Ealing · Greater London
Roof structure repairs in Ealing
Roof structure repairs in Ealing 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£375per rafter inc VAT
- Postcodes
- TW8, UB1, UB2, UB5, UB6
- Population
- about 370,000
- Area
- Greater London
- Pricing region
- London
Why does the ground in Greater London matter for roof structure repairs?
Ealing is one of the 32 London boroughs, with around 370,000 residents in districts such as TW8, UB1, UB2, UB5, UB6. Neighbouring towns we cover: Brent (3 miles), Hounslow (4 miles) and Harrow (5 miles).
Much of Greater London 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. Housing stock in Greater London: Victorian and Edwardian terraces with shallow footings, inter-war semis in the outer boroughs, and converted flats and mansion blocks.
What should you budget for roof structure repairs in Ealing?
These are guide prices for Ealing, using London rates and including VAT. Your written quote follows photos or a survey, and is fixed once the repair is specified.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Repairing or doubling a rafter | £375 – £750 | per rafter |
| Purlin and strut strengthening | £1,500 – £3,750 | per roof |
| Tying in roof spread (straps and ties)est. | £1,000 – £3,100 | per roof |
Repair options we may recommend
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
What to expect when we carry out roof structure repairs
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.
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.
Is it time for roof structure repairs? Common signs
- Daylight through the tiles, or timber that is damp, stained or crumbling
- Top of an outside wall leaning out at eaves level
- Horizontal cracks in the wall just below the eaves or ceiling line
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.
Your roof structure repairs questions
What is the price of roof structure repairs in Ealing?
Guide prices for roof structure repairs in Ealing start from about £375 per rafter, including VAT, on London 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 Ealing?
Yes, Ealing is covered, along with postcode districts TW8, UB1, UB2, UB5. We also cover nearby Brent and Hounslow.
Does the ground around Ealing cause cracking?
Most of Greater London sits on London Clay, among the most shrinkage-prone ground in the UK, with river gravels along the Thames. Subsidence claims here are among the most frequent in the country, especially after dry summers and near street and garden trees. 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.
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 Ealing
- Chimney stack repairs
- Underpinning
- Gable end wall repairs
- Floor joist repairs
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
Roof structure repairs near Ealing
Send photos of the roof from the street and the loft timbers at your Ealing property for a free initial assessment and a no-obligation written quote.