Our services
Roofing in Brighton & Hove
A roof only gets your attention when it leaks, and by then the damage is usually not limited to the roof. Most of what we see could have been a small repair a year earlier.
We repair and replace pitched and flat roofs across Brighton and Hove, including the butterfly roofs and valley gutters that cause most of the trouble on local Victorian terraces.
What’s involved
What the job actually includes
Roof repairs
Slipped and broken tiles and slates, failed flashing and localised leaks tracked back to the actual source.
New roofs
Full strip and re-roof in tile or slate, with new battens, membrane and insulation where needed.
Flat roofs
Flat roofing over extensions, dormers and outbuildings, laid to proper falls so water leaves rather than sits.
Valley gutters
The central valley on a butterfly roof, which is where most Brighton terrace leaks originate.
Leadwork
Flashings, soakers and lead valleys detailed correctly around chimneys and abutments.
Fascias, soffits and guttering
Rainwater goods replaced and set to fall so water actually clears the building.
Local knowledge
Butterfly roofs and coastal weather
Two things make Brighton roofing distinctive. First, the butterfly roof: the M-shaped double pitch on a huge number of local Victorian terraces drains into a central valley gutter running the depth of the house. When that valley blocks or its lining fails, water goes straight into the middle of the property rather than off the edge, and it is the most common serious roof problem we are called to in Brighton and Hove. Second, exposure: salt air and south westerly driving rain shorten the life of flashings, fixings and rainwater goods compared with inland. Both are reasons to look at a roof before it leaks rather than after.
Common questions
Roofing: your questions answered
Can my roof be repaired or does it need replacing?
Often repaired. A roof with sound timbers where the covering has failed in places is usually a repair. Widespread slipped slates, sagging, and failed battens across the whole roof point to a re-roof. We will tell you which, and we are not going to sell you a new roof you do not need.
Why does my Brighton terrace leak in the middle of the house?
Almost always the valley gutter on a butterfly roof. The lining fails or the valley blocks, water backs up, and it comes in through the centre of the property rather than at the edges. It is a well understood repair once correctly diagnosed.
How long does a flat roof last?
It depends on the system and how well it was laid, particularly whether it has proper falls. A flat roof that ponds water will fail early regardless of material. Laying it to fall correctly is the thing that matters.
Do you do emergency roof repairs?
Call us and we will tell you honestly how quickly we can get to you. Getting a leak temporarily covered limits the damage inside, which is usually the expensive part.
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