Wishaw · Lanarkshire
Roof structure repairs in Wishaw
Before buying or re-roofing a house in Wishaw, 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£285per rafter inc VAT
- Postcodes
- ML2
- Population
- about 30,000
- Area
- Lanarkshire
- Pricing region
- Scotland
What should you know about the ground under Wishaw?
We cover Wishaw and its postcode districts ML2, part of Lanarkshire, with a population of roughly 30,000. Nearby places we cover include Larkhall (3 miles), Motherwell (3 miles) and Carluke (4 miles).
Most of Lanarkshire is on firmer ground than the clay belts of the south-east. Historic coal workings are recorded beneath parts of Lanarkshire, and a coal mining search is worth checking where movement is unexplained. Housing stock in Lanarkshire: Miners' rows, sandstone tenements, inter-war council houses and new-town estates in East Kilbride and Cumbernauld.
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?
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.
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.
What to look for before calling about roof structure repairs
- Roof slope looking hollow or wavy between the ridge and the gutter
- Struts, collars or ties cut out or missing in the loft
- Top of an outside wall leaning out at eaves level
Roof structure repairs prices in Wishaw
The ranges below reflect typical Scotland costs for roof structure repairs, including VAT. Scaffold, access and making good can push a job to the top of the range.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Repairing or doubling a rafter | £285 – £570 | per rafter |
| Purlin and strut strengthening | £1,150 – £2,850 | per roof |
| Tying in roof spread (straps and ties)est. | £760 – £2,400 | per roof |
Rules for roof structure repairs in Scotland
In Scotland, underpinning and other structural alterations generally need a building warrant from the council’s building standards service before work starts, and a completion certificate at the end; small like-for-like repairs often do not. There is no Party Wall Act in Scotland; shared walls are covered by title deeds and, for flats, the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004.
Questions about roof structure repairs in Wishaw
How much should I budget for roof structure repairs in Wishaw?
Guide prices for roof structure repairs in Wishaw start from about £285 per rafter, including VAT, on Scotland 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 Wishaw?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Wishaw, including ML2, and from nearby places such as Larkhall and Motherwell. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
Why do houses in Lanarkshire crack?
Lanarkshire lies on the Central Coalfield, mined intensively in the past around Hamilton, Motherwell, Airdrie and Coatbridge, so recorded workings are common beneath towns. 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.
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.
Related work in Wishaw
- Chimney stack repairs
- Subsidence repairs
- Gable end wall repairs
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
- Structural surveys and crack monitoring
Roof structure repairs near Wishaw
For a guide price on roof structure repairs in Wishaw, try the quote tool or send photos of the ridge, the loft and the eaves.