Fareham · Hampshire
Roof structure repairs in Fareham
Before buying or re-roofing a house in Fareham, 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£335per rafter inc VAT
- Postcodes
- PO14, PO15, PO16
- Population
- about 42,000
- Area
- Hampshire
- Pricing region
- South East
How do local ground conditions affect roof structure repairs in Fareham?
Fareham is in Hampshire and takes in postcode districts PO14, PO15, PO16. About 42,000 people live there. We also take enquiries from nearby Portsmouth (5 miles), Hedge End (7 miles) and Waterlooville (7 miles).
Hampshire is one of the parts of the UK where clay soils are most likely to move with the seasons. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. Across Hampshire, most homes are Victorian terraces in Portsmouth and Southampton, 1930s semis, and large post-war and new-build estates.
How we usually approach roof structure repairs
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
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 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.
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.
What to look for before calling about roof structure repairs
- Top of an outside wall leaning out at eaves level
- Horizontal cracks in the wall just below the eaves or ceiling line
- Ridge line dipping in the middle when seen from the street
Roof structure repairs prices in Fareham
For Fareham we use South East rates. Treat the table as a budget guide, inc VAT; the price you pay is the one on your written quote.
| 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 |
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 Fareham
How much should I budget for roof structure repairs in Fareham?
Guide prices for roof structure repairs in Fareham 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.
Can you survey a property in Fareham?
Yes, Fareham is covered, along with postcode districts PO14, PO15, PO16. We also cover nearby Portsmouth and Hedge End.
Why do houses in Hampshire crack?
Central Hampshire is chalk, while the south around Portsmouth, Southampton and the New Forest fringe and the north-east around Farnborough sit on London Clay, Reading Beds and other clays and sands. The clay areas see seasonal 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.
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.
Related work in Fareham
- Brick arch repairs
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
- Crack stitching
- Underpinning
- Structural crack repairs
Roof structure repairs near Fareham
For a guide price on roof structure repairs in Fareham, try the quote tool or send photos of the ridge, the loft and the eaves.