Bedlington · Northumberland
Roof structure repairs in Bedlington
Before buying or re-roofing a house in Bedlington, 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£275per rafter inc VAT
- Postcodes
- NE22, NE24, NE62
- Population
- about 18,000
- Area
- Northumberland
- Pricing region
- North East
What should you know about the ground under Bedlington?
Postcode districts NE22, NE24, NE62 cover Bedlington, a Northumberland town of about 18,000 people. Neighbouring towns we cover: Cramlington (3 miles), Blyth (3 miles) and Ashington (3 miles).
Parts of Northumberland have clay that can shrink near trees in dry spells. Parts of Northumberland lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Housing stock in Northumberland: Colliery terraces, stone farmhouses and villages, and post-war estates.
Roof structure repairs prices in Bedlington
Guide prices below are for homes in Bedlington, on North East rates and including VAT. A survey or good photos let us turn them into a fixed written price.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Repairing or doubling a rafter | £275 – £550 | per rafter |
| Purlin and strut strengthening | £1,100 – £2,750 | per roof |
| Tying in roof spread (straps and ties)est. | £735 – £2,300 | per roof |
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
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 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
- Horizontal cracks in the wall just below the eaves or ceiling line
- Struts, collars or ties cut out or missing in the loft
- Roof slope looking hollow or wavy between the ridge and the gutter
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 Bedlington
How much should I budget for roof structure repairs in Bedlington?
Guide prices for roof structure repairs in Bedlington start from about £275 per rafter, including VAT, on North 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 Bedlington?
We do. Bedlington and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Cramlington and Blyth. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Why do houses in Northumberland crack?
South-east Northumberland around Blyth, Ashington and Cramlington lies on the Northumberland coalfield, worked extensively in the past, under a cover of glacial clay. The north and west are hard rock and moorland. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
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.
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.
Related work in Bedlington
- Extension pulling away repairs
- Structural surveys and crack monitoring
- Underpinning
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
- Retaining wall repairs
Roof structure repairs near Bedlington
Seen the ridge dip at your Bedlington home? Photograph it from across the road, add a few loft shots, and we will tell you what it likely needs.