foster clark roofing re-roof

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HOW A HOUSE IS RE-ROOFED

Prior to the commencement of any roofing work a scaffold will be required to all the elevations of the building. This is a specialized operation and for this reason we use bona fide scaffolding sub contractors to carry out this work for us. Please Note: The scaffolding provides us with access to property. Please be aware that it will also provide access for burglars and the like. Please keep your property secure including upper floor windows particularly if the property is left vacant.

With the roof structure exposed a roof window can be fitted. This involves cutting rafters and installing noggins and doubling of adjacent rafters. It would be wise to check with your planning authority to ask if permission is required to fit a window.

With the roof stripped a ventilation system can be fixed. The roof battens and chosen underlay can now be fixed. Battens are fixed to the required gauge for the roof covering fixed with galvanized nails. Once covered the roof should be weather tight and provide protection until the new roof covering is complete.

With the felt and battens fixed the roof tiles/ slates can be loaded onto the roof. This can be done by hand or by a hoist. It is advisable that you remain clear of the scaffolding at all times when the work is in progress but particularly at this time. With the roof tiles/ slates loaded the roof covering is laid. The frequency and pattern of the fixings for the roof covering should be determined and adhered to. This is given by the manufacturers of the roof covering.

The roof tiles/ slates are removed followed by the battens and any underlay that may be present. The debris is removed from site usually by a waste container. It is important to make sure that no nails are left in the rafters as any remaining nails will penetrate the new roofing underlay.

When installing the felt and battens an additional layer of underlay should be laid in the valley. The chosen valley lining can now be fixed. This can be a preformed GRP valley lining or a lead lining. Purpose made valley tiles can also be used for plain tiles.

Verges are formed by bedding the roof covering in mortar. The roof covering overhangs the edge of the brickwork by 38-50mm. To support the mortar and to close off the cavity an undercloak is used. This is most commonly a fibre cement board laid in strips, but may be of slate or plain tiles on older properties. Once bedded the mortar is struck off and pointed for a neat finish.

As the roof covering continues to be laid, tiles or slates are cut closely to and around abutments such as chimney stacks, roof windows and party walls. With plain tiles and slates, tile and half and slate and half are used and soakers fixed to provide a weathering.

Unfortunately this is where things start getting noisy! If using a lead lining in the valley, undercloak strips are laid so that the tiles are not directly bedded onto to the lead. Tiles or slates are cut by an angle grinder. The tiles or slates are marked out to form a straight line by each side of the valley. Roof tiles are then bedded and pointed on to the valley, roof slates are laid across the lining without the need for bedding.

Lead flashings are fixed to all abutments. There are fabricated from code 4 or 5 lead sheet. The code number refers to the thickness of the sheet, the higher code number, the thicker the lead will be. Different roof coverings and roof structures will require a different method of fixing lead flashings whether cover or step flashing should be used, lead soakers or secret gutters required. This part of the roof is often the most technical.

A hip iron is fixed to the base of the hip. The hip tiles can now be bedded and pointed. If using profiled roof tiles dentile slips should be used. These reduce the amount of mortar required and therefore the risk of shrinkage which leads to the mortar cracking and weakening.

Again, the noise level will increase. Tiles or slates are marked out to the line of the hip and cut using an angle grinder. When using slates and plain tiles slate and half and tile and half should be used to avoid the use of small pieces of material. All tiles and slates should be securely fixed.

Upon completion the roof should be inspected and any remedial work carried out such as broken tiles replaced. Any excess materials and waste containers can be cleared. Finally the scaffolding can be dismantled and cleared away.

The last two course of the roof covering should be securely fixed. The ridge tiles can now be bedded and pointed. If using profiled roof tiles dentile slips should be used. These reduce the amount of mortar required and therefore the risk of shrinkage which leads to the mortar cracking and weakening.