Roofing questions, answered straight

For a typical three-bed semi in the South East, a full re-roof in concrete tile usually lands between £7,000 and £10,500, with clay and natural slate costing more. The honest answer is that size, material, access and what we find under the old tiles all move the number — which is why our written quotes are fixed, itemised and free. For a quick ballpark before you talk to anyone, try our roof cost calculator.

Most full roof replacements take five to ten working days: a day or two to scaffold, three to six on the roof itself, then snagging and a thorough tidy-up. Weather can stretch that — we never strip more roof than we can make watertight the same day, so your home is protected even if the heavens open mid-job.

Our rule of thumb: if less than about a quarter of the roof has problems and the timbers are sound, repair it. If the underlay has perished, tiles are failing across every slope, or you're paying for repairs every winter, replacement is usually cheaper over ten years. We'll always price the repair honestly first and show you photos of exactly what we've found, so the decision is yours with the facts in front of you.

Yes — it's a big part of what we do every winter. We make the roof safe first, then provide a dated photo report and written scope of damage in the format insurers want, and we're happy to speak directly with your insurer or loss adjuster. One tip: photograph any damage from the ground as soon as it's safe to, and note the date of the storm.

It depends entirely on the system. Modern GRP fibreglass and EPDM rubber, properly installed, last 25–30 years and often longer; high-performance felt around 15–20. The old-fashioned pour-and-roll felt that gave flat roofs a bad name managed about ten — if your flat roof dates from the 80s or 90s, it owes you nothing.

Genuinely bad, unfortunately. Moss holds water against the tiles, which freezes and cracks them in winter; it lifts tile edges enough for wind-driven rain to get underneath; and it slides off in clumps that block gutters. We remove it by hand with a soft biocide treatment — never a pressure washer, which does more damage than the moss ever could.

Usually not — like-for-like re-roofing is almost always permitted development. The exceptions are listed buildings (which need consent) and some conservation areas, where the council may require matching materials. We work in conservation areas across Sussex, Surrey and Kent every week and will flag any permissions needed before you commit to anything.

Any significant roof work legally and practically needs safe access, so yes — scaffolding is standard on re-roofs and larger repairs, and it's always included in our written price rather than appearing later as an extra. Small repairs can often be done from ladders or a tower, which keeps costs down, and we'll tell you which applies when we quote.

Every job carries our written workmanship guarantee — 10 years on full re-roofs and new flat roofs, and appropriate cover on repairs. Materials carry their manufacturers' warranties on top, which run from 15 years to 50+ depending on the product. If anything we've done ever lets water in, we come back and fix it. Simple as that.

Yes — roofers would have very quiet Decembers otherwise. Tiling, slating, leadwork and repairs happen year-round; we simply plan around the forecast and never leave a roof exposed overnight. The few genuinely weather-dependent jobs, like GRP fibreglass (which needs a dry day above 5°C to cure), get scheduled into suitable windows.

Not always, and it's worth knowing before anyone quotes you for roof work. Ceiling stains can also come from condensation in an under-ventilated loft, a leaking pipe or tank, or failed sealant around a bathroom above. Part of every inspection we do is confirming where water is actually coming from — roughly one 'roof leak' in five we investigate turns out to be something else.

We look at the roof properly — from the ground, a ladder, or by drone for complex jobs — and photograph what we find. You then get a fixed, itemised written quote: what's wrong, what we'll do, what it costs, how long it takes. No 'from' prices that double later, no pressure, and the quote stays valid for 60 days while you think it over or compare.

Small repairs are simply invoiced on completion. Larger jobs are staged — typically a deposit to secure materials and scaffolding, then the balance when you've walked the finished job with us and you're happy. We'd gently warn anyone against roofers who want large sums up front in cash; a reputable firm never needs that.

We're based in Crawley and work within roughly 50 miles — across West Sussex, East Sussex, Surrey, Kent and into South London. That includes Horsham, East Grinstead, Redhill, Reigate, Brighton, Guildford, Tunbridge Wells, Croydon and everywhere in between. If you're not sure whether you're in range, ask us on chat — the answer is probably yes.