Ascot · Berkshire
Roof structure repairs in Ascot
Many older roofs, in Ascot and across Berkshire alike, were built with slim purlins and few ties. A little historic movement is normal, so we check whether the roof is still moving before recommending how far the strengthening needs to go.
Guide price from£335per rafter inc VAT
- Postcodes
- GU20, SL5
- Population
- about 18,000
- Area
- Berkshire
- Pricing region
- South East
What is the ground like in Berkshire?
Ascot (GU20, SL5) has around 18,000 residents and sits in Berkshire. Nearby places we cover include Bracknell (3 miles), Egham (5 miles) and Camberley (6 miles).
Berkshire is one of the parts of the UK where clay soils are most likely to move with the seasons. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. Housing stock in Berkshire: Victorian and Edwardian terraces in Reading and Windsor, 1930s semis, and large post-war new-town estates around Bracknell.
How we usually approach roof structure repairs
Tying in roof spread
New ties, collars or steel straps connect opposite rafters, or fix the rafter feet and wall plate firmly to the ceiling joists, so the outward thrust is resisted. Leaning wall heads are strapped back to the roof, and a badly spread roof may need partly rebuilding first.
Best for: Walls pushed out at eaves level by spreading rafters
Wall plate replacement
Rotten or crushed wall plates are replaced in short lengths while the rafters above are propped, and bedded on the wall in mortar. The plate is then strapped down to the masonry. It is often combined with rafter foot splices along the same run.
Best for: Rot along the eaves where rafters bear on the wall
What happens during roof structure repairs, step by step?
Loft and outside survey
On site we check rafter sizes and spacing, purlins, struts, ties and wall plates, look for rot and past alterations, and measure any lean at the wall head. The covering is noted too, because its weight affects the repair.
Engineer’s design where needed
Where purlins, struts or ties must be redesigned, or the roof carries a heavier covering, an independent chartered structural engineer is appointed to specify the work. We can arrange this, and their design sets the sizes and fixings.
Written quote
You receive a no-obligation written quote listing each timber repair, any ties or straps, propping, scaffolding and making good. Once the repair is specified, the figure becomes a fixed price in writing.
What to look for before calling about roof structure repairs
- Daylight through the tiles, or timber that is damp, stained or crumbling
- Top of an outside wall leaning out at eaves level
- Struts, collars or ties cut out or missing in the loft
Roof structure repairs prices in Ascot
These are guide prices for Ascot, using South East rates and including VAT. Your written quote follows photos or a survey, and is fixed once the repair is specified.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Repairing or doubling a rafter | £335 – £670 | per rafter |
| Purlin and strut strengthening | £1,350 – £3,350 | per roof |
| Tying in roof spread (straps and ties)est. | £895 – £2,800 | per roof |
Rules for roof structure repairs in England
In England, underpinning and other work that alters or strengthens a wall or foundation is building work under the Building Regulations (Part A, structure), so building control approves and inspects it. Like-for-like repairs often are not, and we tell you which applies before a price is agreed. Work to a party wall, or excavation close to a neighbour’s foundations, can also need a notice under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.
Questions about roof structure repairs in Ascot
How much will roof structure repairs cost in Ascot?
Guide prices for roof structure repairs in Ascot start from about £335 per rafter, including VAT, on South East rates. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.
Do you cover Ascot?
Yes, Ascot is covered, along with postcode districts GU20, SL5. We also cover nearby Bracknell and Egham.
Is the ground in Berkshire prone to subsidence?
East Berkshire is largely London Clay with Thames terrace gravels along the river, while the west rises onto chalk downland. Houses on the clay near Slough, Windsor and Bracknell are the ones most exposed to shrink-swell movement. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
Do roof structure repairs need building control?
Usually yes, where the structure is strengthened or altered, or the covering becomes significantly heavier. In England and Wales that falls under Part A, in Scotland it generally needs a building warrant, and in Northern Ireland council building control approves it. We deal with building control where the work needs it.
Why are there cracks just below the eaves?
A horizontal crack just below the eaves, along the front or back wall, is a common sign of roof spread. The rafters push the top of the wall outward and the masonry cracks where it hinges. Corroded wall ties can cause similar cracks, so the cause needs checking.
Other structural repairs in Ascot
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
- Brick arch repairs
- Chimney stack repairs
- Lintel replacement
- Underpinning
Roof structure repairs near Ascot
Every rafter, purlin and tie on the job in Ascot is listed in the written quote, which becomes a fixed price in writing once the repair is specified.