Roofing questions answered
Short, direct answers to the roofing questions people ask before they call anyone, each one linked to the service it belongs to.
Answer · 5 min readHow many roofing quotes should I get?Collect at least 3 written quotes, says Citizens Advice, before you decide. The number matters less than whether the quotes describe the…
Answer · 4 min readWhat do roofers charge per day?There is no sound day rate to quote, because a roof is priced as a whole job and not by the day.…
Answer · 4 min readCan I cancel a roofing contract?Often yes. If a roofer approached you or came to your home and you signed there, the deal counts as off-premises, so…
Answer · 4 min readDo you pay VAT on roofing work?Yes, normally. The standard VAT rate is 20% and it applies to most roofing work for a homeowner when the firm is…
Answer · 5 min readDo roofers need qualifications in the UK?No. The UK has no licensing scheme for roofers, so anyone can quote for a roof without holding any particular certificate. What…
Answer · 5 min readCan roofing work be done in winter?Yes, a lot of roofing carries on through winter, but not every job suits cold, wet or frosty days. Replacing tiles and…
Answers by subject
Choosing and pricing a roofer 14
- AnswerShould a roofer ask for a deposit?
- AnswerWho applies for a scaffold licence?
- AnswerCan roof work go ahead if birds are nesting?
- AnswerBats turned up during my roof work: what happens now?
- AnswerDo CDM rules apply to roof work on my home?
- AnswerWhat can I do if I am unhappy with a roofer's work?
- AnswerWhat does a roof survey cost, and what do you get for it?
- AnswerHow often does a roof need a proper inspection?
- AnswerHow many years does a roof last?
- AnswerDo I need to be at home while roof work is done?
- AnswerWhat should I do if a roofer knocks after a storm?
- AnswerDoes roof work in the Andover conservation area need consent?
- AnswerDoes a new roof add value to a house?
- AnswerWho pays for a shared roof repair on a semi or terrace?
Pitched roofing 20
- AnswerHow shallow can a tiled roof be?
- AnswerHow long do clay roof tiles last?
- AnswerHow long do concrete roof tiles last?
- AnswerCan a few roof tiles be replaced without scaffolding?
- AnswerIs a cracked roof tile urgent?
- AnswerWhat is the difference between a hip roof and a gable roof?
- AnswerHow many roof tiles per square metre?
- AnswerCan I put heavier tiles on my roof?
- AnswerWhat are roof tile clips for?
- AnswerWhy are my roof tiles lifting in the wind?
- AnswerIs sagging roof felt a problem?
- AnswerWhy is my loft damp with condensation?
- AnswerCan you walk on roof tiles?
- AnswerWhy do concrete roof tiles fade?
- AnswerWhat is roof spread?
- AnswerWhy is my roof sagging?
- AnswerCan solar panels go on any tiled roof?
- AnswerDo I need an eaves bird guard?
- AnswerWhy is my roof leaking around the vent pipe?
- AnswerWhat are peg tiles?
Flat roofing 20
- AnswerHow many years will an EPDM rubber roof last?
- AnswerHow long does a felt flat roof last?
- AnswerHow long does a GRP roof last?
- AnswerWhat is the minimum fall on a flat roof?
- AnswerWhy is my flat roof blistering?
- AnswerCan a new flat roof go over the old one?
- AnswerWhy is my flat roof leaking?
- AnswerWhy is there condensation under my flat roof?
- AnswerIs it safe to walk on my flat roof?
- AnswerCan a new flat roof go on in the winter months?
- AnswerCan a flat roof be painted to stop leaks?
- AnswerShould a flat roof be insulated when it is replaced?
- AnswerIs my garage roof asbestos?
- AnswerWhat happens if a flat roof outlet is blocked?
- AnswerCan an EPDM roof be patched?
- AnswerWhat makes a GRP fibreglass roof crack?
- AnswerHow do you look after a flat roof?
- AnswerCan I put a green roof on my extension?
- AnswerDo I need planning permission for a flat roof?
- AnswerWhat happens if the flat roof decking is rotten?
Roof replacement 20
- AnswerHow many days does a roof replacement take?
- AnswerDo I need building regulations approval to replace my roof?
- AnswerDo I need planning permission to replace my roof?
- AnswerWhat happens to the old roof when it is replaced?
- AnswerIs scaffolding included in a re-roof quote?
- AnswerIs there a 25% rule for re-roofing?
- AnswerDo I get a completion certificate for a new roof?
- AnswerShould I replace my roof before selling my house?
- AnswerWill home insurance pay for a new roof?
- AnswerWhat happens if it rains during a re-roof?
- AnswerShould I fit solar panels when I re-roof?
- AnswerCan old roof tiles be reused on a new roof?
- AnswerWhat if roof timbers need replacing during a re-roof?
- AnswerDo I need a party wall notice to re-roof a terrace?
- AnswerWho pays to fix a roof on a new-build house?
- AnswerCan scaffolding go on my neighbour's land?
- AnswerCan I change my roof from tiles to slate?
- AnswerShould I re-roof before a loft conversion?
- AnswerWhat is different about re-roofing a terraced house?
- AnswerHow do I compare roof replacement quotes?
Roof repairs 20
- AnswerWhy does my roof leak only in heavy rain?
- AnswerWhat does a water stain on the ceiling mean?
- AnswerWhat happens if a roof leak is left unfixed?
- AnswerCan I cancel an emergency roof repair?
- AnswerWho should I call for a roof leak?
- AnswerShould I put a tarpaulin on a leaking roof?
- AnswerIs a slipped roof tile serious?
- AnswerDoes home insurance cover wear and tear on a roof?
- AnswerWhat if my insurer rejects my roof claim?
- AnswerWhy does my roof leak in strong wind?
- AnswerDo roof repairs need building regulations approval?
- AnswerHow quickly can a roof repair be finished?
- AnswerIs a roof leak near a light fitting dangerous?
- AnswerCan a roof be repaired in the rain?
- AnswerHow should I photograph roof damage for insurance?
- AnswerHow much does an emergency roofer cost?
- AnswerWhat should I do if a tree falls on my roof?
- AnswerWhat damage can hail do to a roof?
- AnswerCan heavy snow damage a roof?
- AnswerShould a roof repair quote be in writing?
Slate roofing 20
- AnswerCan one broken roof slate be replaced on its own?
- AnswerWhat is the minimum pitch for a slate roof?
- AnswerWhat is a slate tingle?
- AnswerWhere do slate roofs usually leak?
- AnswerCan my old roof slates be reused?
- AnswerIs a slate roof too heavy for my house?
- AnswerSlate or tile: which roof is better?
- AnswerWhat is head-lap on a slate roof?
- AnswerHow long do fibre-cement slates last?
- AnswerWhat ridge goes on a slate roof?
- AnswerWhat is a slate-and-a-half?
- AnswerCan I replace a slate roof with tiles?
- AnswerWhy do roof slates crack?
- AnswerDo slate repairs need scaffolding?
- AnswerHow are valleys done on a slate roof?
- AnswerWhy are my roof slates flaking?
- AnswerCan I use slate on an extension roof?
- AnswerAre synthetic roof slates any good?
- AnswerWhy are copper nails used for slate?
- AnswerHow many slates per square metre?
Lead roofing 20
- AnswerHow many years does lead flashing last?
- AnswerWhy does lead split on a roof?
- AnswerWhy is lead flashing coming away from the wall?
- AnswerCode 4 vs code 5 lead: which do I need?
- AnswerWhat are lead soakers?
- AnswerCan leadwork be done in cold weather?
- AnswerWhy is my roof leaking where it meets the wall?
- AnswerWhat does a lead apron flashing do?
- AnswerHow long does a lead roof last?
- AnswerIs lead still used on roofs?
- AnswerIs roof lead welded or dressed?
- AnswerDo conservation areas expect real lead?
- AnswerShould a lead valley be replaced with GRP?
- AnswerCan I replace lead flashing myself?
- AnswerHow big can a lead bay be?
- AnswerDoes an extension roof need lead flashing?
- AnswerHow is a lead porch canopy repaired?
- AnswerWhat is code 3 lead used for?
- AnswerWhat is a lead ridge roll?
- AnswerWhat does a chimney back gutter do?
Guttering, soffits & fascias 20
- AnswerHow long do uPVC fascias and soffits last?
- AnswerHow often do gutters need clearing?
- AnswerWhy do my gutters overflow when it rains?
- AnswerHow is a leaking gutter joint fixed?
- AnswerWhy are my gutters sagging?
- AnswerDo gutter guards actually work?
- AnswerDo I need scaffolding to replace fascias?
- AnswerDo I need planning permission for new gutters or fascias?
- AnswerWhat fall should a gutter have?
- AnswerWhat is an eaves protection tray?
- AnswerWhat if birds are nesting in my soffits?
- AnswerAluminium or uPVC guttering?
- AnswerWhen do bargeboards need replacing?
- AnswerCan I change the colour of my fascias?
- AnswerWho fixes a shared gutter with a neighbour?
- AnswerHow far apart should gutter brackets be?
- AnswerWhy are there black streaks on my fascias?
- AnswerWhat is the difference between a fascia and a soffit?
- AnswerIs seamless guttering better?
- AnswerHow much does a gutter repair cost?
Roof windows & skylights 20
- AnswerCan a roof window be replaced from inside?
- AnswerCan a roof window be reglazed without a new frame?
- AnswerCan I fit a roof window on a side roof slope?
- AnswerWhat U-value does a roof window need?
- AnswerCan a roof window be a fire escape window?
- AnswerWhat pitch does a roof window need?
- AnswerDo roof windows have rain sensors?
- AnswerCan I fit a roof window on a listed building?
- AnswerWhat is the difference between a rooflight and a roof window?
- AnswerWhy is my roof window noisy in the rain?
- AnswerDo skylights need a thermal break?
- AnswerCan a roof window be fitted without scaffolding?
- AnswerHow long do roof windows last?
- AnswerHow big can a roof window be?
- AnswerDo roof windows need trimming rafters?
- AnswerCan you fit a roof window in a slate roof?
- AnswerAre electric roof windows worth it?
- AnswerTop-hung or centre-pivot roof window?
- AnswerWhy is my roof window misted between the panes?
- AnswerHow much does it cost to fit a new roof window?
Commercial roofing 20
- AnswerDo I need an asbestos survey before roof work?
- AnswerWhat does removing an asbestos roof cost?
- AnswerHow does VAT work on commercial roofing?
- AnswerCan a warehouse roof be repaired while the business stays open?
- AnswerHow often should a commercial roof be inspected?
- AnswerHow much does a commercial flat roof cost per square metre?
- AnswerCan a metal roof be overclad?
- AnswerWhat does CDM mean for commercial roof work?
- AnswerWho is the asbestos duty holder for a commercial roof?
- AnswerWhat should I do after storm damage to a commercial roof?
- AnswerHow long does a PVC roof membrane last?
- AnswerIs EPDM good for a commercial roof?
- AnswerCan individual roof sheets be replaced?
- AnswerWhat are composite roof panels?
- AnswerWhat should I do about a commercial roof leak?
- AnswerWhat is involved in replacing a barn roof?
- AnswerWhat edge protection is needed for roof work?
- AnswerHow do you deal with pigeons on a commercial roof?
- AnswerWhy does a commercial roof drain badly?
- AnswerHow many years does a commercial roof last?
Chimney repairs 20
- AnswerWhy is my chimney leaking when it rains?
- AnswerDo I need scaffolding for chimney repairs?
- AnswerDoes a capped chimney need ventilating?
- AnswerWill my insurer pay for a storm-damaged chimney?
- AnswerWho pays to repair a shared chimney stack?
- AnswerDo chimney repairs need consent in a conservation area?
- AnswerDo I need a chimney cowl?
- AnswerIs a cracked chimney dangerous?
- AnswerWhy are my chimney bricks spalling?
- AnswerDo I need planning permission to remove a chimney?
- AnswerDo I need a party wall notice to remove a chimney breast?
- AnswerWhat if birds are nesting in my chimney?
- AnswerIs a chimney waterproofing treatment worth it?
- AnswerCan an aerial damage a chimney?
- AnswerHow long does chimney repointing last?
- AnswerWhat should I do if bricks fall from my chimney?
- AnswerHow is a rendered chimney repaired?
- AnswerCan a chimney be reduced in height?
- AnswerIs winter a bad time for chimney repairs?
- AnswerWho is responsible for chimney repairs in flats?
Spray foam removal 20
- AnswerCan spray foam be removed completely?
- AnswerHow much does spray foam removal cost?
- AnswerDoes spray foam damage roof timbers?
- AnswerHow many days does spray foam removal take?
- AnswerWill removing spray foam help me get a mortgage?
- AnswerWhat is in the RICS spray foam guidance?
- AnswerCan I stay at home during spray foam removal?
- AnswerIs spray foam on roof felt a problem?
- AnswerWhat if a new-build house has spray foam?
- AnswerWho should take spray foam out of a loft?
- AnswerIs there VAT on spray foam removal?
- AnswerIs there a grant to remove spray foam?
- AnswerCan I do a loft conversion with spray foam in the roof?
- AnswerCan just part of the spray foam be removed?
- AnswerHow should a loft be ventilated after spray foam removal?
- AnswerDoes a spray foam installer's guarantee help?
- AnswerHow do I know if my loft has spray foam?
- AnswerWhat happens to removed spray foam?
- AnswerHow much does a spray foam survey cost?
- AnswerWhy is spray foam on a slate roof a problem?
Roof cleaning & moss removal 20
- AnswerHow much does a roof cleaner charge?
- AnswerHow often should a tile roof be cleaned?
- AnswerIs getting your roof cleaned worth it?
- AnswerWill a roofer clean gutters?
- AnswerIs moss harmful to a roof?
- AnswerWill moss come back after roof cleaning?
- AnswerCan moss cause a roof leak?
- AnswerWhy does moss grow on north-facing roofs?
- AnswerIs DIY roof moss killer safe to use?
- AnswerCan a roof be cleaned in winter?
- AnswerWhat are black streaks on roof tiles?
- AnswerWhy is moss blocking my gutters?
- AnswerHow should a conservatory roof be cleaned?
- AnswerDo zinc strips stop roof moss?
- AnswerHow many days does a roof clean take?
- AnswerIs scaffolding needed for roof cleaning?
- AnswerCan you use bleach on roof moss?
- AnswerHow is lichen removed from a roof?
- AnswerIs green algae on a roof a problem?
- AnswerIs moss on a flat roof a problem?
Dry ridge & verge 20
- AnswerDo the regulations require a dry ridge?
- AnswerCan you reuse my existing ridge tiles?
- AnswerCan a dry verge be fitted to any roof?
- AnswerWhy is mortar falling off my ridge tiles?
- AnswerHow long does it take to fit a dry ridge?
- AnswerDo I need scaffolding for ridge or verge work?
- AnswerHow long does a dry ridge system last?
- AnswerWhy does my dry verge rattle in the wind?
- AnswerWhat colours do dry verges come in?
- AnswerAre ridge tiles blown off in a storm covered by insurance?
- AnswerWhat is BS 8612?
- AnswerCan a dry ridge go on a clay tile roof?
- AnswerWhat is a hip iron?
- AnswerWhat mortar mix is used for ridge tiles?
- AnswerCan I fit a dry ridge in a conservation area?
- AnswerWhat is a verge undercloak?
- AnswerWhat should I do about a cracked ridge tile?
- AnswerCan I fit a dry ridge kit myself?
- AnswerCan a dry ridge be fitted in cold weather?
- AnswerWhat are verge end caps?
Conservatory roofs 20
- AnswerDo I need planning permission to replace a conservatory roof?
- AnswerWill a solid roof make my conservatory warmer in winter?
- AnswerWill a tiled roof make my conservatory darker?
- AnswerHow long does a conservatory roof replacement take?
- AnswerWhy is my conservatory roof leaking?
- AnswerHow many years does a conservatory roof last?
- AnswerWhy do conservatory glazing bars leak?
- AnswerWhat does a conservatory box gutter do?
- AnswerWhy is there condensation in my conservatory roof?
- AnswerCan I change a conservatory roof on a listed building?
- AnswerIs there VAT on a conservatory roof replacement?
- AnswerIs solar control glass worth it for a conservatory roof?
- AnswerWhy is my conservatory roof so noisy in the rain?
- AnswerIs my conservatory dwarf wall strong enough for a solid roof?
- AnswerCan a conservatory roof have a plastered ceiling?
- AnswerWhy does conservatory guttering overflow?
- AnswerIs storm damage to a conservatory roof covered?
- AnswerCan a roof window go in a tiled conservatory roof?
- AnswerWhat is the minimum pitch for a tiled conservatory roof?
- AnswerIs winter a good time to replace a conservatory roof?
Every answer opens with the reply itself, then explains the reasoning in a few short sections. Where a rule or a typical cost is involved, the source is named so you can check it.
If your question needs a look at the roof, the answer will say so. That is what a survey is for, and you can ask for one through the quote page. For longer reading, the blog and guides go further into each subject.
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