Cirencester · Gloucestershire
Roof structure repairs in Cirencester
Many older roofs, in Cirencester and across Gloucestershire 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£310per rafter inc VAT
- Postcodes
- GL7
- Population
- about 20,000
- Area
- Gloucestershire
- Pricing region
- South West
What is the ground like in Gloucestershire?
Cirencester (GL7) has around 20,000 residents and sits in Gloucestershire. We also take enquiries from nearby Stroud (10 miles), Cheltenham (13 miles) and Swindon (14 miles).
Clay soils are found in parts of Gloucestershire. Parts of Gloucestershire lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Housing stock in Gloucestershire: Cotswold stone cottages, Regency terraces in Cheltenham, and brick estates around Gloucester.
What to look for before calling about roof structure repairs
- Horizontal cracks in the wall just below the eaves or ceiling line
- Ridge line dipping in the middle when seen from the street
- Top of an outside wall leaning out at eaves level
Roof structure repairs prices in Cirencester
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 |
How we usually approach roof structure repairs
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
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
What happens during roof structure repairs, step by step?
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.
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.
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 Cirencester
How much will roof structure repairs cost in Cirencester?
Guide prices for roof structure repairs in Cirencester 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 Cirencester?
We do. Cirencester and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Stroud and Cheltenham. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Is the ground in Gloucestershire prone to subsidence?
The Severn vale around Gloucester, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury is Lias and Mercia Mudstone clay, the Cotswolds are limestone, and the Forest of Dean has a historic coalfield. Parts of South Gloucestershire around Kingswood also lie on old Coal Measures. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
Do I need a structural engineer for roof repairs?
For like-for-like repairs to a few rafters, often not. Where purlins, struts or ties are being redesigned, the covering is getting heavier or the walls are being pushed out, you usually do. Where the repair needs an engineer’s design or sign-off, an independent chartered structural engineer is appointed, and we can arrange this.
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 Cirencester
- Chimney stack repairs
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
- Extension pulling away repairs
- Structural surveys and crack monitoring
- Floor joist repairs
Roof structure repairs near Cirencester
If struts were removed for a loft room in Cirencester, send photos of the space and we will price putting a proper load path back.