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From a single slipped tile to a full re-roof, we handle everything in-house. No subcontracting, no middlemen - just our own team on the scaffold, properly trained.
See all services →Whether your roof is beyond repair or you are replacing an ageing structure, we install new roofs on homes across Aylsha
Active leaks, storm damage, slipped tiles and failed flashings need attention before water gets further into your roof s
A failing or worn-out roof needs replacing before water gets into the structure. We assess your existing roof honestly,
Slipped tiles, cracked flashing, persistent leaks - roof repairs in Aylsham handled properly from the first visit. We wo
Flat roofs need the right materials and careful installation to stay watertight for years. We handle flat roof repairs,
Damaged or sagging fascias, soffits and guttering can let water into your roof and walls. We replace and install uPVC an
Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
Whether your roof has a cracked tile after a spell of frost, a lead flashing that has pulled away from a chimney stack, or a flat roof that has been leaking for longer than you would like to admit, Aylsham Roofers can help. We cover a wide range of roofing work on homes and commercial properties across Aylsham and the broader Norfolk area. This page explains what we do, what a good job involves, and what you should expect when you have roofing work carried out.
Repairs to pitched roofs are common, as pitched roofs are the traditional sloped roofs found on many homes. A common problem is a missing or slipped tile that exposes the felt underneath, allowing water to get into the roof space. Left alone, that water works its way into the timbers, causes rot and eventually damages ceilings and walls inside the house. The repair itself can be straightforward, but getting to it quickly matters.
Another common issue on older properties is failing mortar on the ridge or hip tiles. Ridge tiles sit at the very top of the roof and are bedded in mortar; over years of rain and frost that mortar cracks, crumbles and lets the tiles shift. A ridge tile that has moved is a hazard as well as a leak risk. Repointing ridge tiles with a modern sand and cement mix, or a flexible pointing compound suited to the movement a roof goes through, is a job worth doing properly rather than patching repeatedly.
When we carry out a pitched roof repair, we inspect the area around the fault as well as the fault itself. It is common to find that a single visible problem - a broken tile, for instance - has been letting water in long enough to affect the felt, battens or timbers beneath. Addressing the underlying condition at the same time avoids a repeat call-out in six months.
Some roofs are beyond the point where repairs represent good value. If the felt is failing in multiple places, the battens are rotten, the tiles are spalling or the roof is simply at the end of its working life, a full replacement is often the more cost-effective option over ten years. A new roof on a typical three-bedroom semi in Norfolk might cost in the region of £5,000 to £10,000 depending on size, pitch, access, the materials chosen and what condition the timbers are in. That range is wide because every roof is different - those figures are a starting point for budgeting, not a fixed price.
For a replacement, we strip the existing tiles and felt, check every rafter and purlin, replace any damaged timber, re-batten and re-felt with a breathable membrane, and then tile or slate from the eaves up. The quality of the batten spacing and the way the tiles are fixed matters enormously to how long the finished roof lasts.
Natural slate is common on older properties, particularly Victorian and Edwardian houses. It is a durable material when properly installed and the slates themselves can last well over a century. The weak point is usually the nail - the original iron nails corrode over decades, the slate slides down and the next one follows. This is known as nail sickness and it is the main reason older slate roofs need significant attention or full re-slating.
When re-slating, matching the original slate as closely as possible in size, thickness and colour is important, particularly on a period property. Welsh, Spanish, Chinese and reclaimed slates all have different characteristics and costs. We can advise on which suits your property and budget. Concrete or fibre-cement alternatives are also available and are worth considering where the roof pitch or budget makes natural slate difficult to justify.
Flat roofs are found on extensions, garages, bay windows and some commercial buildings across the area. The most common flat roof covering on older buildings is felt, laid in layers and bonded together with heat or adhesive. Felt flat roofs have a finite life - typically 10 to 20 years depending on the quality of the original installation and how well the roof drains. Ponding water, splits, blisters and a general loss of flexibility in the material are all signs that a felt flat roof is nearing the end.
EPDM rubber is now a popular alternative for flat roof replacement. It is a single-ply membrane that is bonded to the deck and, when properly installed, performs well in wet and cold conditions. It is more tolerant of minor movement in the structure below and does not split as felt can. A flat roof replacement on a typical garage or extension in Norfolk might cost in the region of £800 to £2,500 depending on the area, the access and the system chosen. If the deck boards beneath are rotten, replacing those adds to the cost and the time.
Poor drainage is the most common cause of flat roof failure. A flat roof is never truly flat - it needs a fall of at least 1 in 80 to move water towards the outlet. When a flat roof is installed without adequate fall, water sits on the surface, degrades the covering faster and finds any weakness. A good flat roof job always checks and addresses drainage.
Lead is used at the junctions between a roof and a vertical surface - around chimneys, along parapet walls, where a roof meets a dormer, and in valleys where two roof planes meet. It is one of the oldest roofing materials still in regular use and, when properly dressed and fixed, it lasts for many decades. The problem areas are usually where the lead has been cut too short, where it has not been stepped correctly into the mortar joints of a brick or stone wall, or where thermal movement has caused it to crack or pull away.
Leaks at chimney flashings are a common roofing fault. The repair often involves cutting out the old lead, raking back the mortar joints, fitting new lead that is correctly lapped and wedged into the joints, and pointing up with a flexible mortar. A patch repair over the top of failing lead rarely lasts more than a season or two.
Chimneys take more weather than any other part of a roof. On properties across Norfolk, common chimney problems include crumbling pointing in the brickwork, a cracked or failed chimney pot, deteriorating lead or code 4 lead flashings, and a damaged or missing chimney cap that allows rain straight into the flue. Repointing a chimney stack involves working at height and accessing the rear of the stack, which usually means scaffolding or a specialist access platform - the cost of that access is part of any realistic chimney repair price.
If a chimney is no longer used, capping it off properly and weatherproofing the flashings prevents damp from tracking down inside the breast into the rooms below. A redundant chimney that is just loosely covered or left open is a slow source of water damage.
Roofline work covers the fascia boards, soffits and guttering at the eaves of a roof. Timber fascias and soffits on older properties rot when the paint breaks down and water gets in. Once rot sets in at the fascia, it can spread to the feet of the rafters behind, turning what looks like a straightforward cosmetic job into a structural one. uPVC fascias and soffits are low-maintenance and suitable for most properties; they do not need painting and resist the damp conditions at roof level.
Guttering that is sagging, cracked, overflowing or blocked causes water to run down the face of a wall rather than away from it. Over time that leads to damp penetration, staining and damage to the pointing and brickwork. Cast iron gutters on older properties can be repaired and repainted if they are structurally sound; uPVC replacement is the practical choice when they are beyond repair. Getting the fall right so water runs consistently to the downpipe matters as much as the material itself.
Roof lights and Velux-style windows are common in loft conversions and in older properties where the loft has been adapted for storage or living space. Leaks around roof lights are almost always caused by the flashing kit rather than the window unit itself. The flashing must be correctly integrated with the surrounding tiles or slates, lapped correctly and sealed at the upstand. A roof light that has been installed without the correct flashing kit, or where the flashing has been cut too short, will leak sooner or later.
When replacing a failed roof light or flashing, it is worth checking the condition of the tiles and felt in the immediate area. Work at that part of the roof is an opportunity to address anything that is beginning to fail before it becomes a separate call-out.
You do not need to get on a ladder to get a reasonable idea of whether your roof needs attention. From the ground, look for:
Any of these is worth having looked at before it develops further. A small repair carried out at the right time is almost always less expensive than the same problem left to worsen through another winter.
When we come out to look at a roof, we get up to roof level and inspect it properly. A survey from the ground using binoculars can identify obvious faults, but it misses cracked tiles on the rear slope, deteriorated pointing on a hidden chimney face, and the condition of flashings and valleys at close range. We look at the roof, explain what we can see and give you a clear account of what needs doing, what is worth monitoring and what can be left alone for now. You get a straight picture of where things stand, not a list of everything that could theoretically be done.
We are based in Aylsham and work regularly across north and central Norfolk. That includes nearby towns such as North Walsham and the villages between them, as well as the city of Norwich and the suburbs and towns around it including Hellesdon, Taverham, Costessey, Sprowston and Thorpe St Andrew. If you are not sure whether we cover your area, call us on 01263 801177 and we will tell you directly.
If you have a roofing problem or you want a roof inspected before the wetter months arrive, call Aylsham Roofers on 01263 801177 or email [email protected]. We will arrange a time to come out, look at the roof properly and give you an honest assessment of what is needed and what it is likely to cost.
The quote you get is the price you pay. We don't pad jobs with discoveries halfway through - if something unexpected comes up, we talk to you first.
We come out, look at the whole roof - not just what you called about - and give you an itemised written quote. No pressure, no obligation.
We agree a start date that works for you. You get a daily schedule so you know who's arriving and what's happening each day.
Our own crew - no subbies - do the work to the quoted spec. We tidy up each evening and update you on progress.
You walk round with us, raise anything that needs attention, and we don't leave until you're happy.
We cover Aylsham and the surrounding towns and villages, including North Walsham, Norwich, Hellesdon, Taverham, Costessey, Sprowston and Thorpe St Andrew, taking on jobs across Norfolk.
Can't find your answer? Contact us directly and we'll get back to you.
Deciding whether to repair or fully re-roof an older property is rarely straightforward. This guide helps Aylsham homeowners weigh up the signs, costs and practical steps involved.
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