Newcastle upon Tyne · Tyne and Wear
Roof structure repairs in Newcastle upon Tyne
If the top of a wall at your Newcastle upon Tyne 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£275per rafter inc VAT
- Postcodes
- NE1, NE2, NE99
- Population
- about 300,000
- Area
- Tyne and Wear
- Pricing region
- North East
How do local ground conditions affect roof structure repairs in Newcastle upon Tyne?
We cover Newcastle upon Tyne and its postcode districts NE1, NE2, NE99, part of Tyne and Wear, with a population of roughly 300,000. If you are just outside Newcastle upon Tyne, we also cover Whickham (3 miles), Wallsend (3 miles) and Blaydon-on-Tyne (4 miles).
Parts of Tyne and Wear have clay that can shrink near trees in dry spells. Historic coal workings are recorded beneath parts of Tyne and Wear, and a coal mining search is worth checking where movement is unexplained. Typical buildings in Tyne and Wear: Tyneside flats and terraces, Victorian villas, inter-war council estates and post-war semis.
How much will roof structure repairs cost in Newcastle upon Tyne?
Prices in Newcastle upon Tyne are worked out on North East 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 | £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 |
Which repair method suits a home in Newcastle upon Tyne?
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 happens when we carry out roof structure repairs in Newcastle upon Tyne?
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.
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.
Signs you may need roof structure repairs
- Top of an outside wall leaning out at eaves level
- Daylight through the tiles, or timber that is damp, stained or crumbling
- 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.
Roof structure repairs in Newcastle upon Tyne: questions and answers
How much should I budget for roof structure repairs in Newcastle upon Tyne?
Guide prices for roof structure repairs in Newcastle upon Tyne 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 Newcastle upon Tyne?
Yes, Newcastle upon Tyne is covered, along with postcode districts NE1, NE2, NE99. We also cover nearby Whickham and Wallsend.
Why do houses in Tyne and Wear crack?
Tyne and Wear lies on the Durham and Northumberland coalfield, with old shallow workings recorded beneath parts of Newcastle, Gateshead and Sunderland, mostly under a cover of glacial clay. 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.
Related work in Newcastle upon Tyne
- Crack stitching
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
- Bowing wall repairs
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
- Underpinning
Roof structure repairs near Newcastle upon Tyne
Every rafter, purlin and tie on the job in Newcastle upon Tyne is listed in the written quote, which becomes a fixed price in writing once the repair is specified.