York · North Yorkshire
Roof structure repairs in York
If the top of a wall at your York 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£285per rafter inc VAT
- Postcodes
- YO1, YO10, YO31
- Population
- about 160,000
- Area
- North Yorkshire
- Pricing region
- Yorkshire and the Humber
What is the ground like in North Yorkshire?
Postcode districts YO1, YO10, YO31 cover York, a North Yorkshire town of about 160,000 people. Neighbouring towns we cover: Selby (12 miles), Kippax (18 miles) and Harrogate (19 miles).
Clay soils are found in parts of North Yorkshire. Parts of North Yorkshire lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Housing stock in North Yorkshire: Stone cottages, Georgian and Victorian houses in York and Harrogate, and brick terraces on Teesside.
What should you budget for roof structure repairs in York?
For York we use Yorkshire and the Humber 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 | £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 |
Repair options we may recommend
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
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
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.
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
- Struts, collars or ties cut out or missing in the loft
- Roof slope looking hollow or wavy between the ridge and the gutter
- Horizontal cracks in the wall just below the eaves or ceiling line
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 York?
Guide prices for roof structure repairs in York start from about £285 per rafter, including VAT, on Yorkshire and the Humber 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 York?
Yes. We take enquiries from across York, including YO1, YO10, YO31, and from nearby places such as Selby and Kippax. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
Why do houses in North Yorkshire crack?
North Yorkshire ranges from limestone dales and moors to clays and glacial deposits in the Vale of York, with the Selby coalfield in the south and ironstone workings in Cleveland. Teesside has areas of soft and made ground. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
Is a sagging roof ridge dangerous?
A slight, even dip in an old roof is often historic movement that stopped long ago. A sag that is getting worse, cracking timbers, walls pushing out at the eaves or recently removed struts should be checked soon. Avoid storing heavy items in the loft until then.
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 York
- Floor joist repairs
- Retaining wall repairs
- Concrete repairs
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
- Underpinning
Roof structure repairs near York
If struts were removed for a loft room in York, send photos of the space and we will price putting a proper load path back.