Is It Better to Repair an Old Roof or Replace It in Keynsham?

Whether to repair or replace depends on how widespread the problems are and what lies underneath. A good roofer will tell you honestly which one makes sense for your roof.

With Keynsham's mix of Victorian and Edwardian homes, inter-war and post-war houses and modern estates, old roofs come in many forms, and they age differently. There is no single rule. The decision turns on how much of the roof is sound, what the timber and felt are like underneath, and what the repair would actually achieve.

When repair makes sense

If the problem is local, such as a few slipped tiles, a cracked ridge, a lifted flashing or a damaged valley, and the rest of the roof is in good order, a repair is usually the sensible choice. It fixes the fault without replacing a covering that still has useful life in it. A roof with one clear fault is quite a different case from one with faults everywhere.

When replacement is the better answer

If the covering is failing widely, with tiles crumbling, felt perished and repairs becoming frequent, patching just chases the next leak. Replacement then gives you a sound roof across the board. It is the right answer when repairs would cost nearly as much and last far less well. Be sure the bill reflects what is actually needed, not what makes the larger job.

• Tiles or slates breaking up across large areas
• Felt torn, perished or missing under the covering
• Timbers soft or rotten in several places
• Repair after repair, with leaks in new places each time

What we check before advising

We look in the loft for daylight, damp timbers and stained felt, then at the covering, ridge, valleys, flashings and edges. The loft often tells the real story, because a roof can look worn from outside but be dry and sound underneath, or look fine and be wet through.

The middle ground

Sometimes a roof can have its worst areas repaired and be kept going for a while, with a plan to replace later. We say so plainly if that is realistic, and explain what to watch for. We will also tell you if a repair would only be a temporary fix. Honest advice sometimes means saying the roof has plenty of life left, and that is fine.

Making the decision

Ask for the reasons in writing, with photographs of the problems. A sound recommendation explains what is urgent and what can wait. We would rather tell you a repair is enough than sell you a new roof you do not need. Some replacement work may need planning or Building Regulations checks, and we advise before work starts. Photographs of the problem areas make it much easier to see why we have recommended what we have.

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