Solihull · West Midlands
Roof structure repairs in Solihull
Before buying or re-roofing a house in Solihull, 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£300per rafter inc VAT
- Postcodes
- B90, B91, B92
- Population
- about 130,000
- Area
- West Midlands
- Pricing region
- West Midlands
Why does the ground in West Midlands matter for roof structure repairs?
Postcode districts B90, B91, B92 cover Solihull, a West Midlands town of about 130,000 people. Neighbouring towns we cover: Birmingham (7 miles), Kenilworth (9 miles) and Smethwick (10 miles).
Clay soils are found in parts of West Midlands. Parts of West Midlands lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Typical buildings in West Midlands: Victorian terraces, inter-war semis, Black Country industrial housing and large post-war estates.
Roof structure repairs prices in Solihull
These are guide prices for Solihull, using West Midlands 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 | £300 – £600 | per rafter |
| Purlin and strut strengthening | £1,200 – £3,000 | per roof |
| Tying in roof spread (straps and ties)est. | £800 – £2,500 | per roof |
How we usually approach 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
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
What happens during roof structure repairs, step by step?
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.
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.
What to look for before calling about roof structure repairs
- Roof slope looking hollow or wavy between the ridge and the gutter
- Horizontal cracks in the wall just below the eaves or ceiling line
- Daylight through the tiles, or timber that is damp, stained or crumbling
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.
Questions about roof structure repairs in Solihull
How much should I budget for roof structure repairs in Solihull?
Guide prices for roof structure repairs in Solihull start from about £300 per rafter, including VAT, on West Midlands 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 Solihull?
Yes, Solihull is covered, along with postcode districts B90, B91, B92. We also cover nearby Birmingham and Kenilworth.
Why do houses in West Midlands crack?
The West Midlands is mostly Mercia Mudstone and glacial till, with the South Staffordshire coalfield under much of the Black Country, where shallow coal and limestone workings are recorded around Dudley, Tipton and Walsall. 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.
Why are there cracks just below the eaves?
A horizontal crack just below the eaves, along the front or back wall, is a common sign of roof spread. The rafters push the top of the wall outward and the masonry cracks where it hinges. Corroded wall ties can cause similar cracks, so the cause needs checking.
Related work in Solihull
- Brick arch repairs
- Subsidence repairs
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
- Mining subsidence repairs
Roof structure repairs near Solihull
Seen the ridge dip at your Solihull home? Photograph it from across the road, add a few loft shots, and we will tell you what it likely needs.