Hastings · East Sussex
Roof structure repairs in Hastings
Roof structure repairs in Hastings are often done entirely from inside the loft, with the tiles left in place. Doubling rafters, adding struts and fitting ties rarely needs the coverings off unless decay at the eaves is severe.
Guide price from£335per rafter inc VAT
- Postcodes
- TN34, TN35, TN37, TN38
- Population
- about 93,000
- Area
- East Sussex
- Pricing region
- South East
Is East Sussex prone to ground movement?
With roughly 93,000 people, Hastings spans postcode districts TN34, TN35, TN37, TN38 in East Sussex. Neighbouring towns we cover: Bexhill-on-Sea (5 miles), Hailsham (14 miles) and Eastbourne (14 miles).
Much of East Sussex sits on clay that shrinks in dry summers and swells in wet winters. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. What you mostly find across East Sussex: Regency and Victorian terraces on the coast, Wealden timber-framed houses, and inter-war bungalows and semis.
Signs you may need roof structure repairs
- Top of an outside wall leaning out at eaves level
- Struts, collars or ties cut out or missing in the loft
- Roof slope looking hollow or wavy between the ridge and the gutter
How much will roof structure repairs cost in Hastings?
The ranges below reflect typical South East 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 | £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 |
Which repair method suits a home in Hastings?
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
Repairing or doubling rafters
Cracked, sagging or rotten rafters are strengthened by fixing a new timber alongside, often called doubling, and rotten rafter feet are cut back and spliced. The work is usually done from inside the loft with the tiles left in place, unless the covering is coming off anyway.
Best for: Individual rafters that have cracked, sagged or rotted at the feet
What happens when we carry out roof structure repairs in Hastings?
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.
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.
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 Hastings: questions and answers
What is the price of roof structure repairs in Hastings?
Guide prices for roof structure repairs in Hastings 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 carry out roof structure repairs in Hastings?
Yes, Hastings is covered, along with postcode districts TN34, TN35, TN37, TN38. We also cover nearby Bexhill-on-Sea and Hailsham.
Does the ground around Hastings cause cracking?
Inland East Sussex is Weald Clay and Wealden sands, while the South Downs and the coast around Brighton and Eastbourne are chalk. The Weald Clay areas are prone to shrink-swell movement near trees. 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.
More repairs we carry out in Hastings
- Crack stitching
- Subsidence repairs
- Lintel replacement
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
- Bowing wall repairs
Roof structure repairs near Hastings
For a guide price on roof structure repairs in Hastings, try the quote tool or send photos of the ridge, the loft and the eaves.