Roof repairs in the Lea Valley, from Ware to Enfield

What counts as a roof repair?

A repair puts right a part of the roof that has failed, without replacing the whole covering. On the pitched roofs common across the Lea Valley, typical repairs include:

• refixing or replacing slipped, cracked or missing tiles and slates
• rebedding or repointing ridge and hip tiles whose mortar has crumbled
• renewing lead or mortar flashings where the roof meets a wall, chimney or dormer
• replacing a split section of underlay or a rotten batten
• mending a valley where two slopes meet
• making good after a storm has lifted or scattered part of the roof

What should I do while water is coming in?

Your own safety comes first, so leave the roof itself to a roofer. Do not climb onto it or lean a ladder against the house in wind or rain. Indoors, these steps limit the damage:

• put buckets or bowls under drips and lay towels to protect floors
• move furniture, electrical items and anything precious out of the way
• keep away from any ceiling that is bulging, stained and soft, or sagging
• if water is reaching light fittings, sockets or wiring, turn the electricity off at the consumer unit, but only if you can reach it without touching anything wet
• if you can get into the loft safely, a bucket under the leak can stop water reaching the ceiling below
• take photos of the damage and the date for your home insurer

Then send your enquiry. We pass it on to a roofer who covers your postcode, but we cannot say how soon they will be able to come out.

How does a roofer find the cause?

Water travels. It can enter at a flashing, run along a rafter and appear on a ceiling a metre or more away, so the stain is not always under the fault. A roofer will normally look at the roof from outside and from the loft, checking tiles, ridges, flashings, valleys and the underlay. Some roofers use a drone or a camera on a pole to look without climbing. Ask how they plan to inspect and what they will show you afterwards.

Is it always the roof?

Not every damp patch upstairs is a roof leak. Blocked or overflowing gutters, a failed seal round a roof window, condensation in a cold loft, or a plumbing leak from a loft tank can all look similar. Mention anything you have noticed, such as whether it only happens in heavy rain or when the wind is from one direction.

When does a repair become a replacement?

If a roof has many slipped tiles, crumbling ridges and failing battens all at once, patching it may only buy time. A roofer may suggest stripping and re-covering one slope or the whole roof instead. That is a bigger job with Building Regulations to think about, which our page on new roofs and re-roofing explains.

Do I need permission for a repair?

Repairs to a house roof, using matching materials, do not normally need planning permission. If your home is listed, the repair may need listed building consent, even when it looks like a small job. In a conservation area, or where the council has made an Article 4 direction, check before using a different tile or slate. The Planning Portal's roof guidance covers the general position.

What about bats and birds?

Bats often roost under tiles, in roof voids and behind lead flashings. They and their roosts are protected by law, so a roofer who finds signs of bats should stop and seek advice. If work cannot avoid disturbing a roost, a licence from Natural England may be needed, as gov.uk's guidance on bats explains. Nesting birds are also protected while their nests are in use.

Who is responsible for safety on the roof?

The roofer. Working at height is their responsibility, including whether a ladder, a tower or scaffolding is needed for the job. If scaffolding has to stand on a pavement, a licence is needed, and the scaffolder normally arranges it.

What helps a roofer understand a repair?

• your postcode
• what you have noticed and where, inside and out
• the type of roof covering, if you know it, for example clay tiles, concrete tiles or slate
• whether the house is a bungalow, two storeys or taller
• any listing or conservation area status you know of
• any photos taken from the ground or from a window