Roofing guides for Somerset homeowners
Honest diagnostic and decision guides written by a working Somerset roofer. No upsells, no scare tactics — just the questions we actually answer at the kitchen table.
Diagnose a problem
- Diagnose a problem · 7 min read
How to find a roof leak before it damages the ceiling
A roofer's diagnostic checklist for tracing roof leaks — why the wet patch isn't above the actual fault, and what to look for inside the loft first.
Read guide → - Diagnose a problem · 6 min read
Is it just a slipped tile — or the start of something bigger?
How to tell whether a slipped roof tile is a one-off fix or the first sign of nail-sickness or batten failure across the whole roof slope.
Read guide → - Diagnose a problem · 6 min read
Chimney repair or rebuild? Telling the difference
How to tell whether your chimney needs a quick repoint and lead refresh — or a full rebuild from roof level. Honest cost and longevity comparison.
Read guide → - Diagnose a problem · 6 min read
Storm damage to your roof — what to document for insurance
Exactly what to photograph and document after roof storm damage so your insurance claim is approved without disputes — from a roofer's perspective.
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Decide repair vs replace
- Decide repair vs replace · 7 min read
When is it really time for a new roof?
Real signs a roof has reached the end of its life — and the indicators that look bad but actually point to a repair, not a re-roof.
Read guide → - Decide repair vs replace · 7 min read
Victorian roof restoration — telling original from replacement
How to restore a Victorian roof sympathetically — what's likely original, what's been swapped in the 20th century, and how to specify matched materials.
Read guide → - Decide repair vs replace · 5 min read
Gutters and fascias — when to stop repairing and replace
How to tell when a fascia and gutter run is past repair — soft timber tests, gutter-fall checks, and why partial replacement usually costs more long-term.
Read guide → - Decide repair vs replace · 6 min read
Converting a thatched roof to slate or tile — what's actually involved
What's actually involved in converting a thatched roof to slate or tile in Somerset — listed-building constraints, cost ranges and what often goes wrong.
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Materials & specs
- Materials & specs · 8 min read
EPDM vs GRP vs felt — which flat roof is actually right?
Honest comparison of EPDM rubber, GRP fibreglass and modern felt flat roofs — strengths, weaknesses and which suits each type of extension or garage.
Read guide → - Materials & specs · 5 min read
Lead codes — what 3, 4 and 5 actually mean on a roof
What lead codes actually mean, where you'd use Code 3, 4 and 5 on a roof, and why the wrong code in the wrong place fails within a decade.
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Costs & quotes
Maintenance
Still not sure what's wrong with your roof?
Send us a photo and a quick description — we'll tell you honestly whether it's a survey job, a repair, or something that can wait.