Roofing, expertly done.

A few missing or cracked tiles, or a single area of damp, is usually a repair. Signs that point to a full re-roof include sagging between the rafters, widespread cracked or slipping tiles across the roof rather than one patch, and timber that has gone soft when we check it at survey. We tell you which one your roof actually needs, and a repair is the answer whenever a repair will genuinely do the job.

Scaffolding typically goes up a day or two before work starts and comes down a few days after it finishes, which puts most homes at one to two weeks from start to the scaffolding coming down. A larger or more complex roof, or a run of bad weather, can add days. If a date needs to move we call you as soon as we know, well before the day itself.

Replacing like-for-like materials in the same roof shape and height is normally permitted development, so most straightforward re-roofs need no application. Permission is more likely where the property is in a conservation area, is a listed building, or where you want to change the roof's height or shape, such as adding a dormer. We check your address and what you want to do at survey, before we quote for the work.

In-roof solar is built into the roof covering itself, so it needs the tiles or slates off to fit it properly, which is why we fit it as part of a re-roof. If your roof still has years of life left, a standard on-roof system from our renewables team is the option for now, with in-roof solar something to look at when the roof does need doing.

The panels come off before the old covering is stripped and go back on once the new roof is finished, or you can use the opportunity to move to in-roof solar at the same time if you want the panels built into the roof line instead. Either way it is one scaffold and one visit, instead of removing panels now and paying for access again later.

It is worth telling your insurer when major roof work is planned, and worth checking whether they ask for anything specific, such as proof of the work or the installer's guarantee. We give you handover paperwork and photographs of the finished roof, which is normally what an insurer wants to see.

A well-fitted pitched roof in tile or slate is generally expected to last several decades. The underlay is typically rated for a shorter period than the tiles themselves, and is usually the first thing to need attention. Ventilation and how well the roof was fitted affect this as much as the tile brand, which is why we inspect the timbers properly while the roof is open.

We try to, and tell you at survey if an exact match is not possible, which does happen with older or discontinued tiles. Where a match cannot be found we talk through the options, including fitting a different tile across a larger area so the roof reads as one consistent job.