Roofing in Feltwell

Trusted Roofing specialists
in Feltwell

Feltwell sits on the western Norfolk border near Cambridgeshire and Suffolk.

Roofing in Feltwell, Norfolk

Tiles slip, flashings lift, and felt underlays that are already tired can fail quickly once the weather turns. Catching problems early is almost always cheaper than waiting until water finds its way inside.

We carry out all types of roofing work in Feltwell - from single tile replacements and lead flashing repairs to full pitched roof re-covers and flat roof renewals. If you are not sure what the problem is, a roof inspection is a sensible starting point.

Pitched Roof Repairs in Feltwell

Common problems on pitched roofs include slipped or broken concrete interlocking tiles, cracked ridge tiles bedded in failing mortar, and worn or missing hip tiles.

When we repair a slipped tile, we check the surrounding tiles and the condition of the batten beneath before fixing it back. A single slipped tile is often a sign that the battens are damp or that fixings across a wider area are corroding. Pointing out that risk to you at the time of the repair is part of the job.

Slate Roof Repairs

Welsh slate and Westmorland slate both have long working lives, but they are not indestructible. Slates delaminate, nail holes elongate, and the copper or zinc fixings eventually fail. A correctly executed repair uses matching slate of the correct thickness and weight, with new fixings and where needed a bib of lead or aluminium to support the replacement slate from below.

If you have had repeated repairs to the same area of a slate roof, it is worth considering whether a broader re-batten and re-slate is more cost-effective than continuing to patch individual slates one at a time.

Flat Roof Repairs and Renewals

Felt flat roofs have a limited lifespan - typically 10 to 15 years for standard three-layer felt, though this varies with exposure and how well the roof was originally installed. Common failure points are the upstands where the felt meets a wall or parapet, and any roof penetrations such as pipes or rooflights.

When a felt flat roof reaches the end of its life, we can replace it with a new three-layer mineral felt system or with an EPDM rubber membrane. EPDM is a single-ply system bonded to the deck, with fewer joints than traditional felt and a longer typical service life. Both systems need the correct falls designed in so that standing water drains away rather than ponding on the surface.

Roof Leak Investigation and Repairs

A roof leak does not always originate where the water appears inside. Water can travel along joists or rafters for some distance before it drops onto a ceiling. A proper leak investigation looks at the most likely entry points - valleys, hips, chimney flashings, abutment flashings, verges, and any penetrations through the roof covering - rather than simply patching the area above where the stain appears.

Failed lead flashings and open ridge mortar are straightforward repairs when caught before the water has been sitting long enough to rot the timbers beneath.

Lead Flashing Repairs

Lead flashing is the most durable weatherproofing material used in roofing, but it does have a finite life and it can be damaged. Flashings crack from thermal movement if they were cut too long without expansion joints, they lift if the mortar pointing in the chase has failed, and they are occasionally removed by opportunists where they are accessible from the ground.

A proper flashing repair involves raking out the chase in the brickwork or stonework, cutting new lead to the correct width and code (Code 4 is standard for most step and cover flashings), dressing it into the chase, and pointing it in with an appropriate mortar or lead wedges. Stick-on flashing tape is not a lasting repair on a chimney or abutment - it may hold for one winter but rarely longer.

Chimney Repairs in Feltwell

Chimneys require more maintenance than any other part of a roof. The pointing on a chimney face is exposed on all four sides to wind, rain, and frost, and it deteriorates faster than pointing on a sheltered wall. Loose or open pointing lets water into the brick, where frost then enlarges the crack. Left unchecked, individual bricks begin to spall and the stack can become structurally unsafe.

Chimney repairs typically involve repointing the stack face and haunching, replacing the flaunching around the pot, re-bedding or replacing the pot if it has cracked, and renewing the step flashings and back gutter at the base of the stack. If a chimney is no longer in use, capping it with a vented cowl or a lead cap is a sensible way to stop water entry without removing the stack.

Storm and Wind Damage Repairs

After periods of high wind, it is worth getting your roof checked even if you cannot see obvious damage from the ground. Tiles that have partially lifted and settled back may look fine but will have lost their grip on the batten below. Ridge and hip tiles bedded in old lime mortar are particularly vulnerable - the mortar dries out and shrinks over decades, and strong gusts can shift or remove them entirely.

We can check the condition of the ridge, hips, verges, and flashings and give you a clear picture of what needs attention and what can wait.

Garage Roof Repairs

The felt on a garage roof is often the first to fail because garages are frequently built with minimal roof structure and no ventilation, which accelerates condensation damage to the deck below the felt. When we strip a garage flat roof, we assess the condition of the plywood or OSB deck beneath. Wet or delaminated boards need replacing before the new covering goes on - otherwise the new felt or EPDM will be sitting on a weak base.

On a tiled garage roof, ridge tiles are the most common repair. The mortar bed on a small ridge is thin and exposed, and it tends to crack within 15 to 20 years on a typical garage.

Commercial Roofing in the Feltwell Area

We carry out flat roof repairs and maintenance on commercial and agricultural buildings in the Feltwell area. Felt and EPDM flat roofs on agricultural stores, workshops, and small commercial units all require periodic inspection to identify blistering, open laps, and failing upstands before they become leaks. For any commercial flat roof repair, we can provide a written report of the condition found and the work carried out.

Areas We Cover Near Feltwell

As well as Feltwell itself, we work across the surrounding villages and towns including Hockwold cum Wilton, Methwold, Weeting, Brandon, Lakenheath, Mundford, Ickburgh, and Elveden. If you are in this part of west Norfolk or the adjacent Suffolk border area, call us to discuss your roofing requirements.

To arrange a roof inspection or to get a price for repairs or a re-roof, call Brandon Roofers directly. We will give you a straight answer about what the roof needs and what it is likely to cost.

Feltwell has a notable presence of properties tied to the nearby Lakenheath air base and to RAF Feltwell, which now hosts USAF radar functions and housing.