What roof restoration means
Restoration sits between a one-off repair and a new roof. Instead of fixing a single leak, we go over the whole roof and put right everything that is wearing out: broken or slipped tiles, loose ridges and verges, tired flashings, blocked valleys and heavy moss. The aim is a roof in good working order, not just a cleaner-looking one.
Think of it as catching up on maintenance that has slipped. A roof that has gone ten or twenty winters without attention collects a lot of small faults, and each one lets in a little more water or wind. Dealing with them together, from one set of access, is far more efficient than calling someone out each time a new drip appears.
It is the right choice when the main parts of the roof are still healthy. The tiles or slates themselves are sound, the battens are firm, and the timbers in the loft are dry. If those have failed, restoration only delays the inevitable, and our re-roofing service is the better route.
Our honest view on cleaning and coatings
Moss: clear it carefully, not with a pressure washer
Somerset's mild, damp climate grows moss well, especially on north-facing slopes and under trees. Heavy moss blocks the laps, interlocks and channels that shed water and fills the gutters. We remove it by hand with scrapers and soft brushes, and can follow up with a treatment to slow regrowth. Chemical treatments usually only hold it back for a few years, not for good.
Roof tile manufacturers do not recommend pressure washing tiles, because of the risk of damaging the tile surface. On an older roof, a powerful jet can also disturb tiles and slates that are already loose. If a quote relies on pressure washing an old roof, ask why.
Roof coatings and paints
Painting or coating tiles is cosmetic. It doesn't fix slipped tiles, cracked flashings or failing mortar, and walking on old tiles to apply a coating can damage them. Some coating companies have been prosecuted for making false claims. We will tell you plainly if we think a coating isn't worth it for your roof, and we don't recommend coating natural slate or clay tiles.
What a restoration usually includes
- A full inspection, inside the loft and on the roof, with photos of every defect.
- Careful moss removal from tiles, valleys and gutters.
- Replacing cracked, slipped or missing tiles and slates with matching or reclaimed ones.
- Refixing loose slates with tingles or hooks.
- Rebedding and mechanically fixing loose ridge and hip tiles. Our ridge and hip repairs page explains how.
- Repairing or renewing verge mortar, or fitting a dry verge system.
- Re-dressing, repointing or renewing lead flashings and valleys.
- Clearing gutters and downpipes so the roof drains properly.
Where the fascias, soffits or guttering are also past their best, it often makes sense to deal with them while access is in place; see our fascia and soffit replacement page.
Restoring older and historic roofs
Many Somerset roofs are worth keeping simply because of what they are made of. Old clay double Romans and pantiles, natural slate and stone tiles have a weathered colour that new materials take years to match. Restoration lets you keep that character and spend money only where it is needed. On listed buildings and in conservation areas, like-for-like repair is usually the approach councils prefer, but check with your council's planning or conservation team before changing any materials.
Bats and nesting birds
Old roofs with gaps under the tiles and ridges can be home to bats, which are protected by law. If we see signs of bats, work that could disturb them has to wait for advice, and a survey may be needed. Nesting birds also have legal protection, so in spring we look along the eaves, ridges and gutters before starting and work around any active nests.
How a restoration is planned and priced
We start with an inspection and send you photos and a written quote that lists each item separately, so you can see where the money goes and choose what to do now and what can wait. Most restorations need scaffolding or a tower for safe access, which we include in the quote. There's no call-out fee for the inspection.
Phone 07933 861 087 to talk it over, send details to hello@somersetroofing.co.uk, or book a roof condition survey.
Roof Restoration: common questions
Is roof restoration worth it, or should I replace the roof?
It's worth it when the tiles or slates, battens and roof timbers are still sound, and the problems are wear at the edges, ridges, flashings and gutters. If the felt has failed throughout, battens are rotten or tiles are flaking across the roof, restoration only buys a little time. We inspect inside and out and give you an honest recommendation with photos.
Will pressure washing clean my roof?
It will remove moss, but roof tile manufacturers don't recommend it, because high-pressure water can damage the surface of the tiles. On an older roof it can also disturb tiles and slates that are already loose. We remove moss by hand with scrapers and brushes instead, then clear the gutters, and can apply a treatment to slow regrowth.
Should I have my roof tiles coated or painted?
In most cases we don't recommend it. A coating is mainly cosmetic and doesn't fix slipped tiles, cracked flashings or failing mortar, which are the real causes of leaks. Applying it means walking on old tiles, which can crack them. If your roof is sound, careful cleaning and repairs usually give better value. If it isn't, a coating won't save it.
How often does moss need clearing from a roof?
It depends on the roof's direction, nearby trees and the tile type. North-facing slopes and roofs under trees grow moss fastest in Somerset's damp climate. Treatments that slow regrowth usually last a few years before moss returns. Clearing gutters and valleys every year or two, and the roof itself when moss starts blocking the laps, is a sensible routine.
Can a restoration be done on a listed building?
Often, yes, because restoration is mostly like-for-like repair using matching materials. But most changes to a listed building require listed building consent, and the line between repair and alteration can be fine. Before work starts, check with your council's conservation officer, especially if any materials, ridge details or flashings would change from what is there now.
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