Roofing service
New Roofs and Reroofing in Carlisle and Cumbria
Reroofing 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.
New Roofs and Reroofing in Carlisle and across Cumbria
A reroof is the point at which a roof stops being maintained and starts being rebuilt. The covering comes off, the structure is inspected, and the roof is reconstructed with modern membrane, treated battens, correct fixings and either the original slates cleaned and sorted or a new covering.
Done properly, a reroof resolves every recurring leak on the slope at once, improves how the roof handles wind uplift and driven rain, and gives a known starting point for the next several decades. Done cheaply, it repeats the failures of the roof it replaced.
When to call us
- Slates or tiles slipping across the whole roof rather than in one place
- Nail sickness — corroded fixings releasing slates in batches
- Perished bituminous felt visible as black tears in the loft
- Repeated repairs that no longer hold for long
- Sagging roof lines indicating failed or overloaded timbers
- Damp and condensation in a poorly ventilated loft
- Mortar bedding cracked along ridges, hips and verges
- Insurance or mortgage requirements following a survey
How we approach it
The whole slope resolved at once
Every fixing, batten and membrane detail is renewed, so recurring leaks stop rather than moving along the roof.
Correct ventilation and breathability
Breathable membrane and eaves or ridge ventilation are specified together, which controls the condensation that rots roof timbers.
Built for exposure
Fixing specification is chosen for the wind loading at your site, which matters far more in exposed Cumbrian locations than on sheltered urban streets.
Structural faults caught early
With the covering off, rafters, wall plates and purlins can be inspected and repaired while they are accessible.
What happens, step by step
1. Survey and specification
The roof, loft and structure are surveyed, the covering options are discussed, and a written specification is produced covering membrane, battens, fixings, ventilation and finish.
2. Fixed quotation
You receive an itemised quotation, including scaffolding, waste removal and any provisional allowance for timber repairs found once the roof is stripped.
3. Scaffold and strip
Access is erected, the covering is stripped in sections and the roof is kept protected against weather throughout.
4. Structural check and re-batten
Timbers are inspected and repaired where needed, then breathable membrane and treated battens are installed to the correct gauge.
5. Re-cover and detail
Slates or tiles are laid and fixed, then ridge, hip, verge, valley and abutment details are completed, with leadwork renewed as required.
6. Clear, inspect and hand over
The site is cleared, waste removed, the finished roof photographed, and guarantee documentation provided.
Properties we work on
- Victorian and Edwardian slate roofs at the end of their fixings' life
- Post-war housing with original concrete tiles
- Rural stone cottages and farmhouses
- Bungalows and dormer bungalows
- Extensions being brought up to the standard of the main roof
- Barn conversions and outbuildings
- Small commercial premises
Materials and systems we use
- Natural slate
- Welsh, Spanish and Westmorland slate — the traditional covering for much of Cumbria, with a long service life and the correct appearance for older and conservation properties.
- Clay tiles
- Plain tiles and pantiles that weather naturally and suit period and rural properties.
- Concrete interlocking tiles
- A cost-effective covering for post-war housing, laid quickly and available in profiles matching most estate housing.
- Breathable roofing membrane
- Replaces perished bitumen felt and allows water vapour out of the roof space, reducing condensation risk.
- Dry-fix ridge, hip and verge
- Mechanically fixed systems that do not rely on mortar and therefore do not crack and release in high wind.
- Code-rated lead
- Valleys, soakers, apron and step flashings formed in lead sized correctly for the detail and the exposure.
Your options
Like-for-like recover
Existing slates cleaned, sorted and relaid where enough sound material survives, with new slate made up to the required quantity.
Full new covering
A complete new slate or tile covering where the original material is too far gone to reuse.
Roofline renewal at the same time
Fascias, soffits and guttering renewed while the scaffold is up, which is significantly cheaper than a separate visit.
Insulation and ventilation upgrade
Improving loft insulation and adding eaves or ridge ventilation while the roof is open.
Mistakes and shortcuts to avoid
Re-using old battens
Old, undersized or untreated battens should not be reused. Batten grade and gauge are as important as the slate itself.
Membrane with no ventilation strategy
Sealing a roof without providing ventilation moves the problem to condensation and rotting timber.
Mortar-bedded ridges on exposed sites
In high-wind locations mortar alone will crack and release. Dry-fix should be the default.
Vague quotations
A quotation that does not state membrane type, batten grade, fixing specification and ridge system cannot be compared fairly with another.
New Roofs and Reroofing: common questions
Where we carry out this work
We are based in Carlisle and cover the city, the wider county and across the border into South West Scotland.
Related services
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Related guidance
- 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.
- Roofing Costs & QuotationsWhat genuinely moves the price of roofing work, what a written scope should contain, and how to compare quotations that are not describing the same job.