Esher · Surrey
Roof structure repairs in Esher
Before buying or re-roofing a house in Esher, 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£335per rafter inc VAT
- Postcodes
- KT7, KT10
- Population
- about 52,000
- Area
- Surrey
- Pricing region
- South East
How do local ground conditions affect roof structure repairs in Esher?
Esher, Surrey: about 52,000 residents across postcode districts KT7, KT10. If you are just outside Esher, we also cover East Molesey (2 miles), Sunbury-on-Thames (3 miles) and Cobham (3 miles).
Much of Surrey sits on clay that shrinks in dry summers and swells in wet winters. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. Housing stock in Surrey: Victorian and Edwardian villas, 1930s semis and detached houses in the commuter towns, and post-war estates.
Symptoms that point to roof structure repairs
- Horizontal cracks in the wall just below the eaves or ceiling line
- Ridge line dipping in the middle when seen from the street
- Struts, collars or ties cut out or missing in the loft
Guide prices for roof structure repairs in Esher
These are guide prices for Esher, using South 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 | £335 – £670 | per rafter |
| Purlin and strut strengthening | £1,350 – £3,350 | per roof |
| Tying in roof spread (straps and ties)est. | £895 – £2,800 | per roof |
Methods for roof structure repairs
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
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
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 should I budget for roof structure repairs in Esher?
Guide prices for roof structure repairs in Esher start from about £335 per rafter, including VAT, on South 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 Esher?
Yes, Esher is covered, along with postcode districts KT7, KT10. We also cover nearby East Molesey and Sunbury-on-Thames.
Why do houses in Surrey crack?
North Surrey sits on London Clay, the south on Weald Clay, with chalk along the North Downs and sands in the west. Large gardens with mature trees on clay make seasonal subsidence a familiar problem. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
Do roof structure repairs need building control?
Usually yes, where the structure is strengthened or altered, or the covering becomes significantly heavier. In England and Wales that falls under Part A, in Scotland it generally needs a building warrant, and in Northern Ireland council building control approves it. We deal with building control where the work needs it.
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.
Related work in Esher
- Structural crack repairs
- Chimney stack repairs
- Retaining wall repairs
- Lintel replacement
- Floor joist repairs
Roof structure repairs near Esher
For a guide price on roof structure repairs in Esher, try the quote tool or send photos of the ridge, the loft and the eaves.