Projects and case studies
Each case study sets out the property type, the town, what was wrong, what we did about it and how long it took — so you can see the standard of work before you call.
Recent projects
Roof Repairs
Slipped slates and failed chimney flashing made good
Denton Holme, Carlisle · Victorian sandstone terrace · completed
- The problem
- Water staining to a bedroom ceiling after a wet spell. Several slates had slipped on the front pitch and the mortar fillet around the chimney had broken away.
- What we did
- Re-hung the slipped slates on new copper nails, replaced four cracked slates with matched reclaimed Welsh slate, and cut in new code 4 lead soakers and stepped flashing to the chimney.
- Time on site
- 2 days
Reroofing
Full reroof with new membrane, battens and tiles
Penrith · 1930s semi-detached house · completed
- The problem
- Original roof at the end of its life: nail fatigue across both pitches, sagging felt and repeated patch repairs that no longer held through winter storms.
- What we did
- Stripped both pitches, renewed defective timbers, installed breathable membrane and treated battens, and re-covered in matched concrete tiles with new dry ridge and verge.
- Time on site
- 6 days
Flat Roofing
Leaking felt extension roof replaced in single-ply
Stanwix, Carlisle · Rear kitchen extension · completed
- The problem
- Blistered, ponding felt roof leaking at the abutment with the main wall, with damp showing on the kitchen ceiling after heavy rain.
- What we did
- Stripped the old felt, corrected falls with tapered insulation, installed a single-ply membrane with welded seams, new edge trim and a properly dressed wall upstand.
- Time on site
- 3 days
Chimney Repairs
Chimney stack rebuilt above roof line
Wigton · Detached brick cottage · completed
- The problem
- Spalled brickwork and eroded mortar left the stack leaning slightly and letting water track down into the roof space.
- What we did
- Took the stack down to below the damaged courses, rebuilt in matched brick with sulphate-resisting mortar, fitted new pots and capping, and renewed the lead flashings and back gutter.
- Time on site
- 4 days
Emergency Roof Repairs
Emergency storm damage make-safe and permanent repair
Brampton · Exposed rural farmhouse · completed
- The problem
- Overnight gales stripped slates from the windward pitch and lifted a section of ridge, leaving the roof open to further rain.
- What we did
- Attended the same night to make safe and sheet the open area, then returned to re-slate the pitch, re-bed the ridge and replace the damaged battens.
- Time on site
- Same-night call-out, 2 days to complete
Drone Roof Inspections
Drone survey of an inaccessible roof before purchase
Keswick · Three-storey period townhouse · completed
- The problem
- A buyer's survey flagged the roof as not inspected. Scaffolding for a visual check was disproportionate to the question being asked.
- What we did
- Flew a full photographic survey of every pitch, valley and stack, and issued an annotated report identifying two areas of failing pointing and one cracked valley.
- Time on site
- Half a day on site, report within 48 hours
For each project we publish: town or district, property type and age, the problem reported, what the inspection found, the work carried out, the materials used, and how long it took.
The type of work we document
- Roof RepairsA roof repair fixes a localised fault — slipped slates, cracked tiles, failed flashing, a leaking valley or a split flat-roof seam — without replacing the whole roof. Most Cumbrian domestic repairs are completed in a single visit once the true cause of the leak has been identified.
- Emergency Roof RepairsAn emergency roof repair makes a property safe and watertight quickly after storm damage, a sudden leak or falling slates. The first visit stops water entering and removes any danger to people below; the permanent repair follows once the roof is safe to work on.
- New Roofs and ReroofingReroofing means stripping the existing covering back to the rafters and rebuilding the roof with new membrane, battens, fixings and coverings. It is the right choice once slates or tiles are failing across whole slopes or the underlay has perished.
- Slate RoofingSlate roofing uses natural or reclaimed slate laid in courses with a head lap set by the roof pitch and site exposure. It is the traditional covering across Cumbria and, correctly fixed, is among the longest-lasting roof coverings available.
- Tiled RoofingTiled roofing covers clay and concrete tiles — plain, pantile and interlocking profiles — laid over breathable membrane and treated battens. It is the most common covering on Cumbrian post-war housing and is repaired or renewed profile by profile.
- Flat RoofingFlat roofing covers extensions, dormers, garages and small commercial roofs using single-ply EPDM, GRP fibreglass, liquid-applied or hot-melt systems. Modern systems are laid as a continuous waterproof layer with falls designed to clear water to the outlet.
- Chimney RepairsChimney repairs cover repointing, rebuilding, flaunching, flashing renewal, pot and cowl work and, where a stack is redundant, removal below the roof line. Chimneys are the most exposed masonry on a building and are the single most common source of roof leaks.
- LeadworkLeadwork is the formed metal detailing that waterproofs the junctions of a roof — chimney flashings, valleys, soakers, box gutters, dormer cheeks and parapet linings. Correctly sized and fixed lead outlasts almost every other component on a roof.
- Fascias, Soffits and GutteringThe roofline — fascias, soffits, bargeboards and guttering — carries rainwater away from the building and closes off the eaves. When it fails, water runs down the walls and into the wall head, causing damp and rot far below the roof itself.
- Drone Roof InspectionsA drone roof inspection surveys a roof using a camera-equipped UAV, producing high-resolution photographs and video of every slope, chimney, valley and gutter without scaffolding, ladders or anyone setting foot on the roof. It is faster, safer and cheaper than traditional access, and produces evidence you can keep.
Understanding the evidence behind work like this
- Understanding Roof EvidenceWhat roofing photographs should show, what they can prove, what they cannot, and how to read the evidence behind any recommendation you are given.
- Repair or Re-roof?The evidence that points to an isolated repair, the evidence that points to renewal, and the questions that separate the two honestly.
Drone roof inspections
See your own roof in detail, without a scaffold or a ladder
A drone survey photographs ridge, valleys, flashings, chimney and gutter lines at close range and gives you dated images you can keep — useful for insurance claims, landlords, remote owners and anyone being told a roof needs replacing.
