Tower Hamlets · Greater London
Roof structure repairs in Tower Hamlets
Before buying or re-roofing a house in Tower Hamlets, it is worth knowing whether the frame can carry its covering. Send photos of the loft and the ridge, and we will tell you whether the timbers look adequate or need strengthening.
Guide price from£375per rafter inc VAT
- Postcodes
- E1, E1W, E3, E14, EC3
- Population
- about 310,000
- Area
- Greater London
- Pricing region
- London
What is the ground like in Greater London?
Tower Hamlets is one of the 32 London boroughs, with around 310,000 residents in districts such as E1, E1W, E3, E14, EC3. Nearby, we also cover Hackney (2 miles), Newham (3 miles) and Islington (4 miles).
Shrinkable clay is widespread in Greater London. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. Across Greater London, most homes are Victorian and Edwardian terraces with shallow footings, inter-war semis in the outer boroughs, and converted flats and mansion blocks.
Roof structure repairs prices in Tower Hamlets
Guide prices below are for homes in Tower Hamlets, on London rates and including VAT. A survey or good photos let us turn them into a fixed written price.
| 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 |
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
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 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.
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.
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.
What to look for before calling about roof structure repairs
- Roof slope looking hollow or wavy between the ridge and the gutter
- Daylight through the tiles, or timber that is damp, stained or crumbling
- Ridge line dipping in the middle when seen from the street
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 Tower Hamlets
How much should I budget for roof structure repairs in Tower Hamlets?
Guide prices for roof structure repairs in Tower Hamlets 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.
Can you survey a property in Tower Hamlets?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Tower Hamlets, including E1, E1W, E3, E14, and from nearby places such as Hackney and Newham. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
Why do houses in Greater London crack?
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.
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.
Related work in Tower Hamlets
- Lintel replacement
- Bay window subsidence repairs
- Crack stitching
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
- Subsidence repairs
Roof structure repairs near Tower Hamlets
If struts were removed for a loft room in Tower Hamlets, send photos of the space and we will price putting a proper load path back.