If you need a new roof in Brundall, choosing the right contractor matters just as much as choosing the right materials.
A full roof replacement means stripping the existing covering back to the bare timbers, inspecting every rafter and batten, replacing anything that has rotted or moved, and then fitting an entirely fresh system above it. That system typically includes a breathable underlay, treated battens, and the tile or slate covering of your choice. Leadwork around chimneys, valleys and abutments is renewed at the same time. Done properly, a new roof should need nothing more than routine maintenance for decades.
We work with clay and concrete tiles, natural slate, and modern synthetic slates across Brundall and the wider Norfolk area, including North Walsham and neighbouring villages. Each material has different weights, fixing methods and long-term performance characteristics, and the right choice depends on your roof pitch, your budget, and what matches your property.
A new roof is one of the largest single purchases most homeowners make. The contractor you choose will have unsupervised access to the top of your home for several days or more, and the quality of their work will be invisible to you once the job is finished. That makes the selection process genuinely important, not just a box-ticking exercise.
The roofing trade is not licensed in the UK, which means anyone can legally call themselves a roofer. Some are highly skilled; others are not. The burden of checking falls on you. Here is what to look for and what to ask.
Ask these questions of every contractor you consider, and pay attention to how they answer, not just what they say.
Certain behaviours are consistent warning signs in the roofing trade. A contractor who knocks unsolicited at your door and tells you your roof is failing immediately needs scrutiny - genuine problems do not usually require emergency same-day decisions. Anyone who asks for a large cash deposit upfront before materials have been ordered or scaffold has gone up deserves a cautious response.
Be wary of quotes that arrive significantly below every other price you receive. A new roof requires scaffolding, skips, quality materials and skilled labour, and those costs are broadly similar across reputable firms. An unusually cheap quote often means corners will be cut, usually in ways you cannot see from the ground.
Pressure to decide quickly, reluctance to put things in writing, and a refusal to provide references are all reasons to walk away.
Three quotes is a sensible minimum for a job of this size. When you receive them, compare like with like. Check that each quote specifies the same tile product, the same underlay, the same batten size, and includes the same associated work such as lead valleys, ridge tiles and fascia replacement if needed. Two quotes that look similar in price can be very different in what they actually deliver.
A written specification matters. If a contractor quotes verbally or provides only a single-line figure with no breakdown, ask for a written schedule of works before you proceed. A detailed quote protects both parties and makes it easier to resolve any disagreement about what was agreed.
Clay tiles are a traditional choice and suit most pitched roofs well. They handle frost and rain without absorbing much moisture, and quality clay products can last well over a century. Concrete tiles are heavier and cheaper upfront, and they perform reliably for several decades before the colour coating begins to fade.
Natural slate, whether Welsh, Spanish or Brazilian, gives a clean, flat appearance and is well suited to steeper pitches. It is more expensive than tile but very long-lived when fixed correctly. Synthetic slates made from recycled or composite materials have improved significantly and offer a lightweight alternative where the roof structure cannot carry the weight of natural stone.
The pitch of your roof determines which materials are suitable. Below around 22 degrees, most standard plain tiles and slates are not appropriate without additional waterproofing measures, and your contractor should flag this rather than leave you to discover it later.
Scaffold goes up first, and it should be fully boarded and well tied to the building. Once scaffold is in place, the old covering is stripped, bagged and removed. The timbers are checked: rafters for rot or movement, wall plates for damage, any purlin or ridge board for structural integrity. Problems found at this stage should be pointed out to you before work continues.
New breathable underlay is fitted across the rafters, followed by treated and counter-battens if required by the tile manufacturer. Tiles or slates are then fixed from the eaves upward. All hips, ridges and valleys are finished in lead or purpose-made dry-fix components. Flashings around the chimney stack and any abutments are renewed in lead and pointed in appropriate mortar or dressed into the brickwork.
Completion involves clearing all waste, sweeping the gutters, and checking that no debris has entered the building. A thorough contractor will walk you through the finished roof and explain what you should look for during the first winter.
From our base in North Walsham we carry out new roof installations across Brundall and the surrounding area, including work in and around Stalham, Horning, Rollesby, Martham and Marsham. If you are ready to get a proper survey and written quote for your new roof, call us and we will arrange a time to come out and assess the job with you.
No obligation · We usually respond within 2 hours
Storm damage, active leak, damaged ridge - we aim to be on-site within 24 hours.
