Blackburn · Lancashire
Roof structure repairs in Blackburn
Roofs in Blackburn that were re-covered with heavier concrete tiles, or had struts cut out for a loft room, often start to sag years later. Spotting which change caused the movement is the first step to a repair that holds.
Guide price from£290per rafter inc VAT
- Postcodes
- BB1, BB2
- Population
- about 150,000
- Area
- Lancashire
- Pricing region
- North West
What is the ground like in Lancashire?
Blackburn, Lancashire: about 150,000 residents across postcode districts BB1, BB2. If you are just outside Blackburn, we also cover Darwen (4 miles), Accrington (5 miles) and Chorley (9 miles).
Lancashire has a mix of ground, with clay in some places and firmer rock in others. Parts of Lancashire lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. What you mostly find across Lancashire: stone and brick mill terraces, seaside villas in Blackpool and Lytham, and inter-war and post-war semis.
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
- Roof slope looking hollow or wavy between the ridge and the gutter
- Top of an outside wall leaning out at eaves level
- Ridge line dipping in the middle when seen from the street
Roof structure repairs prices in Blackburn
The ranges below reflect typical North West 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 | £290 – £575 | per rafter |
| Purlin and strut strengthening | £1,150 – £2,900 | per roof |
| Tying in roof spread (straps and ties)est. | £770 – £2,400 | per roof |
How we usually approach roof structure repairs
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
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 Blackburn
What is the price of roof structure repairs in Blackburn?
Guide prices for roof structure repairs in Blackburn start from about £290 per rafter, including VAT, on North West 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 Blackburn?
We do. Blackburn and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Darwen and Accrington. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Does the ground around Blackburn cause cracking?
Lancashire is mostly glacial till over sandstone and mudstone, with the Burnley and Accrington coalfield in the east and soft coastal and estuarine ground on the Fylde. Old mill and mine sites leave made ground in many towns. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
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.
Can the roof be strengthened without removing the tiles?
In most cases, yes. Doubling rafters, adding struts and fitting ties can all be done from inside the loft with the coverings in place. Tiles usually only come off where timber near the eaves is badly decayed, or the roof is being re-covered anyway.
More repairs we carry out in Blackburn
- Extension pulling away repairs
- Crack stitching
- Bowing wall repairs
- Gable end wall repairs
- Retaining wall repairs
Roof structure repairs near Blackburn
For a guide price on roof structure repairs in Blackburn, try the quote tool or send photos of the ridge, the loft and the eaves.