Leadwork around chimneys and valleys
Lead flashing seals the joins where a roof meets a chimney, wall, or valley — a very common source of leaks when it perishes or is poorly installed, even if the roof tiles themselves are fine. If a leak keeps recurring in the same spot near a chimney, it's often the leadwork rather than the tiles that needs attention.
Three steps to hiring the right roofer
First, check NFRC membership or equivalent trade body registration. Second, ask for photos of similar completed jobs, ideally local ones. Third, clarify what happens if underlying roof timbers turn out to need work once the old covering is removed — a very common mid-job discovery.
Chimney repairs and rebuilds
A leaning or spalling (crumbling brick) chimney is a structural safety issue, not just cosmetic — some roofers handle chimney repointing and rebuilding themselves, others work alongside a bricklayer. If the chimney is still in use for a flue, check whether it needs to stay swept and functional during the work.
Signs your roof needs attention
Slipped, cracked or missing tiles, sagging in the roofline, daylight visible through the roof from the loft, and damp patches on ceilings are all signs worth having checked. A few slipped tiles is usually a repair; sagging or widespread wear across the whole roof usually points toward a full re-roof being better value than repeated repairs.
Dormer windows and roofline alterations
A dormer window (as opposed to a flush skylight) changes the roofline itself and almost always needs both planning consideration and Building Regulations sign-off, unlike a straightforward re-roof. This is more involved than most roofing work and often overlaps with loft conversion specialists.
Thatched roofs — a specialist trade
Thatched roofing is its own specialism, not something a general roofer typically covers — thatch has different fire safety, insurance and maintenance considerations (including regular ridge and ongoing coating work) compared to tiled or slated roofs.
Roofing felt vs breathable membrane
Older roofs often used bituminous felt underneath the tiles, which can perish and needs replacing during a re-roof; modern breathable membrane lasts longer and manages moisture better. If you're having a full re-roof, this underlay is worth confirming as part of the spec, not just the visible tiles.
Common roofing jobs
Roofers handle full re-roofs, repairs to individual slipped or cracked tiles, flat roof replacement, guttering, fascias and soffits, and leadwork around chimneys and roof valleys. Emergency work — storm damage, a leak during heavy rain — is usually handled separately from planned re-roofing.