Bath · Somerset
Roof structure repairs in Bath
Before buying or re-roofing a house in Bath, 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£310per rafter inc VAT
- Postcodes
- BA1, BA2
- Population
- about 100,000
- Area
- Somerset
- Pricing region
- South West
How do local ground conditions affect roof structure repairs in Bath?
Postcode districts BA1, BA2 cover Bath, a Somerset town of about 100,000 people. We also take enquiries from nearby Keynsham (6 miles), Trowbridge (8 miles) and Kingswood (8 miles).
Clay soils are found in parts of Somerset. Parts of Somerset lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Housing stock in Somerset: Bath stone Georgian terraces, Victorian houses in Taunton and Weston-super-Mare, and post-war estates.
Guide prices for roof structure repairs in Bath
Prices in Bath are worked out on South West rates. They include VAT and are a starting point: access, the extent of the damage and whether an engineer or building control is involved all move the figure.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Repairing or doubling a rafter | £310 – £620 | per rafter |
| Purlin and strut strengthening | £1,250 – £3,100 | per roof |
| Tying in roof spread (straps and ties)est. | £825 – £2,600 | per roof |
Methods for roof structure repairs
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
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
From first photo to finished repair
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.
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.
Symptoms that point to roof structure repairs
- Horizontal cracks in the wall just below the eaves or ceiling line
- Daylight through the tiles, or timber that is damp, stained or crumbling
- Struts, collars or ties cut out or missing in the loft
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 should I budget for roof structure repairs in Bath?
Guide prices for roof structure repairs in Bath start from about £310 per rafter, including VAT, on South West 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 Bath?
We do. Bath and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Keynsham and Trowbridge. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Why do houses in Somerset crack?
Somerset mixes Lias clays, Mercia Mudstone, limestone hills and the peat and alluvium of the Levels around Bridgwater, which can settle. The former Somerset coalfield around Radstock and Midsomer Norton left recorded workings. 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.
Do I need a structural engineer for roof repairs?
For like-for-like repairs to a few rafters, often not. Where purlins, struts or ties are being redesigned, the covering is getting heavier or the walls are being pushed out, you usually do. Where the repair needs an engineer’s design or sign-off, an independent chartered structural engineer is appointed, and we can arrange this.
Related work in Bath
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
- Structural crack repairs
- Subsidence repairs
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
- Underpinning
Roof structure repairs near Bath
For a guide price on roof structure repairs in Bath, try the quote tool or send photos of the ridge, the loft and the eaves.