Ridges and lead flashings are the two details most likely to fail on an older terraced roof. This is how each repair is done, in order, and what a sensible quote should describe.
The ridge caps the top of a roof and the flashings seal every place the roof meets something taller. On Victorian terraces they sit in the most exposed spots, so they are worn first. Repairing them properly is slow, careful work rather than a quick smear of sealant, and it is worth knowing the steps.
Ridge tiles: what the problem looks like
Ridge tiles are bedded in mortar along the top of the roof, and that mortar slowly cracks and crumbles. From the street you may see tiles that sit at a slight angle, gaps showing along the line, or pieces of mortar in the gutter or the yard below. A loose ridge is more than cosmetic. In strong wind it can lift, and once it moves the rain gets under the tiles beneath.
How a ridge is re-bedded
We remove the loose tiles and old mortar, check that the timber and the tile ends beneath are sound, then lay fresh mortar and bed the tiles back level, with the joints finished neatly. Where the ridge is mechanically fixed, the fixings are renewed as well. If tiles are cracked we replace them with a close match. We also look at the hips, since the same wear tends to show there.
- Loose tiles lifted and old mortar cleared
- Roof timber and tile ends checked underneath
- Ridge re-bedded level and pointed
- Cracked ridge pieces swapped for matching ones
Lead flashings and why they fail
Lead is tucked into the brickwork and dressed over the tiles at chimneys, party walls and the junction with a rear extension. It moves with temperature, and over time it can split, lift away from the wall or be pulled loose by old pointing that has failed. Lawrence Hill terraces have a good deal of this detail, because chimney stacks, shared walls and added rooms all create junctions that need sealing.
What a flashing repair involves
We open up the failed section, cut a fresh groove in the mortar joint where needed, and fit new lead in properly sized pieces with the joints lapped in the right direction. The lead is dressed down to follow the tile profile, and the wall joint is closed up. Silicone smeared over old lead is not a repair. It hides the symptom for a short while and then lets go.
What to ask before work starts
Ask for a written description of what will be done at each position, not a single line saying roof repairs. A good one names the ridge length, the chimney or wall flashings and any tile replacements, and explains how we reach them safely. From the ground, you can point out to us anything you have noticed, such as loose pieces on the path, but please leave the roof itself to us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do ridge tiles need replacing or can they be re-bedded?
Often the existing tiles can go back down once the old mortar is cleared. If they are cracked or worn, we swap those and keep the sound ones. We tell you what we find when we are up there, before anything is done.
Is lead always better than a sealant strip?
For most chimneys and party walls, yes. Lead is durable, can be shaped around awkward details and is the proper way to seal those joints. Adhesive strips are sometimes used in particular spots, and we say so when they are the right call.
Can you do both repairs in one visit?
Usually, yes. If the ridge and the flashings are both in poor condition, doing them together saves repeat access and keeps the tidying up to one go. We confirm what is needed once the roof has been inspected.
Talk to our team about roof repairs in Lawrence Hill
Every roof is different — the fastest way to get an accurate answer is a quick chat with our team.