Roof repairs
Roof Repairs
Focused diagnosis and repair where the surrounding roof remains serviceable and the source of the defect can be addressed proportionately.
Roofing services
Residential roofing services planned around the building
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 a broader refurbishment. 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.
ER Group London’s service range covers pitched and flat roofing, specialist leadwork, heritage work, roof insulation, inspection and planned maintenance. The scope can also include related details around chimneys, gutters, parapets, rooflights, terraces and balconies where these form part of the weathering problem.
The pages below explain the purpose of each service, the conditions it addresses and the information normally needed before work can be defined.
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.
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.
Roof refurbishment
Roof Refurbishment
Coordinated renewal of selected coverings, leadwork, drainage and junctions where isolated patching would leave connected defects unresolved.
Sensitive properties
Heritage & Conservation Roofing
Repair and renewal for period, listed and conservation-area properties, informed by the existing fabric, appearance and relevant project requirements.
Pitched coverings
Slate & Clay Tile Roofing
Inspection, repair, matching and renewal of pitched roof coverings, together with ridges, verges, valleys and adjoining weathering details.
Specialist detailing
Specialist Leadwork
Lead flashings, valleys, gutters, abutments and complex weathering details considered as part of the complete roof junction.
Flat roofing
Flat Roofing
Repair and renewal based on deck condition, falls, drainage, insulation, outlets, upstands and the interfaces around the roof.
Planning support
Roof Surveys & Inspections
A visible-condition review used to investigate defects, inform planned works or support the next stage of a residential project.
Roofline details
Chimney Repairs
Roofline masonry, flashings and weathering details around chimneys, coordinated with the surrounding roof.
Rainwater goods
Gutter Repairs & Rainwater Goods
Above-ground gutters, outlets and downpipes coordinated with roof falls, edges, parapets and adjoining details.
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.
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 appearance 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 and ventilation can respond badly to an incompatible intervention. Retention, matching, moisture behaviour and relevant permissions should be considered before the detail is changed.
Project journey
Five stages from enquiry to handover
Step 01
Enquiry
Property location, known roof issue, intended works and project context are reviewed.
Step 02
Consultation
Priorities, access, available information and project-team involvement are discussed.
Step 03
Survey
Where appropriate, visible condition, materials, details and constraints are reviewed.
Step 04
Proposal
The proposal records the roofing work, assumptions, exclusions and decisions required.
Step 05
Delivery
Work is coordinated around access, property protection, weather exposure and other trades.
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.
Roofing service questions
Choosing the right residential roofing service
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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.
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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.
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Yes. Many residential roofs combine pitched and flat areas, leadwork, gutters, rooflights, chimneys and insulation. Where the conditions are connected, a coordinated scope is usually clearer than separate, overlapping instructions to several trades.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.