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Your home is having roof work. This page explains how it is done, how long the scaffolding stays up, and what you need to do.
Roof work is noisy and dusty, so please read this page before we start. If you have questions, call us.
01935 315315What happens, step by step
Every roof is different, so your job may not match this exactly. You will get your dates in writing before we start.
Step 1: Scaffolding goes up
A team puts up scaffolding around the part of your home we are working on. They do not need to come inside. It takes a few hours and it is noisy.
What you need to do
Clear the ground next to the wall, move cars if we ask, and take down washing lines that are in the way.
Step 2: The old roof comes off
The old tiles come off. This is the loudest and dustiest part. The roof is covered with sheeting every night so rain cannot get in.
What you need to do
Empty the loft of anything you care about before this day, and keep upstairs windows shut.
Step 3: The timbers are checked
With the tiles off, we can see the wood underneath. Anything rotten or broken is reported and repaired before the new roof goes on.
What you need to do
Nothing. If we find something, we will tell you as well as your landlord.
Step 4: Waterproof layer and battens
A waterproof sheet goes over the wood. Then new wooden battens are nailed on to hold the tiles. Expect steady hammering above your ceiling.
What you need to do
Nothing. If you work nights or need quiet hours, tell us before the job starts.
Step 5: New tiles go on
The tiles are laid in rows from the bottom up. Once a part is tiled, it is watertight again and the noise starts to drop.
What you need to do
Keep children and pets away from the scaffolding and any skip.
Step 6: Finishing off
The ridge along the top is fixed, and the joins around chimneys and walls are sealed. Gutters are checked and refitted where needed.
What you need to do
Nothing.
Step 7: Checks and clearing up
A supervisor checks the finished work and takes photos. We sweep up and use a magnet to pick up any nails.
What you need to do
Tell us if you can see anything we have missed. It is easier to fix while the scaffolding is still up.
Step 8: Scaffolding comes down
Usually a few days after the work. It is another noisy few hours. Then your garden and paths go back to normal.
What you need to do
Call us if it is still there a week later and nobody has told you why.
The scaffolding
- How longIt goes up a day or two before the work and comes down a few days after. For most homes that is one to two weeks. Bad weather can make it longer.
- SecurityScaffolding makes upstairs windows easier to reach. Keep them shut and locked, at night and when you go out. If you have an alarm, use it.
- Worried?If you are worried about security while it is up, call us and we will talk it through.
- Your way in and outWe keep your front door, back door and any ramp usable. If the scaffolding blocks a way you need, tell us and we will change it.
- Please keep offKeep children off it. Do not use it to reach a gutter, an aerial or a window.
- Nothing hangingNo washing lines, hanging baskets or bird feeders. Anything hanging from it can fall on someone.
How to get ready
The loft matters most. Once the tiles come off, anything up there can get dusty or damp.
- Empty the loftTake out anything you value, anything fragile and anything that must stay dry. Dust always gets in. If you cannot do this yourself, tell us and we will help.
- Upstairs wallsNailing above a ceiling shakes it. Take pictures, mirrors and shelves off upstairs walls for the week.
- ParkingWe need space for a van and often a skip. If your street is tight, tell us in advance.
- PetsKeep pets inside and away from the side of the house we are working on. A quiet room helps, as the noise upsets many animals.
- Washing and gardenKeep washing off the line on work days. Move pots and garden furniture away from the wall.
- Ponds and plantsTell us about them at the survey. We can cover them, but only if we know they are there.
Noise, dust and weather
Noise
Taking tiles off is loud banging and scraping. Nailing is steady hammering above your ceiling. The first two or three days are the worst.
We work normal hours. If you need quiet at certain times, tell us before we start and we will plan around it where we can.
Dust
Old roofs hold a lot of dust. When the tiles come off, some of it gets into the loft and upstairs.
We cover what we can and clean up at the end. If dust affects your health, for example a lung condition, tell us.
Weather
We do not take a roof off in heavy rain or high wind. It is not safe, so roofing dates can move.
If yours moves, we will tell you why and give you a new date. If rain comes while the roof is open, the team covers it before they leave.
If water gets in
Call us straight away on 01935 315315, even for a small mark on a ceiling. Do not wait to see if it dries.
We will come and look. If our work caused the damage, we put it right free of charge.
If we find a problem under the old roof
This happens on older homes: rotten wood, broken battens or damp around a chimney. It is not your fault.
- We stopWe do not build a new roof over a problem. The team stops on that part and takes photos.
- We tell your landlordYour landlord has to agree any extra work before we do it.
- We tell youWe explain what we found and what it means for your dates. You should not hear it second hand.
- Your home stays dryThe open part is covered so rain cannot get in.
- New datesExtra work takes extra days. We will give you a new finish date as soon as we have one.