Roofing
Roof repair: finding the leak and fixing that part properly
One local tradesperson gets your request – no ring-round.
✓ Confirm
Almost done: please confirm your email address.
We have sent an email to {email}. We only release your request to businesses once you have clicked the link in it.
Most roof leaks start at a detail: a slipped slate, a failed flashing at the chimney, a blocked valley or a ridge tile that has lost its mortar. A good repair finds that point and deals with it without selling you a new roof you do not need. Describe what you have seen and where; the request goes to roofers locally, and exactly one of them can take it.
- Exactly one business. Your request is handed out once. After that, no other business sees it.
- You know who will be in touch. Before the business receives your contact details, we send you its name, address and phone number.
- Withdraw at any time. You can withdraw your consent at any time – using the link in our email.
Where the water gets in
Water rarely appears directly below the hole. It runs along underlay, battens and rafters and shows up as a stain some distance away. That is why the roofer will want to look in the loft as well as at the roof. Photographs of the stain, the loft above it and the outside of the roof taken from the ground or a neighbour's window help the roofer come prepared.
Frequent culprits are lead flashings where the roof meets a chimney or wall, valleys where two slopes meet, mortar on ridges and verges, cracked or slipped tiles, and nails that have corroded on slate roofs. Flat roofs over extensions and dormers leak at joints, upstands and outlets. Not every damp patch is a leak: condensation in a poorly ventilated loft can drip onto the ceiling and look much the same, and a roofer should say so if that is what is happening.
Typical repairs and what they involve
Replacing a few slipped or broken tiles or slates, re-bedding or mechanically fixing a ridge, renewing a section of flashing, clearing and relining a valley, or patching a flat roof membrane are the usual jobs. Each depends on matching materials: a reclaimed slate of the right size and thickness, or a tile from the same profile range, so that the repair sits flat and does not let water in at the edges.
Repairs that stay within less than half of the roof and less than a quarter of the building envelope do not normally need a Building Control application in England. If the roofer finds the problem is general, for example perished underlay across the whole slope, a patch will not last, and an honest roofer will tell you that and price both options.
Make a requestAccess decides a lot of the cost
On most repairs the labour on the roof is the smaller part of the bill; getting there safely is the rest. HSE guidance for householders says scaffolding is usually required when working on a roof, with a handrail, mid rail and toe boards so that nobody falls and nothing drops on people below. Ladders are for short, simple tasks where they are in good condition and cannot move. Where a scaffold is impractical, roofers may use a tower or a powered access platform instead.
Old roof lights, cement sheet roofs on garages and lean-tos, and some plastic sheeting are fragile and can give way under a person's weight. These are jobs for a roofer with the right equipment, not for a ladder and a spare afternoon. From the ground, you can usefully note missing tiles, blocked gutters and damp areas to report.
Emergencies, insurance and doorstep offers
After a storm, a temporary repair such as sheeting or fixing loose tiles stops further damage while materials are found. Keep photographs and any damaged tiles if you intend to claim on your home insurance, and ask the roofer for a written report describing the cause. Insurers usually distinguish between storm damage and gradual wear, so the report matters.
Be wary of anyone who knocks on the door to say they have spotted loose tiles and can fix them today for cash. Ask for a written quote with a business address and do not pay large sums up front. Note too that a contract for a visit you asked for to carry out urgent repairs is excluded from the usual right to cancel contracts made at home, so agree the scope and price before the work starts.
What a repair quote should state
- the cause found and where, ideally with photographs
- exactly which repair is proposed and the materials to be used
- the access method: scaffold, tower, roof ladder or platform
- whether temporary work is needed before a permanent repair
- a price for extras if more damage is found once work starts
- the guarantee on the repair and what it excludes
Sending a repair request
Tell us what is wrong, how urgent it is and what you have seen inside and out. The request is shown, without your details, to roofers who cover your area, and only one roofer can buy it. It pays Offrano, and the service is free for you. Before the roofer can see who you are, we send you its name, address and phone number by email.
We cannot promise that a roofer will take every repair; small jobs in particular are sometimes left, and unsold requests are withdrawn after 21 days. If your roof is letting water in now, protect the room below and do not wait for us. Offrano does not assess roofers' work, so ask for evidence of similar repairs and check any scheme membership.
Services
Related services
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if it is a leak or condensation?
Leaks usually get worse in wind-driven rain and appear in the same place after each storm. Condensation shows up in cold weather, often as droplets on nails and underlay across the loft, and is linked to blocked eaves ventilation or warm moist air from the house. A roofer can usually tell from the loft.
Can a roofer repair just one slate?
Yes. A single slate is usually replaced by sliding a matching slate into place and securing it with a metal clip or strap, because the nails of the original cannot be reached. The cost is mostly the access, so it is worth asking the roofer to check the rest of the slope while there.
Will my home insurance cover a roof repair?
It depends on the cause and the policy. Storm damage is commonly covered; wear and tear, perished underlay or long-standing leaks usually are not. Photographs, the damaged material and a written report from the roofer make a claim easier to assess.
Do small roof repairs need Building Regulations approval?
Not normally in England, as long as the repair affects less than half of the roof and less than a quarter of the building envelope and does not change the structure, weight or fire performance of the covering. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own systems.
Will several roofers call me about a small repair?
No. Only one roofer can buy the request, and we tell you who it is by email first. If nobody takes it, it is withdrawn after 21 days and you are free to contact roofers directly.
Ready to make your request?
Describe your project – your request goes to exactly one business.
Make a request