofing contractor to reroof your home, you should familiarize yourself with certain aspects of the reroofing process. There are various conditions about your roof that may limit your product choices or affect the cost of your roofing job.