Ellesmere Port · Cheshire
Roof structure repairs in Ellesmere Port
Roofs in Ellesmere Port that were re-covered with heavier concrete tiles, or had struts cut out for a loft room, often start to sag years later. Spotting which change caused the movement is the first step to a repair that holds.
Guide price from£290per rafter inc VAT
- Postcodes
- CH64, CH65, CH66
- Population
- about 65,000
- Area
- Cheshire
- Pricing region
- North West
Is Cheshire prone to ground movement?
With roughly 65,000 people, Ellesmere Port spans postcode districts CH64, CH65, CH66 in Cheshire. If you are just outside Ellesmere Port, we also cover Chester (6 miles), Neston (6 miles) and Widnes (9 miles).
Cheshire has a mix of ground, with clay in some places and firmer rock in others. Historic brine and salt working has caused ground movement in parts of Cheshire in the past. Across Cheshire, most homes are brick terraces in Crewe, Northwich and Warrington, Victorian villas in Chester, and inter-war and post-war semis.
Methods for 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
From first photo to finished 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.
Prop, strengthen and tie
The roof is propped where members are being changed, then rafters, purlins, struts and ties are repaired or added as specified. Coverings disturbed by the work are relaid, and building control inspects where the work needs it.
Symptoms that point to roof structure repairs
- Horizontal cracks in the wall just below the eaves or ceiling line
- Top of an outside wall leaning out at eaves level
- Daylight through the tiles, or timber that is damp, stained or crumbling
Guide prices for roof structure repairs in Ellesmere Port
For Ellesmere Port we use North West rates. Treat the table as a budget guide, inc VAT; the price you pay is the one on your written quote.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Repairing or doubling a rafter | £290 – £575 | per rafter |
| Purlin and strut strengthening | £1,150 – £2,900 | per roof |
| Tying in roof spread (straps and ties)est. | £770 – £2,400 | 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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the price of roof structure repairs in Ellesmere Port?
Guide prices for roof structure repairs in Ellesmere Port start from about £290 per rafter, including VAT, on North West rates. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.
Do you carry out roof structure repairs in Ellesmere Port?
We do. Ellesmere Port and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Chester and Neston. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Does the ground around Ellesmere Port cause cracking?
Most of Cheshire is glacial till over Mercia Mudstone. Around Northwich and the Weaver valley, historic salt and brine extraction has caused subsidence in the past, and a separate brine subsidence compensation scheme exists for parts of the county. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
What is roof spread?
Roof spread is when the feet of the rafters move outward because nothing is tying them together firmly enough. As they spread, the ridge drops and the tops of the walls are pushed out, often with a horizontal crack below the eaves. It is fixed by adding ties, collars or straps, sometimes with rebuilding.
Can heavy concrete tiles damage a roof?
Yes, if the frame was designed for lighter slate or tiles and was not strengthened. The extra weight makes rafters and purlins sag and can bring on roof spread. Before re-roofing in a heavier material, have the structure checked and notify building control.
More repairs we carry out in Ellesmere Port
- Gable end wall repairs
- Chimney stack repairs
- Wall tie replacement
- Extension pulling away repairs
- Floor joist repairs
Roof structure repairs near Ellesmere Port
For a guide price on roof structure repairs in Ellesmere Port, try the quote tool or send photos of the ridge, the loft and the eaves.