Swansea · West Glamorgan
Roof structure repairs in Swansea
If the top of a wall at your Swansea 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
- SA1, SA2, SA5
- Population
- about 300,000
- Area
- West Glamorgan
- Pricing region
- Wales
Why does the ground in West Glamorgan matter for roof structure repairs?
Swansea, West Glamorgan: about 300,000 residents across postcode districts SA1, SA2, SA5. Nearby, we also cover Clydach (5 miles), Gorseinon (5 miles) and Neath (7 miles).
Parts of West Glamorgan have clay that can shrink near trees in dry spells. Historic coal workings are recorded beneath parts of West Glamorgan, and a coal mining search is worth checking where movement is unexplained. Across West Glamorgan, most homes are hillside terraces, Victorian villas in Swansea and post-war estates.
What to expect when we carry out roof structure repairs
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.
Is it time for roof structure repairs? Common signs
- Daylight through the tiles, or timber that is damp, stained or crumbling
- Struts, collars or ties cut out or missing in the loft
- Horizontal cracks in the wall just below the eaves or ceiling line
What should you budget for roof structure repairs in Swansea?
For Swansea we use Wales rates. Treat the table as a budget guide, inc VAT; the price you pay is the one on your written quote.
| 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 |
Repair options we may recommend
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
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
Rules for roof structure repairs in Wales
In Wales, the Welsh version of the Building Regulations applies. Underpinning and other work that alters or strengthens the structure needs building control approval and inspection; like-for-like repairs often do not. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies to work on party walls and excavation close to a neighbour’s foundations.
Your roof structure repairs questions
How much should I budget for roof structure repairs in Swansea?
Guide prices for roof structure repairs in Swansea start from about £275 per rafter, including VAT, on Wales 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 Swansea?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Swansea, including SA1, SA2, SA5, and from nearby places such as Clydach and Gorseinon. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
Why do houses in West Glamorgan crack?
Swansea and Neath Port Talbot lie on the South Wales coalfield, with historic workings, tips and steep valley sides, and softer estuarine ground around the docks. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
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.
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 Swansea
- Extension pulling away repairs
- Structural crack repairs
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
- Concrete repairs
- Wall tie replacement
Roof structure repairs near Swansea
Seen the ridge dip at your Swansea home? Photograph it from across the road, add a few loft shots, and we will tell you what it likely needs.