A full roof replacement strips back your existing covering down to the structure and installs new materials suited to your property. We work on pitched roofs across Dereham and the surrounding villages.
Most roofs give clear warning signs before they fail completely. Persistent leaks that return after repeated repairs, large areas of slipped or cracked tiles, sagging rooflines, or felt and timbers that are visibly rotting all point to the same conclusion: patching is no longer cost-effective. A full roof replacement removes the old covering, inspects and addresses the underlying structure, and installs new materials that will perform reliably for decades.
Properties in and around Dereham include a wide mix of housing stock, from Victorian and Edwardian terraces with original clay plain tiles to post-war semi-detached houses laid with concrete interlocking tiles. Each type has its own lifespan and failure patterns, and the right replacement choice depends on the age of the building, the pitch of the roof and what materials are available locally to match the existing character.
The first step is stripping the roof back to the bare timbers. Every tile, slate or sheet is removed, and the old felt underlay comes off with it. This is the point at which the true condition of the roof deck becomes clear. Rotten or damaged rafters, purlins and ridge timbers need to be cut out and replaced before anything new goes on top. Skipping this stage is a false economy and a common reason why replacements done cheaply fail prematurely.
Once the structure is sound, new breathable roofing felt or membrane is laid from eaves to ridge before any tile or slate goes on. Breathable underlays allow moisture vapour from the living space to escape without letting wind-driven rain in. Battens are then fixed at the correct gauge for the chosen tile or slate size, and the covering is laid from the bottom up.
The details are where quality shows. These include:
The choice of tile or slate makes a significant difference to how the finished roof looks and performs. Reclaimed clay plain tiles work well on period properties. Modern concrete interlocking tiles are a practical choice for post-war houses where cost and longevity are the priority. Each material has a different weight, and the roof structure needs to be able to carry it.
Working at height on a stripped roof is inherently dangerous. Scaffolding erected and inspected correctly is not optional; it is the only safe way to carry out a full replacement. Beyond the physical risk, the technical demands of getting a roof right are considerable. Flashings installed at the wrong angle allow water to track back under the upstand. Tiles laid at the wrong gauge leave insufficient lap between courses and let wind-driven rain underneath. Ridge mortar mixed incorrectly cracks and lets water into the ridge board.
A roof that fails within a few years of replacement is far more expensive than one done correctly first time. The cost includes not just the repair itself but the water damage to ceilings, insulation, timbers and plasterwork that a leak causes over weeks or months before it is noticed.
Before any work starts, the scope of the job needs to be properly assessed. That means getting on the roof, not just looking up from the ground. The condition of the timbers, the number of courses to be stripped, the flashing details and the chosen materials all affect the final cost and the programme of work.
A typical single-storey extension or garage roof can be stripped and re-covered in one to two days. A full two-storey house in Dereham or the nearby villages of Mattishall, Yaxham or Garvestone will normally take between three and five days depending on complexity, the number of dormers or chimney stacks, and the weather. Norfolk weather in autumn and winter can interrupt outdoor work, so a realistic programme should allow for that.
During the job, the property should be accessible for the crew each day, and any vehicles should be clear of the working area below the scaffold. At the end of each working day, the roof should be watertight; no stripped section should be left exposed overnight. On completion, all waste materials including old tiles, felt and timber offcuts should be taken off site and disposed of responsibly.
A full roof replacement on a standard three-bedroom semi-detached house in Dereham typically costs between £5,500 and £10,000, depending on the size of the roof, the materials chosen and the condition of the underlying structure. Natural slate and reclaimed clay tiles sit at the higher end of that range; concrete interlocking tiles are more affordable. Roofs with multiple chimney stacks, hips or dormers cost more because of the additional flashing and cutting work involved.
These figures assume sound or mostly sound timber structure. If significant rafter or purlin replacement is needed, that adds to the total. Any reputable roofer should be able to give you an itemised breakdown of materials and labour before work begins, so you know exactly what you are paying for.
Before accepting a quote for a roof replacement, ask the contractor to confirm in writing what is included: the underlay specification, the tile or slate type and manufacturer, how flashings will be finished, and what happens if rotten timbers are found once the roof is stripped. Vague quotes that bundle everything into one figure make it easy to cut corners on materials or skip structural repairs.
If you have a period property in Dereham or one of the surrounding villages, check whether the materials proposed are appropriate for the age and style of the building. Replacing original clay plain tiles with modern concrete tiles can affect the character of the property and, in some cases, may need to be discussed with the local planning authority if the building is listed or in a conservation area.
To arrange a roof survey and get a clear, itemised quote for your replacement, call Dereham Roofers and we will get up on the roof and give you an honest assessment of what is needed.
No obligation · We usually respond within 2 hours
Storm damage, active leak, damaged ridge - we aim to be on-site within 24 hours.
A new roof protects your home for decades, but only if the materials and the build are right. We install new roofs on ho
Slipped tiles, leaking flashings, failed ridge mortar - roof repairs in Dereham carried out with the cause addressed, so
Flat roofs need the right system and the right installation to stay watertight for years. We work with felt and EPDM rub
Worn fascias, crumbling soffits and blocked or leaking gutters cause damp, rot and structural damage if left. We replace
