Tewkesbury · Gloucestershire
Roof structure repairs in Tewkesbury
A dipping ridge or a wavy roof slope in Tewkesbury 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
- GL20
- Population
- about 20,000
- Area
- Gloucestershire
- Pricing region
- South West
What should you know about the ground under Tewkesbury?
Tewkesbury (GL20) has around 20,000 residents and sits in Gloucestershire. Nearby places we cover include Cheltenham (7 miles), Gloucester (9 miles) and Malvern (11 miles).
Gloucestershire has a mix of ground, with clay in some places and firmer rock in others. Parts of Gloucestershire lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Across Gloucestershire, most homes are Cotswold stone cottages, Regency terraces in Cheltenham, and brick estates around Gloucester.
How much will roof structure repairs cost in Tewkesbury?
Prices in Tewkesbury are worked out on South West rates. They include VAT and are a starting point: access, the extent of the damage and whether an engineer or building control is involved all move the figure.
| 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 Tewkesbury?
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 when we carry out roof structure repairs in Tewkesbury?
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.
Signs you may need roof structure repairs
- Horizontal cracks in the wall just below the eaves or ceiling line
- Daylight through the tiles, or timber that is damp, stained or crumbling
- Top of an outside wall leaning out at eaves level
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 Tewkesbury: questions and answers
How much will roof structure repairs cost in Tewkesbury?
Guide prices for roof structure repairs in Tewkesbury 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 Tewkesbury?
Yes, Tewkesbury is covered, along with postcode districts GL20. We also cover nearby Cheltenham and Gloucester.
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.
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.
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.
Other structural repairs in Tewkesbury
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
- Lintel replacement
- Extension pulling away repairs
- Structural surveys and crack monitoring
- Subsidence repairs
Roof structure repairs near Tewkesbury
For a guide price on roof structure repairs in Tewkesbury, try the quote tool or send photos of the ridge, the loft and the eaves.