Choose the scope after the roof has been understood

Repair, refurbishment and replacement are different decisions

A slipped slate, failed flashing or blocked outlet may justify a focused repair. Repeated leaks, brittle coverings, widespread fixing failure or several deteriorated junctions can point towards broader refurbishment or complete re-roofing.

A roof should not be specified for replacement simply because water has appeared inside, nor repeatedly patched when the surrounding construction is no longer serviceable. The correct scope depends on the cause, the condition of adjoining materials and how the roof details work together.

ER Group London’s roofing services cover pitched and flat roofing, specialist leadwork, heritage work, roof insulation, roof surveys, planned maintenance and roofline details around chimneys, gutters, parapets, rooflights, terraces and balconies.

The pages below explain the purpose of each service, the conditions it addresses and the information normally needed before work can be defined.

Residential roof showing pitched coverings, leadwork and junction details

Roofing services

Choose the service after the roof has been understood

The service pages below explain what each scope is intended to address, what should be inspected and where connected roof details need to be considered together.

Illustrative image of roof repair investigation

Roof repairs

Roof Repairs

Focused diagnosis and repair where the source of the defect can be identified and the surrounding roof remains serviceable.

Illustrative image of new roof and re-roofing planning

Complete renewal

New Roofs & Re-roofing

Planned replacement of roof coverings and associated details where condition, design or a wider project requires a complete roofing package.

Illustrative image of roof refurbishment

Condition-led renewal

Roof Refurbishment

Coordinated renewal of selected coverings, leadwork, drainage and junctions where isolated patching would leave connected defects unresolved.

Illustrative image of heritage and conservation roofing

Sensitive properties

Heritage & Conservation Roofing

Repair and renewal for period, listed and conservation-area properties, informed by existing fabric, appearance and relevant project requirements.

Illustrative image of slate and clay tile roofing

Pitched coverings

Slate & Clay Tile Roofing

Inspection, repair, matching and renewal of pitched roof coverings, together with ridges, verges, valleys and adjoining weathering details.

Illustrative image of specialist leadwork

Specialist detailing

Specialist Leadwork

Lead flashings, valleys, gutters, abutments and complex weathering details considered as part of the complete roof junction.

Illustrative image of flat roofing

Flat roofing

Flat Roofing

Repair and renewal based on deck condition, falls, drainage, insulation, outlets, upstands and the interfaces around the roof.

Illustrative image of roof terraces and balconies

Terraces and balconies

Roof Terraces & Balconies

Waterproofing, renewal and conversion work where drainage, thresholds, surface finishes and the roof beneath them must work as one assembly.

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Planning support

Roof Surveys & Inspections

Visible-condition review used to investigate defects, inform planned works or support the next stage of a residential roofing project.

Illustrative view of chimney and surrounding roof weathering details

Roofline details

Chimney Repairs

Roofline masonry, flashings and weathering details around chimneys, coordinated with the surrounding roof.

Illustrative view of rainwater goods coordinated with roof details

Rainwater goods

Gutter Repairs & Rainwater Goods

Above-ground gutters, outlets and downpipes coordinated with roof falls, edges, parapets and adjoining details.

Illustrative image of planned roof maintenance

Planned care

Planned Roof Maintenance

Condition review, drainage checks and maintenance priorities for private homes, estates and managed residential properties.

Illustrative view of roof inspection and repair planning

Damage triage

Emergency Roof Repair

Urgent roof-damage enquiries focused on safe evidence, access, temporary risk reduction where suitable and the right next repair step.

Illustrative image of roof insulation and ventilation considerations

Thermal build-up

Roof Insulation

Roof insulation reviewed as part of the roof build-up, including moisture movement, ventilation, deck condition and internal finishes.

Illustrative image of drone roof survey planning

Visual inspection support

Drone Roof Surveys

Drone-assisted visual roof inspection where access, visibility and the property context make aerial review useful.

When ER Group London is a strong fit

Residential roofs where context and detailing matter

The service is best suited to work that benefits from proper investigation, coordinated details and careful protection of the property.

Period and Conservation-Sensitive Homes

Older roof fabric and visible character may affect how materials are retained, matched and renewed.

Persistent or Complex Water Ingress

Leaks linked to several junctions or previous unsuccessful repairs need diagnosis rather than another isolated patch.

Planned Roof Renewal

A coordinated scope is useful when coverings, leadwork and drainage details are deteriorating together.

Architect and Surveyor-Led Projects

Roofing work can be aligned with drawings, reports, specifications and the sequence of adjoining trades.

Occupied and Carefully Finished Homes

Access, protection, temporary weathering and day-to-day communication are part of the delivery plan.

Estate and Residential Portfolio Maintenance

Inspections and priorities can be recorded to support planned expenditure and reduce avoidable disruption.

Choosing the right scope

The condition of the whole roof should guide the decision

A visible leak or damaged covering does not define the complete repair. The decision also depends on adjoining materials, junctions, drainage, previous work and any concealed conditions that can only be confirmed through suitable access or opening-up.

Start with the cause

A roof leak is a symptom, not a specification

Water may enter through a damaged covering, but it can also track from a valley, parapet, outlet, rooflight, chimney or abutment. The inspection should consider the route of water and the condition of connected details before the repair method is chosen.

Decide whether repair remains proportionate

Repair locally when the surrounding roof can support it

A focused repair is appropriate when the defect is identifiable and adjoining materials remain serviceable. Where fixings, coverings or weathering details are failing across a wider area, a repeated local repair may move the problem rather than resolve it.

Treat pitched-roof details as a system

Slate, tile and leadwork must work together

The performance of a pitched roof depends on more than the main covering. Ridges, verges, valleys, flashings, underlays, battens, drainage and penetrations all contribute to how water is shed and how the roof responds to age and movement.

Flat roofs depend on geometry and interfaces

Falls, outlets and upstands are part of the waterproofing

A flat-roof covering cannot compensate indefinitely for poor drainage, low upstands, vulnerable thresholds or failed interfaces. Those details should be considered before a repair system or replacement build-up is selected.

Older buildings need compatible decisions

Historic fabric should not be treated as a modern blank canvas

Traditional roof coverings, masonry, timber, moisture movement and ventilation can respond badly to an incompatible intervention. Retention, matching, breathability and relevant permissions should be considered before the detail is changed.

From first review to handover

A clear route from the reported problem to the agreed roofing scope

Step 01
Enquiry

The property location, roofing or refurbishment requirement, project stage, approximate timing and available information are reviewed before the next step is agreed.

Step 02
Consultation

A focused discussion covers priorities, known defects, property context, access, professional-team involvement and the decisions needed before the proposed roofing or refurbishment work can proceed.

Step 03
Inspection Where Needed

Where appropriate, the visible condition of affected areas, relevant materials, access and practical constraints are reviewed, with any inspection limitations recorded.

Step 04
Proposal

The proposal records the roofing or refurbishment work, assumptions, exclusions, sequencing, commercial terms and decisions required before delivery.

Step 05
Delivery

The agreed work is coordinated around site setup, property protection, sequencing, communication, other trades, weather exposure where relevant and appropriate quality checks.

Step 06
Handover & Aftercare

Completion addresses handover, outstanding items, relevant follow-up and maintenance information where it forms part of the agreed project.

Working on occupied residential property

The route to the roof matters as much as the work at roof level

Access, temporary weathering, protection of internal and external finishes, and communication should be planned before work begins, especially where the property remains occupied.

Access and Material Movement

Scaffold positions, internal routes, gardens, shared access and neighbouring property are considered before mobilisation.

Temporary Weathering

Opening-up and incomplete areas need a realistic plan for changing weather and the condition of the existing roof.

Interior and Exterior Protection

Finished rooms, terraces, planting, façades and other vulnerable surfaces are identified before work begins.

Communication and Decisions

The client and relevant advisers are kept informed where discovered conditions affect the agreed scope or sequence.

Detail Checks

Roof junctions, drainage routes, upstands, flashings and interfaces are checked against the agreed scope.

Clear Handover

Completion information should reflect what has been inspected, repaired, renewed and excluded.

Roofing service questions

Choosing the right residential roofing service

  • You do not need to diagnose the roof before making an enquiry. Describe the symptoms, property type and any previous work, and provide photographs or reports if available. The first task is to establish whether the issue is likely to require a focused repair, further investigation, planned refurbishment or complete renewal.
  • A repair addresses an identifiable defect while the surrounding roof remains serviceable. Refurbishment is broader and may renew several connected elements, such as coverings, leadwork, drainage and junctions, where treating each failure separately would leave an unreliable overall roof.
  • Yes. Many residential roofs combine pitched and flat areas, leadwork, gutters, rooflights, chimneys, terraces and insulation. Where the conditions are connected, a coordinated scope is usually clearer than separate, overlapping instructions to several trades.
  • No. The decision should reflect the condition of the coverings, fixings, details and supporting construction. Serviceable material may be capable of retention, while failed or incompatible elements are renewed. Access and controlled opening-up may be needed before concealed conditions can be confirmed.
  • It may be practical to review insulation when a roof is opened or renewed, but the correct approach depends on the existing build-up, moisture movement, ventilation, internal finishes and applicable technical requirements. It should be designed as part of the roof construction rather than added as an isolated layer.
  • The available inspection service and its reporting scope should be confirmed at enquiry stage. A visual roofing inspection is not the same as a full building survey, structural assessment or invasive investigation, and any access or visibility limitations should be recorded.
  • Yes, where the project is a suitable fit. Relevant drawings, reports and schedules can be reviewed, and practical feedback can be provided where access, existing conditions or interfaces affect the proposed roofing detail.
  • ER Group London works on suitable period, listed and conservation-sensitive residential projects. Any required permissions, statutory advice or professional approvals should be managed by the client or project team and reflected in the agreed scope.
  • Send the property address, photographs where safe to obtain, the roof type if known, the visible symptoms, any previous repair history, access notes and any survey, architect or managing-agent information already available.

Next Steps

Not sure whether the roof needs repair or renewal?

Send the property address, photographs, known history and any survey information. ER Group London can review the context and advise on the most useful next step.