Redruth · Cornwall
Roof structure repairs in Redruth
A dipping ridge or a wavy roof slope in Redruth is usually a timber problem, not a tile problem. We look at the rafters, purlins, struts and ties from the loft, and at the wall heads from outside, before suggesting how to strengthen it.
Guide price from£310per rafter inc VAT
- Postcodes
- TR15, TR16
- Population
- about 43,000
- Area
- Cornwall
- Pricing region
- South West
Is Cornwall prone to ground movement?
Redruth is in Cornwall and takes in postcode districts TR15, TR16. About 43,000 people live there. Nearby places we cover include Camborne (4 miles), Truro (8 miles) and Falmouth (9 miles).
Most of Cornwall is on firmer ground than the clay belts of the south-east. Old metal-mine shafts and workings are recorded in places, so mining searches are routine for some properties. What you mostly find across Cornwall: granite and slate-stone cottages, cob buildings, Victorian terraces and post-war estates.
Signs you may need roof structure repairs
- Horizontal cracks in the wall just below the eaves or ceiling line
- Roof slope looking hollow or wavy between the ridge and the gutter
- Top of an outside wall leaning out at eaves level
How much will roof structure repairs cost in Redruth?
The ranges below reflect typical South West costs for roof structure repairs, including VAT. Scaffold, access and making good can push a job to the top of the range.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Repairing or doubling a rafter | £310 – £620 | per rafter |
| Purlin and strut strengthening | £1,250 – £3,100 | per roof |
| Tying in roof spread (straps and ties)est. | £825 – £2,600 | per roof |
Which repair method suits a home in Redruth?
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
Purlin and strut strengthening
Undersized purlins are strengthened with extra timber or replaced, and new struts are taken down to a load-bearing wall. Where there is no suitable wall, an engineer designs the load path. Temporary props hold the roof while members are changed.
Best for: Sagging slopes, slim purlins and struts removed from the loft
What happens when we carry out roof structure repairs in Redruth?
Send photos
Photograph the roof from across the street, both slopes if you can, and the loft timbers with a torch. Include the eaves and any cracks just below them. From these we can usually tell sag from spread and whether an engineer is needed.
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.
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.
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.
Roof structure repairs in Redruth: questions and answers
How much will roof structure repairs cost in Redruth?
Guide prices for roof structure repairs in Redruth start from about £310 per rafter, including VAT, on South West rates. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.
Do you cover Redruth?
Yes, Redruth is covered, along with postcode districts TR15, TR16. We also cover nearby Camborne and Truro.
Is the ground in Cornwall prone to subsidence?
Cornwall is mostly granite and slate with little shrinkable clay, so clay subsidence is less common than in the south-east. Historic tin and copper mining has left shafts and workings in places such as Camborne and Redruth, and mining searches are routine there. 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.
Other structural repairs in Redruth
- Extension pulling away repairs
- Wall tie replacement
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
- Concrete repairs
- Bowing wall repairs
Roof structure repairs near Redruth
If struts were removed for a loft room in Redruth, send photos of the space and we will price putting a proper load path back.