Roofers in Caversham

Caversham's roofs tell the story of its housing. Lower Caversham and the old village centre are full of Victorian and Edwardian terraces and villas, many still with their original natural slate roofs, tall chimney stacks and bay window roofs. On roofs that old, the most common problem is nail sickness. The nails holding each slate corrode, and slates slip one by one, often after autumn winds. A few slipped slates are a quick repair, but lots of them suggest the roof needs re-slating. Chimneys are another frequent job: worn mortar joints, cracked flaunching and failed lead flashing all let water in.

Up the hill in Caversham Heights and Emmer Green, houses from the 1920s and 1930s more often have clay tiles, hipped roofs and bays, where ridge and hip tiles may need rebedding. Many larger houses here have been extended, so flat roofs over rear extensions and garages are common. Older felt roofs often start to leak after 15 to 20 years.

Parts of Caversham are conservation areas. If you're thinking of replacing a slate roof with a different material, check with Reading Borough Council first, as it may need permission. Caversham's mature trees also mean gutters and valleys fill with leaves each autumn. Clearing them before winter stops water backing up under the slates.

Scaffolding is often the biggest single cost in a roofing quote, so ask whether it's included and how long it will be up. Ask the roofer to send photos of the problem from the roof, and check what guarantee comes with the work. Reviews on Trade Pilot come from real, invoiced jobs, so you can see which roofers have finished similar work for other homeowners.