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Historic homes: Materials For Your Roof Restoration

Preserving your home’s legacy whilst also adding strength to its historic structure can be a difficult and confusing task. When it comes to your roof, this often requires careful consideration of the different roof restoration materials available. Finding the right roofing material that fits with both your aesthetic aspirations, building regulations and your budget whilst also restoring your home to its original character is not the easiest of tasks. What’s more, many of the original materials are simply not in production any more and so finding a perfect match can feel near impossible.

alt="Slate roof bungalow restoration with valleys"A general rule of thumb is to contact an experienced architect and experienced roofing team before making any major decisions in order to determine which materials best suit your circumstances. Whilst an architect is able to provide insights into the historical styles that will suit this major design feature, we’re on hand to provide you with some of the most common options and roof restoration materials available that offer an ideal historical look and incorporate modern construction techniques.

 

Slate

"manor house restoration"One of the most natural roofing materials available, along with wood, is slate.  You’ll find a slate roof on many historic buildings in the UK. Welsh slate in particular is the number one choice when it comes to this type of roof covering. However, there are some great alternatives if you’realt="bungalow slate roof restoration" on a lower budget such as natural Spanish slate or the man made cement fibre slates which have a slate ‘grain’ added for aesthetic effect.   

As one of the smartest and most aesthetically pleasing materials out there, slate roofs require minimal maintenance and their long-lasting durability means that your roof could survive a lifetime.

Clay Tiling

Clay was one of the earliest roofing materials and many old buildings in the UK will have man made plain clay tiles as a covering. The tiles were made using a clay oven and each tile was made individually, you’ll even sometimes see fingerprints on the ‘nibs’ (which hook over the batten) from the young kids who would have to spend their days pushing their thumbs throughalt="finished clay tiling" the tops of the tiles to create the hook effect of a ‘nib’. alt="tiled ridge roof restoration"

Although you can still source second hand man made plain clay tiles from reclamation yards and old farm sales, there is a newer alternative with many of the same appeals. The modern day clay tiles aren’t made in such a draconian manor and are instead factory made by machines, meaning that you can still get the great material but at a fraction of the cost. This makes them an ideal material to mimic the structure and appeal of an older roof, especially if you’re looking to restore your old roof for less. 

Traditional clay tiles are available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, meaning that finding a close or even perfect match for your home can be relatively simple, however if you need something slightly more unique, there are plenty of specialist tile manufacturers that will be able to produce your ideal tile. Like slate roofs, tiled roofs require minimal maintenance beyond checking that they have not slipped or cracked during patches of exceptionally bad weather, but instead of boring you about that now, if you’re interested, take a look at our pervious blog post about preventing storm damage.  

If you’re looking for an even cheaper option yet again, look into concrete tiling, however this option may not be available for many old and historic roofs due to listed building rules. 

Flat roof coverings

It may sound a little surprising but many older, historic buildings have flatter areas that require alt="GRP fibreglass flat roof covering"flat roofing, typically over extensions, dormers and even towers. EDPM Rubber or GRP fibreglass roofing is an ideal, cheaper option for your old roof restoration as the tight water-proofing qualities are able to protect your building’s beautiful heritage without costing an arm and a leg.

Lead Flashings

Lalt="lead flashings"ead flashings are used in order to protect the junctions between roof alt="lead work"covering and the wall, for example between phatapets and chimneys.
These are often vital for restorations where weathering over time has worn the seal, increasing the likelihood of leaks. Lead is the most effective material to use in this instance due to its ability to expand and contract with the weather, providing the ideal waterproof seal around your home. 

To see more of our lead work, why not take a look at some of our latest projects here.

It is always worthwhile contacting a reputable roofing contractor before making important decisions such as this, so contact us today for a free roof inspection and quote for your next roofing project and we can guide you on the best roof restoration materials for you.

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Common Roofing Questions Answered

 

How much will my roof leak repair cost?

How much will my roof leak repair cost? How much will it cost for a totally new roof? Questions we hear almost every day, however there is no black and white answer. No matter what the circumstance, it always comes back to how much of your hard earned money it’s going to take to ensure that your roof is in optimal condition and your home is protected from the elements.Everyone’s home is different and prices vary due to location, size of the repair and the materials used. The best way to find out the cost of a repair is to give us a call and we will aim to get to you within the week and can offer you a free quote on the day, offering the best quality materials and customer service. It must be noted that without a good quality, well installed roof your building with be susceptible to damp and rot may occur from the top down. Structural joists and beams will be in the line of fire, as well as ceilings and electrics, it really does pay to have a quality roof!roof_leak_repair_cost

How long can I expect my roof to last?

As to be expected, there are many factors that can prolong or shorten the life of your roof, but in general, a brand new roof can be expected to withstand around 20 years of weathering, with flat roofs naturally lasting less time as water doesn’t run off them as fast. However, a well installed GRP Fibreglass roof installed with top materials can be expected to last upwards of 20 years. There are also elements that affect this lifespan, for instance if you live in an area that experiences weather conditions such as heavy snowfall regularly, your roof may last shorter than is standard. Roofs that are regularly inspected and maintained should last longest and your home will stay protected from the elements for longer.

How long will it take to install a new roof?

When your roof begins to leak, it’s not something you can put off until next year, you need it fixed quickly.Trust us when we say it pays to have a good roof! You may also be unsure of what a repair is needed, whether it’s an easy repair or maybe you’ve reached the end of your current roof’s lifespan and its time for a new roof, rest assured the process is more simple than you may think.

Should a new roof be installed in winter?

There are certainly more advantageous times of year to install a new roof or commission a repair, autumnal and spring showers may cause delays in the work that needs doing as roofers are often unable to work in the rain. Also, GRP Fibreglass needs bone dry conditions with little moisture in the air to allow the resin to cure properly. However, as roofers in England we are experienced at working in harsher climates, meaning that all jobs are feasible in the winter. If its not an urgent repair you need, plan it carefully and book in a job well before the summer to ensure you can be fit in.

Should I install a completely new roof or continue repairing the existing one?

 You may have heard that you can continue replacing tiles or slates on your roof for years instead of installing a new roof, however there are times when a new roof is preferable. Constantly replacing materials won’t always stop your ceiling from leaking and internal damage may occur, meaning that its time to call out the professionals so that they can keep your interiors dry. Additionally, if your tiles or slates continue to slip, they will need refastening or it could be dangerous for those walking directly underneath. This doesn’t necessarily require an entire new roof but it is worth getting an expert out to identify the looser tiles in order to keep your home secure.

What materials should I use?

When considering what materials to use, there are a few elements to consider, for example planning permission and budget. For pitched roofs, the most common materials to use are slate or tiles. Slate can either come in natural form or man made, with the latter usually working out cheaper. When it comes to tiles, the two most common options are clay or concrete with concrete costing considerably less. The more expensive options will usually be more aesthetically pleasing and they are often longer lasting, however they are not always necessary concrete tiles and cement fibre slates will be more than adequate for the vast majority of roofs. They each come in a range of sizes and even colours.

On flat roofs there are a range of options including lead, GRP fibreglass, Rubber and more traditional felt. For more information please see our solutions page.

The team at Sacklyn roofing are experienced and professionally trained roofers who will do their best to fix all your roof-related problems in the shortest time possible. We provide a high quality service that ensures that your roof will withstand 20+ years of weathering. For more information visit our main site www.sacklynroofing.co.uk or read our recent blog posts. So if you’re looking for a quote for your next project, or just some information on your roof leak repair cost, contact us now.

 

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