North Walsham Roofers carries out roof repairs across Cromer and the surrounding coast, from single slipped slates to persistent leaks that have been putting up with bad weather for a season too long.
When a tile cracks, a slate slips or a section of flashing fails, one of the first practical questions is what to replace it with. Getting that choice right matters more than most homeowners realise. Use the wrong material and the repair stands out visually, wears at a different rate to the rest of the roof, or creates a weak point that fails again within a few years.
We carry a range of tiles and slates to match common roof coverings.
Natural slate is the premium choice and, on the right house, it looks exactly right. Welsh slate is harder, denser and longer-lasting. Spanish slate is softer, a shade more purple in colour and less expensive, which is why it has been used widely for repairs and re-roofs since the 1990s.
The pros: natural slate can last 80 to 100 years when properly fixed and maintained. It sits well against an older property. If you are replacing individual slates, a natural slate matched reasonably well will blend in over a few weathering seasons.
The cons: cost. Natural slate repairs cost more in materials than concrete or fibre-cement alternatives. Matching is also more of a skill than it sounds. Slate varies in thickness, texture and colour from quarry to quarry and even from batch to batch, so a brand-new slate on a 60-year-old roof will look noticeably different for a while. That is not a reason to avoid it, but it is worth knowing.
Concrete interlocking tiles are a common roof covering on many post-war houses. They are practical, affordable and straightforward to replace individually.
Pros: widely available, cost-effective, and because so many homes use the same profiles, matching is easier than with natural slate. A broken or slipped concrete tile can usually be swapped out and bedded back in quickly.
Cons: concrete tiles are heavier than natural slate and can cause issues if the original roof structure was not built with that weight in mind. Over time the surface coating fades, so a new tile will look noticeably cleaner than its neighbours. That said, it weathers down to a closer match within a year or two. Algae growth is also more visible on aged concrete tiles, though this is a cosmetic issue rather than a structural one.
Plain clay tiles are found on older properties, particularly on houses built before the Second World War. They are smaller than interlocking tiles, laid in a double-lap pattern and typically nailed or hung on tile battens. Replacing them requires care because the surrounding tiles have to be lifted to access the broken one underneath.
Pros: clay tiles age gracefully. A good-quality clay tile can last as long as natural slate and the colour tends to hold better than concrete over decades. They suit period properties well.
Cons: sourcing a close match for an old clay tile can be difficult. Second-hand reclaimed tiles are often the best option for a visual match, but they take longer to source. New clay tiles come in a good range of colours and profiles today, but a brand-new tile on a 100-year-old roof will still stand out until weathering does its work. Cost is higher than concrete.
Fibre-cement (or fibre-reinforced) slates are a middle-ground option used widely for repairs and re-roofs. They are lighter than natural slate, available in a range of sizes and colours, and considerably less expensive. For a rental property or a roof where budget is the main concern, they are a practical choice.
Pros: lower cost, consistent thickness and size making them straightforward to lay, and they perform well in wet and frosty conditions.
Cons: they do not have the natural variation in texture and colour that gives a real slate roof its character. On a period property they can look a little flat. Their lifespan is typically quoted at 30 to 50 years, so shorter than natural slate, though that still represents good service from a repair material.
A large number of roof leaks are not caused by broken tiles at all. Failed flashing around chimneys, dormers, skylights and where a roof meets a wall is one of the most common sources of water ingress. Lead is the traditional and most durable flashing material. It is dressed into the masonry joints, overlaps the tiles below it and, when correctly installed, can outlast the tiles around it.
A common problem is mortar-only flashing, where a previous repair has simply run a bead of cement over the junction rather than cutting in lead. Mortar cracks as the building moves with temperature changes and the repair fails, often within a few years. Replacing mortar flashing with properly dressed lead is always the better long-term answer.
Pointing and re-bedding ridge tiles is another frequent repair. The mortar bed and pointing on ridge tiles takes the full force of wind and rain and will eventually crack and loosen. Loose ridges are a real risk in wind, so if yours are rocking or if you can see cracking mortar along the ridge line, it is worth having them checked before autumn.
Many homes have flat or low-pitch sections covering bay windows, extensions, garages or outbuildings. Traditional mineral felt is the most common covering on these areas and has a typical lifespan of 10 to 15 years before it begins to blister, crack and let in water. When felt fails it can sometimes be patched, but if the whole membrane is aged and brittle, patching one area usually just moves the problem along to the next weak spot.
EPDM rubber membrane is a more durable alternative that is now widely used for flat roof repairs and replacements. It is a single-ply rubber sheet that is bonded or mechanically fixed to the deck. EPDM is more resistant to UV degradation and temperature cycling than felt, and a well-fitted EPDM roof typically lasts considerably longer than mineral felt. It is also less prone to the pooling water problems that accelerate felt deterioration. If your flat roof is reaching the end of its felt life, it is worth asking whether a felt repair or a full switch to EPDM makes more sense for your situation.
A straightforward tile or slate replacement means accessing the roof safely, lifting any surrounding tiles that overlap the broken one, sliding out the damaged material, fitting the new tile or slate, and securing it correctly before replacing the surrounding tiles. Ridge and hip repairs involve removing the affected sections of ridge tile, clearing out the old mortar bed, re-bedding with fresh mortar or a dry-fix system, and re-pointing to finish.
Chimney repairs often involve a combination of repointing the stack itself, replacing or re-dressing the lead flashing at the base, and checking the haunching around the pots. A crumbling chimney stack left unattended can cause significant water ingress into the roof space and the rooms below.
We carry out roof repairs from our base in North Walsham and cover Cromer and the surrounding villages as part of our regular working area. We also cover places like Worstead, Swafield, Trunch, Paston, Knapton, Mundesley, Bacton and Scottow. If you are not sure whether we cover your location, call us and we will tell you straight.
If you have noticed a damp patch on a ceiling, can see a slipped or cracked tile from the ground, or have had persistent leaks above a bay window or extension, call us for a roof survey and we will tell you exactly what needs doing and what your options are.
No obligation · We usually respond within 2 hours
Storm damage, active leak, damaged ridge - we aim to be on-site within 24 hours.
