Roof replacement in Grandpont and South Oxford
I re-roof the slate terraces between the Abingdon Road and the Thames, re-using the old slates where they're still sound.
20-year written guarantee on a new roof
For roof replacement in Grandpont and South Oxford, most of the roofs are slate on late Victorian and Edwardian brick terraces, often still on their first covering. When the nails, battens and underlay have all given out, a full re-roof does what patching can't. I'm Altin Lila, roofing since 2015, and a new roof comes with a 20-year written guarantee, sent by email.
South Oxford's slate terraces and when they need a new roof
The houses of Grandpont and New Hinksey mostly went up in the late Victorian and Edwardian years, on the low ground south of Folly Bridge. They are two-storey brick terraces with slate on the main roof, a chimney stack on each party wall, and a narrow back addition, often with a flat-roofed kitchen added since.
On a slate roof of that age the slates themselves are rarely what fails first. The iron nails rust through, so slates slip out in runs across a slope. The battens rot, and the old torching (the mortar under the slates) falls away. Once slates are slipping all over, refixing them one by one stops working, and the roof needs stripping and re-covering.
Grandpont isn't one of Oxford City Council's conservation areas, so re-covering an ordinary house in a similar slate rarely needs consent, though a listed house is another matter. For refixing a few slipped slates instead, see my slate roofing page.
I cover every street in South Oxford, and I usually come and look the next day. The visit and the quote are free.
How I re-roof a South Oxford terrace
Scaffolding first
A full re-roof needs scaffolding with edge protection before anything comes off. I arrange it, and it's included in the quote. On a terrace your neighbours will see it go up, so it helps to tell them before work starts.
Stripping the roof and sorting the slates
The old slates, felt and battens come off. If the slates are in good condition I re-use them: each one is checked, and the sound ones are set aside to go back on, with matching slates making up the losses. The rest goes into a skip and is taken away.
New membrane, battens and slate
New breathable membrane and new battens go on, then the roof is slated: with your own slates, or with new natural Welsh, Spanish or fibre-cement slate if the old ones are past saving. The ridge is fixed mechanically, so there is no mortar bedding for frost to crack.
Party walls, stacks and the back addition
Where the roof meets the party wall, the shared chimney stack and the back addition, the joints are where terraces leak, so the flashings there are renewed as part of the job. If the stack itself needs work, it's easiest while the scaffolding is up: see chimney repairs and leadwork.
Re-roofing questions from South Oxford
Have you re-roofed houses in South Oxford?
Not one I can show you yet. The re-roofs in my photos so far are tiled roofs, and the Oxford jobs I can point to are repairs in OX3 and OX4. I re-roof in slate as well as tile, in natural Welsh, Spanish and fibre-cement slate, and a new roof from me carries a 20-year written guarantee.
Can you re-use the old slates on my roof?
Yes, if they are in good condition. Natural slate often outlasts the nails and battens holding it, so on many South Oxford terraces most of the slates can be taken off, sorted and put back, with matching slates making up the losses. If they are cracked, flaking or too thin, new slate is the better choice.
Is the scaffolding included in the quote?
Yes. A full re-roof needs scaffolding, and I arrange it and include it in my quote. The quote is free and in writing, and you pay the price we agreed. If I find more work once the roof is open, such as rotten timbers, I talk it through with you first.
More on new roofs in OX1
Get a free re-roof quote in South Oxford
WhatsApp a photo of the roof from the street to 07306 077999, or call, and I'll usually come and look the next day. The visit and the quote cost nothing.
No call-out charge, day or night