Cowes · Isle of Wight
Roof structure repairs in Cowes
If the top of a wall at your Cowes property seems to lean out at the eaves, the roof may be spreading. Ties, collars and straps can usually hold it back, sometimes with an engineer’s design for the new load path.
Guide price from£335per rafter inc VAT
- Postcodes
- PO31
- Population
- about 21,000
- Area
- Isle of Wight
- Pricing region
- South East
Is Isle of Wight prone to ground movement?
Cowes (PO31) has around 21,000 residents and sits in Isle of Wight. Neighbouring towns we cover: Newport (4 miles), Ryde (6 miles) and Sandown (10 miles).
Shrinkable clay is widespread in Isle of Wight. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. Across Isle of Wight, most homes are Victorian seaside villas, terraces in Ryde and Newport, and post-war bungalows.
What should you budget for roof structure repairs in Cowes?
Prices in Cowes are worked out on South East 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 | £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 |
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
Purlin and strut strengthening
Undersized purlins are strengthened with extra timber or replaced, and new struts are taken down to a load-bearing wall. Where there is no suitable wall, an engineer designs the load path. Temporary props hold the roof while members are changed.
Best for: Sagging slopes, slim purlins and struts removed from the loft
What to expect when we carry out roof structure repairs
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.
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.
Is it time for roof structure repairs? Common signs
- 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
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
How much should I budget for roof structure repairs in Cowes?
Guide prices for roof structure repairs in Cowes 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 Cowes?
Survey visits to Cowes are by arrangement because of travel and access. We can still give a free initial view from photos, and we tell you any travel cost before a visit is booked.
Why do houses in Isle of Wight crack?
The island has clays, sands and chalk, and the south coast around Ventnor sits on one of the largest urban landslide complexes in Europe. Ground movement there is a landslip question as much as a clay one. 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.
Related work in Cowes
- Concrete repairs
- Subsidence repairs
- Structural crack repairs
- Chimney stack repairs
- Bay window subsidence repairs
Roof structure repairs near Cowes
Every rafter, purlin and tie on the job in Cowes is listed in the written quote, which becomes a fixed price in writing once the repair is specified.