Roofers in Maidstone

Many of Maidstone's older terraces are built of yellow stock brick with natural slate or Kent peg tile roofs. Both are long-lasting, but on roofs a century or more old, the fixings wear out before the slates and tiles do. On slate roofs, the most common problem is nail sickness. The nails holding each slate corrode, and slates slip one by one, often after autumn winds. Peg tiles were traditionally hung on wooden pegs, which rot over time, so tiles slip in the same way. A few slipped slates or tiles are a quick repair, but lots of them suggest the roof needs stripping and relaying, often reusing the sound slates or tiles.

Chimneys are another frequent job on period houses. Look out for worn mortar joints, cracked flaunching and failed lead flashing where the stack meets the roof, all of which let water in. On inter-war semis and post-war estates such as Shepway and Park Wood, concrete tiles are more common. There, the usual jobs are rebedding the ridge, or fitting a dry ridge and dry verge system that uses mechanical fixings instead of mortar. Flat roofs on rear extensions, dormers and garages are common across the town, and older felt roofs often start to leak after 15 to 20 years.

Maidstone borough has 41 conservation areas. If your home is in one, or is listed, check with Maidstone Borough Council before you change the roof covering, for example from slate or peg tiles to concrete tiles. In the Holy Trinity Church conservation area, an Article 4 direction means roof changes need planning permission.

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.