Blyth · Northumberland
Roof structure repairs in Blyth
Many older roofs, in Blyth and across Northumberland alike, were built with slim purlins and few ties. A little historic movement is normal, so we check whether the roof is still moving before recommending how far the strengthening needs to go.
Guide price from£275per rafter inc VAT
- Postcodes
- NE23, NE24
- Population
- about 37,000
- Area
- Northumberland
- Pricing region
- North East
Is Northumberland prone to ground movement?
With roughly 37,000 people, Blyth spans postcode districts NE23, NE24 in Northumberland. We also take enquiries from nearby Bedlington (3 miles), Ashington (4 miles) and Cramlington (4 miles).
Northumberland has a mix of ground, with clay in some places and firmer rock in others. 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.
Symptoms that point to roof structure repairs
- Struts, collars or ties cut out or missing in the loft
- Top of an outside wall leaning out at eaves level
- Roof slope looking hollow or wavy between the ridge and the gutter
Guide prices for roof structure repairs in Blyth
These are guide prices for Blyth, using North East rates and including VAT. Your written quote follows photos or a survey, and is fixed once the repair is specified.
| 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 |
Methods for 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
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
From first photo to finished repair
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.
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.
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.
Frequently asked questions
How much will roof structure repairs cost in Blyth?
Guide prices for roof structure repairs in Blyth 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.
Do you cover Blyth?
Yes, Blyth is covered, along with postcode districts NE23, NE24. We also cover nearby Bedlington and Ashington.
Is the ground in Northumberland prone to subsidence?
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.
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.
Other structural repairs in Blyth
- Structural surveys and crack monitoring
- Floor joist repairs
- Structural crack repairs
- Underpinning
- Wall tie replacement
Roof structure repairs near Blyth
Get a free initial assessment of a sagging or spreading roof in Blyth from your photos or a call, and find out whether an engineer is needed.