Cardiff has no shortage of Victorian and Edwardian terraced housing, from streets around Roath and Canton to the older parts of the city further out towards the valleys. These houses have plenty of character, but their roofs are often well over a hundred years old and tend to show their age in fairly predictable ways once you know what to look for.
Knowing what to check can help you catch problems early, before a small repair turns into something bigger, more disruptive and more costly to put right further down the line. A little regular attention to an old terrace roof goes a long way towards avoiding an emergency call-out later on.
Common issues on older terraced roofs
Many Victorian terraces in Cardiff were originally roofed in natural slate, and while slate is a durable material capable of lasting a long time, decades of weather do take their toll. Slipped or cracked slates are common, and the fixings holding them in place can corrode over time, letting slates work loose in high winds off the Bristol Channel. Once a few slates have gone, water can get into the roof space and cause damp patches on ceilings that seem to appear from nowhere and spread if left unattended.
Chimneys are another frequent source of trouble on these properties. Many terraced houses have shared or party wall chimneys, and the mortar joints, known as the pointing, can crack and crumble with age, allowing water to track down into the chimney breast and the roof structure around it. Lead flashing around chimneys and at roof junctions also has a limited lifespan, and once it perishes or lifts it becomes a common route for leaks into the loft space below. On top of this, valleys and party wall gutters between terraced roofs can silt up with moss and debris, which restricts water flow and can lead to overflow and penetrating damp during heavy rain.
Getting your terrace roof checked properly
Because terraced roofs in Cardiff often share structures with neighbouring properties, repairs need to be handled with care and a good understanding of how these older roofs were originally built. T & T Roofing and Home Improvements Ltd has experience working on this type of housing stock across South Wales and offers a free, no-obligation quotation, so you can get a clear picture of any issues and what is needed to put them right. Call us on 07766 547309 to arrange an inspection of your Cardiff terrace roof.
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