Roofing questions, answered

It depends on the job. Published 2026 data for Cambridge puts a typical roof repair at £583–£2,284 (average about £1,178), a new flat roof at £1,430–£2,988 and a full roof replacement at £5,443–£12,297 (Checkatrade). Try our roof cost calculator for a typical range, then we will fix your price in writing after a free survey.

We are based at 2 The Grove in Chesterton (CB4) and cover the whole of Cambridge, UK, including Chesterton, Arbury, King's Hedges, Trumpington, Cherry Hinton, Romsey and Newnham, plus nearby villages such as Milton, Histon, Impington, Girton, Fen Ditton, Waterbeach and Cottenham. See areas we cover or call 01223 902596 to check your postcode.

Yes. Every quote is free and comes with no obligation. We inspect the roof first, by ladder or drone, then send a detailed written quotation that explains exactly what we found, what we recommend and the options available, so you can compare like for like. Several of our Google reviewers mention how comprehensive our quotes are.

Yes. All our repairs come with a 5 year warranty, and new roof installations come with a 10 year insurance guarantee. We put the guarantee in writing when the job is finished, along with photos of the completed work, so you know exactly what is covered.

Usually, yes. Leaks rarely appear directly under the fault, so we trace them as a process of elimination: checking flashings, valleys, slates, roof windows and flat roof upstands, using our ladder and, where it helps, a drone. We show you photos of the cause before recommending a repair. Read more about roof leak repairs.

Yes. Roofing Cambridge is a residential and commercial roofing company. We work on offices, shops, industrial units and managed residential blocks, including flat roof refurbishments, repairs, guttering and planned maintenance, and we schedule work to keep disruption to your business to a minimum. See commercial roofing.

Our office hours are Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm. If your roof is leaking now, call us on 01223 902596: we prioritise active leaks and storm damage. Outside those hours, leave a message or send the form and we will call you back first thing. Our emergency roof repairs page explains what to do while you wait.

Usually not for a like-for-like replacement. Listed buildings need listed building consent, and changes such as dormers can need planning permission, especially in one of Cambridge's 18 conservation areas. A full re-roof normally needs Building Regulations compliance. Our guide to planning permission for roofing in Cambridge explains the rules.

No. We are Roofing Cambridge, based at 2 The Grove, Cambridge CB4 1TJ, phone 01223 902596, website roofingcambridge.net. Several local firms have similar names, so please check the phone number and address before you book or leave a review, to be sure you are dealing with us.

Most roof repairs in Cambridge cost £583 to £2,284, with an average of about £1,178, according to Checkatrade's 2026 data. Small jobs such as replacing a few slipped tiles can be a few hundred pounds, while repairs that need scaffolding or new leadwork cost more. We give a fixed written price after a free inspection. Our roof repair cost guide breaks down each job.

Repair if the problem is local and the battens, fixings and underlay are sound. Replace if faults keep appearing in new places, nail sickness or rotten battens run across whole slopes, or the covering is past its typical lifespan. We inspect by ladder or drone, show you photos and give both options in writing, so you can weigh repairing now against replacing once.

We prioritise active leaks during our working hours, Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm. Call 01223 902596 as early in the day as you can and send photos if possible, as it helps us bring the right materials. Meanwhile, contain the water, keep it away from electrics and stay off the roof. Our emergency roof repairs page explains what to do while you wait.

Sometimes, but it depends on your policy wording, so check with your insurer before work starts. Insurers usually want photos and a roofer's report describing what failed and why, and we provide both after an inspection. Storm damage is rarely covered by a roofer's own guarantee, because trade bodies class it as an act of God rather than a workmanship fault.

By a process of elimination. We start inside, noting where the stain is and what weather causes it, then inspect the roof above by ladder or drone, working uphill from the stain. If the cause still isn't clear, we wet one section at a time with a hose while someone watches inside. You see photos of what we found before any repair is agreed.

It depends on the cause. Replacing up to five slipped tiles costs about £170–£225, a chimney flashing patch around £250 without scaffold, and a typical flat roof repair in Cambridge £584–£1,738 (Checkatrade, 2026, excluding VAT). We price your repair in writing after a free inspection. Our roof repair cost guide explains what pushes prices up or down.

Usually because the first repair treated a symptom rather than the cause. Water travels along underlay, battens and rafters, so it can appear some distance from where it gets in, and some roofs have two faults at once. We check the earlier repair, trace the water path again and show you what was missed before quoting for the fix.

Yes. A slow leak keeps plaster, insulation and timber damp, and mould follows, usually in upstairs corners and around ceiling stains. Fix the leak first, then let the area dry out fully before redecorating. Soaked loft insulation is usually best replaced, because wet insulation stays damp for a long time and stops doing its job.

No. We're open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, and urgent jobs such as active leaks and storm damage go to the front of the queue during those hours. Out of hours, leave a message on 01223 902596 or send our contact form with photos, and we'll call you back first thing on the next working day.

Checkatrade's Cambridge data puts emergency roofing jobs at £350–£1,011, with an average of about £586 (2026). Simple fixes cost less: around £200 to replace storm-damaged tiles or £250 for new flashing. Scaffolding, height and the extent of the damage add to it. We explain what the make-safe and the permanent repair will each cost before starting.

When water is coming in now, or when something could fall. Water through a ceiling or near electrics, a sagging ceiling, missing tiles over a bedroom, torn flashing or loose chimney masonry all need prompt attention. A small old stain that hasn't grown, or one slipped tile with no leak, can wait for a normal appointment. See roof leak repairs for slower leaks.

Often, but check your policy. Insurers generally treat sudden storm damage differently from gradual wear and tear, and most want to hear from you promptly. Photograph the damage inside and from the ground, keep any fallen tiles and keep receipts for temporary repairs. We can provide dated photos and a written description of the damage and its likely cause to support your claim.

Our drone and ladder surveys come with a free, no-obligation written quote. For context, MyBuilder puts a standard roof inspection at about £150, and putting up scaffolding just to look costs far more: Checkatrade lists a single scaffold up to 10 m at £550–£700 a week (2026). A drone usually removes the need for one at the inspection stage.

For seeing, usually yes; for touching, no. A drone photographs every slope, chimney top and valley in detail without anyone standing on the roof. It can't lift a slate, test a loose ridge or look under a membrane, so we combine it with ladder checks on lower roofs and a look in the loft. Together they give a full picture.

Yes. A general building survey often assesses the roof from the ground and the loft. Our survey looks closer, with drone photos of every slope, and gives you a written quote for anything that needs doing, so you know the likely cost before you exchange. It pays off most on older slate roofs, where a repair and a full re-roof are very different bills.

Yes. We photograph the damage, describe what we believe caused it and give you a written quote for the repair. Insurers generally want to know whether damage was sudden, such as a storm, or the result of gradual wear, so clear, dated photos help your case. If a storm has just damaged your roof, start with our emergency roof repairs page.

Natural slate, by a long way. Good Welsh slate can last 100 years or more, and the slates usually outlive the nails holding them. Checkatrade puts clay tiled roofs at around 50–60 years and concrete tiles at 25–40 years. Slate costs more to buy and fit, so the right choice depends on your house and budget. Our slate vs tile guide compares them in detail.

Usually, yes. We identify the slate or tile profile at the survey and source new or reclaimed matches. On older roofs we often reuse sound slates or tiles from the roof itself, or borrow tiles from a hidden rear slope to repair the front. Where a concrete profile has been discontinued, we show you the closest options before any work starts, so there are no surprises.

A dry ridge fixes the ridge tiles mechanically with clips or screws instead of bedding them in mortar. With no mortar to crack in frost or wash out in storms, it needs less maintenance, and most systems also ventilate the roof space. Checkatrade puts a dry ridge at roughly £50–£70 per metre. It suits most concrete-tile roofs, while period slate roofs often suit traditional bedding.

Nail sickness is when the iron nails holding slates to the battens rust through, so slates slip, crack or fall. It is common on Cambridge's Victorian terraces, where many roofs are well over a century old. A few slates can be refixed individually, but once it is widespread the lasting fix is to strip the slope and re-lay sound slates on new battens with copper or aluminium alloy nails.

Typically £7,500 to £12,500 for a two-bed terrace, £10,000 to £15,000 for a three-bed semi and £15,000 to £20,000 for a four-bed detached house, according to the FMB's 2025/26 guide. Checkatrade's Cambridge roof replacements average about £8,134. Slate, scaffolding and structural repairs push prices up. Our new roof cost guide explains every line item.

Usually between three days and three weeks on site, according to Checkatrade, depending on size, access and weather. A simple semi takes far less time than a large slate roof with chimneys and valleys. Allow extra time beforehand: a pavement scaffold licence from Cambridgeshire County Council needs at least 15 working days. We give you a written programme before work starts.

Usually not for a like-for-like replacement, because it doesn't materially change how the house looks. That normally holds in conservation areas too, unless an Article 4 direction or planning condition applies; in Cambridge, only the Accordia estate has one for homes. Flats, listed buildings, dormers and roof extensions are different. See our planning permission guide.

Yes, in most cases. A re-roof counts as renovating a thermal element, so if more than 50% of the roof is renewed, the insulation should be upgraded to 0.16 W/m²K where feasible. The work is either self-certified through a government-authorised competent person scheme or notified to building control. We explain which route applies to your roof before work starts.

Usually because the timbers are overloaded, weakened or no longer tied together. Common causes are heavy concrete tiles on timbers sized for slate, struts or ties removed during old loft work, and rot from a long-term leak. Some old roofs settled long ago and are stable, so we check whether movement is ongoing before recommending strengthening, partial rebuilding or a structural engineer's input.

Yes, often. Where rot is confined to a few rafter feet or one area, we fix new timber alongside the damaged rafters, which Checkatrade prices at about £25 per metre for 150×50 mm timber. The tiles or slates above are lifted and relaid. If rot runs across the roof or the wall plates have failed, a re-roof with structural repairs is usually better value.

Because warm, moist air from the house is reaching a cold loft that isn't ventilated enough. It often starts after extra insulation is pushed into the eaves and blocks the airflow, or when extractor fans vent into the loft. Clearing the eaves, adding tile or ridge vents and closing gaps in the ceiling usually solves it. Our warm roof vs cold roof guide explains the principles.

Not always. Outside conservation areas, a hip-to-gable loft conversion can be permitted development if the extra volume stays within 40 m³ for a terraced house or 50 m³ for other houses, and nothing rises above the existing ridge. In a conservation area, roof extensions need planning permission, and flats have no permitted development rights. Building Regulations approval is needed either way.

Most domestic flat roofs in Cambridge cost £1,430 to £2,988, with an average of about £2,059 for a typical extension or garage (Checkatrade Cambridge data, 2026). Larger roofs, insulation upgrades, roof lights and scaffolding add to the price. We give a fixed written quote after a free survey. See our flat roof replacement cost guide for the full breakdown.

It depends on the roof. EPDM rubber is a single seamless sheet that typically lasts 30–50 years and suits most extensions and garages. GRP fibreglass is very hard-wearing and neat around details, lasting around 25–30 years. Torch-on felt is the cheapest upfront but usually lasts 15–20 years. We'll recommend the right one after the survey; read EPDM vs GRP.

Roughly 15–20 years for torch-on felt, 25–30 years for GRP and 30–50 years for EPDM rubber, according to Checkatrade's 2026 cost guides. Good installation, enough fall to shed water and clear outlets matter as much as the material. Our guide on how long a flat roof lasts explains what shortens a roof's life.

Yes, often. If the deck underneath is sound and the leak is local (a split, a failed upstand or a lifted edge), a targeted repair is usually the sensible option. If the covering is blistered all over, the decking is soft or the roof keeps leaking in new places, replacement is better value. We'll show you photos and give you both options in writing.

Typically 30–50 years, according to Checkatrade's 2026 cost guides, which makes EPDM one of the longest-lasting flat roof coverings. How long yours lasts depends on a sound deck underneath, enough fall to shed water, neat detailing at the edges and upstands, and outlets that are kept clear. Our guide to how long a flat roof lasts compares the options.

Yes, for occasional access such as clearing a gutter or cleaning a rooflight. EPDM is tough but can be punctured by sharp objects, so it isn't meant to be a terrace on its own. For regular foot traffic, add walkway pads or raised decking on supports, or consider a hard-wearing GRP fibreglass roof instead.

EPDM typically costs £80–£100 per m² supplied and fitted (Checkatrade, 2026), and a typical new flat roof in Cambridge comes to £1,430–£2,988. Replacing rotten decking, adding warm-roof insulation, new edge trims, rooflight upstands and removing the old roof all add to the price. We give a fixed written quote after a free survey of your roof.

Sometimes, but we usually strip the felt. Laying over it can hide rotten boards and trap moisture, and EPDM needs a clean, smooth, dry surface to bond to. If the felt and deck are sound and dry, an overlay board can make it possible. We check the deck at the survey and explain which option suits your roof and budget.

A GRP roof is a flat roof made of glass-reinforced plastic: glass-fibre matting laid on a timber deck and soaked in resin, which sets into one rigid, seamless laminate. A coloured topcoat goes on top to protect it from sunlight and wear. It's often just called a fibreglass roof, and it's hard-wearing enough to walk on.

GRP typically costs £95–£120 per m² supplied and fitted, or around £210 per m² for a fully insulated warm roof built from the deck up (Checkatrade, 2025/26, excluding VAT). A typical new flat roof in Cambridge costs £1,430–£2,988. Size, access, decking, insulation and rooflights all move the price, and we confirm it in writing after a free survey.

Around 25–30 years, according to Checkatrade, with the topcoat refreshed every 10–15 years to keep the surface protected. A well-built deck with taped joints, proper falls and clear outlets helps it reach the top of that range. Our guide to how long a flat roof lasts compares GRP with EPDM and felt.

Only when it's dry. The resin must not get wet before it cures, cold weather slows curing and hot sun speeds it up, so we plan GRP around the forecast and lay it in manageable sections. Cambridge's dry climate helps, but we won't lay GRP in rain or on a damp deck. A leaking roof can be made safe temporarily until conditions suit.

Around 15–20 years for a modern torch-on felt roof that is installed and maintained properly, according to Checkatrade. Old single-layer shed felt lasts far less. Heat and sunlight are the main enemies in Cambridge's warm, dry summers, so a felt roof's life depends heavily on its mineral surface, its fall and how well it drains. See how long a flat roof lasts.

Small felt repairs in Cambridge typically cost £94–£135 per m², according to Checkatrade's Cambridge rates, and a typical flat roof repair job here averages about £1,002. Re-felting a single garage is usually £1,000–£2,000. The final price depends on access, the size of the damaged area and whether the boards underneath need replacing, which we check at a free survey.

Choose felt for garages, sheds and small roofs where upfront cost matters most, and EPDM or GRP for house extensions you want to last. Checkatrade puts felt at 15–20 years, GRP at 25–30 and EPDM at 30–50. Felt is the cheapest to lay, at roughly £50–£80 per m². We fit all three, so our advice isn't tied to one. Compare EPDM vs GRP.

Sometimes, but we rarely recommend it. Overlaying only works if the old felt is dry, flat and well bonded and the deck beneath is sound, and it hides any rot. Trapped moisture can blister the new layer, and the extra thickness can upset upstands and drip trims. In most cases, stripping back to the deck gives a longer-lasting roof and lets us check the boards.

Replacing a typical 15–20 m gutter run with three downpipes costs about £650 to £1,700, with an average of around £1,000 (Checkatrade, 2026). uPVC is the cheapest at roughly £30–£70 per metre fitted; aluminium and cast iron cost more. Access, the number of downpipes and the state of the fascia boards all affect the final price. Our gutter costs guide has the full breakdown.

Yes. If the rest of the run is sound, we can replace a single cracked length, a failed union or a broken bracket rather than the whole system. Older plastic gutters can be hard to match in profile, so where a new piece won't join cleanly to the old one, we explain the options and the cost of each before doing anything.

Usually because the rubber seals inside the unions have perished, or the gutter has moved. Plastic guttering expands and contracts with the temperature, and after years of hot summers and frosty nights the rubber hardens and lets water through. A sagging run also strains the joints. A new union and re-set brackets normally cure it for a modest cost.

uPVC suits most homes: it is light, needs no painting and is the cheapest to fit. Aluminium is stiffer, takes a durable powder-coated finish and suits long runs. Cast iron is the traditional choice for Victorian and listed buildings; it is the heaviest and dearest, and needs repainting to keep rust away. We recommend what suits your house, budget and any heritage rules.

They are the boards that finish the edge of your roof. The fascia is the upright board fixed to the rafter ends; it carries the gutter and supports the bottom row of tiles. The soffit is the flat board underneath that closes the gap to the wall. Bargeboards do a similar job along the sloping edge of a gable. Together they are known as the roofline.

Typically £115 to £185 per linear metre, or about £2,750 for a full uPVC replacement on a small semi-detached house before scaffolding (Checkatrade, 2026). Capping sound boards is cheaper at around £85 per metre. Scaffold, the number of bargeboards and whether the gutters are renewed at the same time all change the total. We give a fixed written quote after a free survey.

Only cap them if the timber is sound. Capping fixes a thin uPVC cover over the existing fascia and costs less, but boxing in rotten wood hides the problem and lets it spread to the rafter ends. We test the boards at the survey. If they are firm and dry, capping is reasonable; if they are soft or split, full replacement is the job that lasts.

Usually, yes. Where the loft insulation sits between the ceiling joists, the roof space relies on air entering at the eaves to carry moisture away. Solid soffits with no vents, or insulation pushed into the eaves, can lead to condensation and mould on the roof timbers. We fit vented soffit boards or over-fascia vents wherever the roof needs them.

Most homes pay £100 to £165. Checkatrade's 2026 figures put a semi-detached house at £100–£150 and a four-bed detached at £130–£165, with the East of England averaging about £146, one of the dearer regions in the UK. Three-storey townhouses cost more, at £165–£300. Our gutter cleaning and repair costs guide explains what affects the price.

Once a year suits most Cambridge homes, ideally in late autumn once the leaves are down. Houses close to large trees may need a second clean in spring, because seeds, twigs and blossom keep falling. Flat-roofed extensions, valley gutters and the back gutters behind chimneys collect debris faster than most people expect, so it is worth checking them at the same visit.

Late autumn, after most of the leaves have fallen. In Cambridge, October is also the wettest month on average, at about 59 mm according to the Met Office, so blocked gutters show themselves then. If your trees drop their leaves late, an early-winter or spring visit is a sensible extra. Demand peaks from September to November, so booking early helps.

Yes, with us it does. A clean gutter is no use if the downpipe below is packed with leaves, so we check that every outlet and downpipe is flowing, clear blockages we can reach and tell you if a pipe is cracked or the gully at ground level is blocked. Blocked underground drains are a job for a drainage specialist, and we will say so.

Lead flashing is a strip of sheet lead that waterproofs the joint where a roof meets a wall, chimney or window. One edge is tucked into a mortar joint in the brickwork and the other is dressed over the tiles or slates, so rain runs off the junction rather than into it. Lead is used because it lasts and can be shaped to fit almost any detail.

Typically £50 to £70 per metre for a straight Code 5 flashing and £80 to £120 per metre for stepped flashing up a wall or chimney (Checkatrade, 2026, excluding VAT and access). Replacing all four sides of a chimney flashing costs about £450–£600 without scaffold, or £800–£1,200 with it. See our roof repair cost guide for more repair prices.

Properly specified and fitted lead can last for centuries, according to the Lead Sheet Advisory Service. In practice flashings often fail much sooner because pieces are too long, the lead is too thin or the mortar holding them has crumbled. Those are faults in the detail, not the material, and re-wedging and repointing an otherwise sound flashing is often all it needs.

Most often it is the flashing. Checkatrade notes that chimney flashing problems are a leading cause of roof leaks: lead that has lifted, split or come out of its joint lets water run down inside the stack. Other culprits are cracked flaunching (the mortar collar around the pots), porous brickwork and a failed back gutter. Our chimney repairs page covers those.

It depends on the job and the access. Checkatrade's 2026 guides put chimney repointing at about £750 on average (around £300 for a small chimney on a low roof), a flashing patch at about £250 without scaffold, and rebuilding a stack above the roofline at £1,000–£3,500. A high-level chimney scaffold adds roughly £500–£820 a week. We quote in writing after a drone check.

Often both owners, where the stack straddles the party wall, as many do on Cambridge terraces and semis. Check your deeds, and agree the work and the cost with your neighbour before it starts. The Party Wall Act may apply if the work cuts into or removes part of a party structure. We're happy to show both households the photos and the quote.

Sometimes. Like-for-like repairs such as repointing don't need it, but householder permitted development rights for roofs don't cover installing, altering or replacing a chimney. In a Cambridge conservation area, altering a chimney on a slope or wall facing a highway needs planning permission, and listed buildings need listed building consent. Our planning permission guide explains the rules.

Sometimes. Damage from a sudden event, such as a storm bringing down a pot or part of a stack, is often treated differently from gradual wear like eroded pointing or old flashings, so check your policy wording. We can supply dated photos and a written description of the damage to support a claim, along with a written quote for the repair.

Usually not. In England a roof window on a house is permitted development if it projects no more than 150 mm from the roof slope and sits below the ridge, and that still applies in Cambridge's conservation areas. Side-slope windows must be obscure-glazed and fixed shut unless the opening part is over 1.7 m above the floor. Flats and listed buildings differ; see our planning guide.

Usually the flashing or the seals. The flashing kit around the outside can be damaged, lifted by slipped tiles or blocked with leaves and moss, and the rubber seals perish with age. On older windows the timber frame itself can rot. Condensation can look like a leak too, especially in bathrooms and loft bedrooms, so we check outside and in before recommending a repair.

Roughly £1,000 to £1,500 for a complete new installation, according to Checkatrade's 2026 guide, and £1,000 to £2,500 to remove and replace an existing window. The size, an electric opener (about £300 extra), scaffolding and how much finishing is needed inside all affect the price. Our Velux cost and installation guide breaks the figures down.

Yes, often. New seals cost about £65 to £150, and a new flashing kit or frame repair about £180 to £500 (Checkatrade, 2026), far less than a new window. If the frame is rotten, the glazing has failed or the window is a size and type that no longer suits the room, replacement is better value. We show you photos and price both options.

Decades, if it is designed and installed properly. Checkatrade puts metal roofs at 50 to 100 years. Zinc maker VMZINC says correctly detailed zinc can last more than 100 years, and copper is quoted at 100 years or more. Coated steel sheet depends heavily on its coating and fixings, which is why we pay close attention to cut edges and fasteners.

A new metal roof on a typical house costs around £6,000 to £10,000, according to MyBuilder's 2026 price guide. Zinc and copper sit at the top of the market, while profiled steel on a garage or outbuilding costs far less. Scaffold, removal of the old covering and insulation upgrades add to the total. Our new roof cost guide explains what drives roofing prices.

Not when they are built properly. A single skin of steel over an unheated garage will drum in a downpour, but zinc or steel laid over a solid deck and insulation, as on a house extension, is much quieter. If you are turning an outbuilding into a room, we specify a build-up that deals with noise and condensation together, rather than adding fixes afterwards.

That is almost certainly condensation. Warm, moist air inside the garage meets the cold underside of uninsulated steel and turns to water, especially on clear winter nights, and Cambridge averages around 40 frosty nights a year. New sheets with an anti-condensation backing, or insulation with a vapour control layer and ventilation, cure it. Old sheets can sometimes be lined rather than replaced.

We install and repair EPDM rubber single-ply, GRP fibreglass, built-up torch-on felt and liquid-applied coatings on flat roofs, and repair profiled metal sheet roofs, gutters and roofline. The right system depends on the roof's size, use, access and budget, so we recommend one after surveying it. Our flat roofing page compares the main options side by side.

Yes. Most commercial roofs we work on stay in use throughout. We agree access routes, storage space and the timing of noisy jobs with you beforehand, phase larger roofs so only one section is open at a time, and leave each section watertight at the end of the day. Schools usually prefer the holidays, so it pays to plan early.

Coverings typically cost about £50–£80 per m² for torch-on felt, £80–£100 for EPDM and £95–£120 for GRP (Checkatrade, 2025/26, excluding VAT). Strip-out, insulation upgrades, access equipment and the state of the deck all add to that, so we give a fixed figure only after a survey and a written specification. Our flat roof cost guide explains each line item.

Usually, if you renovate more than 50% of the roof or more than 25% of the building envelope. Approved Document L Volume 2 then expects the whole roof to be upgraded, to 0.18 W/m²K for a flat roof where feasible, backed by a signed condensation-risk report. Patch repairs do not trigger this. We'll explain what applies to your building before you commit.