What to Check Before Re-Roofing a 1960s to 1990s House in Bridgend

Much of Bridgend's housing from the 1960s to the 1990s, around places like Brackla, Coychurch and Laleston, has a roof that was built quickly to a standard pattern. That helps, because the faults repeat. Before any tiles come off, there are several things worth checking, and a few questions worth putting to whoever quotes you.

Start with the timber underneath

On a re-roof the tiles are the visible part, but the structure beneath decides how long the new covering behaves itself. We look at the rafters, the battens and the wall plate for softness, staining and old woodworm. Roofs of this period often used thin softwood battens that have dried, split or sagged over the decades.

Where timber is sound, we reuse it only if it is the right size for the new covering. Where it is not, we replace it as part of the job, so you are not paying for a new roof that sits on tired wood.

Felt, or the lack of it

Houses from the earlier part of this window were often tiled with little or no proper underlay, and where felt was fitted it may be bitumen type that has cracked and perished. A modern breathable membrane under new tiles is one of the biggest improvements a re-roof can bring, especially in a wet, windy part of South Wales.

In the loft, we look for daylight at the ridge, damp patches on the underside of the boards and rusted nail heads, which tell us how well the old felt has been coping. If the felt is already failing in the loft, that alone is a good reason to strip rather than patch the slope.

Ventilation and the loft

Many estate houses have been insulated since they were built, often by stuffing material tight into the eaves. That can leave the roof space stale and damp. A re-roof is the time to put in proper eaves and ridge ventilation, and we will show you what is going in rather than just describing it.

• Check that insulation has not been pushed hard against the eaves, blocking airflow.
• Look for condensation, black spotting or damp smells on the rafters.
• Note any bathroom or kitchen extractor ducts that finish in the loft rather than outside.
• Tell us about any loft conversion or boarding, as it changes the detailing.

Edges, chimneys and the details that leak

Tiles on the main slopes rarely cause the trouble. Leaks start at the abutments, the chimney flashings, the valleys and the verges, where mortar has cracked and old lead or felt strips have lifted. On houses of this age we expect to renew these at the same time as the tiles, and we use proper lead where the detail calls for it.

Fascias, soffits and guttering are usually the same age as the roof. If they are being replaced, it makes sense to do it while the access is already in place. Fitting the roof and the roofline together also means one scaffold, one set of dust and noise, and neat joins where the two meet.

Questions to put to any roofer

Ask what will happen to the battens and felt, whether the quote covers flashings and ventilation, and what is done if rotten timber turns up once the tiles are off. Ask who is on site and how the loft and garden will be protected.

A written, itemised quote that names the covering, the underlay and the lead work lets you compare like with like. Some work may need planning or Building Regulations checks, and we advise before work starts. We would rather survey your roof properly than guess from the road.

Why Choose T & T Roofing South Wales

We're new roof installation specialists covering South Wales, using premium tile and slate roofing systems and honest advice — not a generic call-out. Every job starts with a free quotation and guaranteed workmanship throughout.