What to Know About Re-Roofing a 1980s or 90s House in St Mellons

Much of St Mellons grew as estates through the 1980s and 90s, and the roofs on those streets were built to a fairly standard pattern: concrete interlocking tiles, thin felt underneath and a minimum of ventilation. Forty years on, the pattern shows its age. This guide explains what is typically found when we strip one of these roofs and what a sensible replacement involves.

What the original roof usually looks like

Houses of this period were generally roofed with large concrete interlocking tiles laid over bitumen felt on softwood battens. Everything was sized to the budget of a big estate build, so timbers are often lighter than older houses have, and the felt was never meant to last as long as the house itself. Once a roof has been up this long, the felt is usually brittle at the laps and the battens can be tired where nails have worked loose.

What we find when the tiles come off

The tiles themselves are often the least of the worry. Underneath, we regularly see torn or perished felt, nail-sick battens, and damp staining on rafter ends near the eaves where water has tracked in over many winters. Mortar bedding on ridges and verges is commonly cracked or missing. Until the roof is opened we cannot be certain how much timber needs replacing, so a good quote should say how that will be dealt with if it turns up.

• Felt that has split at overlaps or sagged between rafters
• Battens with rot or splitting around old nail holes
• Rafter ends and wall plates damp from eaves leaks
• Dry-fix ridge and verge parts that were never fitted originally

Tiles again, or a different covering?

Many owners ask whether the existing tiles can go back on. Sometimes a roof in good condition can be stripped and relaid on new membrane and battens, but concrete tiles that have gone soft on the surface or lost their colour coat are usually better replaced. A new interlocking tile of a similar profile keeps the look of the street and suits the existing roof structure.

Ventilation, eaves and the loft side

Estate lofts from this era were often built with little airflow, and later insulation laid up to the eaves can block what there was. When we re-roof we fit a modern breathable membrane, eaves ventilation and ridge or tile vents as the house needs, so that condensation does not undo the new work. If you see damp patches, dark mould on the underside of the sarking or a musty smell in the loft, mention it when we survey.

Fascias, soffits, guttering and lead

The roof edge is part of the job. Fascias and soffits from this period are often timber that has been painted over for decades or early plastic that has warped, and the guttering is frequently cracked at joints. Replacing them at the same time avoids erecting scaffolding twice.

We also renew lead flashings at chimneys and abutments, which is where many 1980s roofs first begin to leak. Extensions and porches added since may need separate treatment. Work may need planning or Building Regulations checks — we advise before work starts.

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.