Roofer in Wallingford
I cover Wallingford, Cholsey, Crowmarsh Gifford and Benson, repairing old tiled roofs, chimneys and leadwork in the historic town and the villages around it.
Written guarantee: 20 years on a new roof
As a roofer covering Wallingford, I repair old roofs, chimneys and leadwork in one of Oxfordshire's most historic market towns, and in Cholsey, Crowmarsh Gifford, Benson and Brightwell-cum-Sotwell. Many houses in the centre are listed or in its conservation area, so matching the repair to the building matters. I'm Altin Lila of Alto Roofing, roofing since 2015, and the visit and written quote are free.
Wallingford roofing: the facts to check
Area
Wallingford, Crowmarsh Gifford, Cholsey, Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, Benson and the rest of Oxfordshire.
From Oxford
About 13 miles south of Oxford, on the A4074.
Old buildings
I work on old, period and listed buildings, with lime mortar on old brick and stone.
Visits
Free, any time of day or night.
Guarantee
20 years in writing for a new roof; at least 5 years for a repair.
Insurance
£2 million public liability insurance.
Wallingford's roofs: a Saxon town and centuries of building
Wallingford's street plan goes back to King Alfred, who enclosed the town with earth banks in the 9th century, and the line of those defences can still be traced. The conservation area covers roughly that old town, from the castle grounds and the Thames bridge to the Market Place and the Town Hall of 1670, and it holds a large number of listed buildings. Some Georgian brick fronts hide much older timber frames, and roofs range from steep old clay tiles to slate on 19th-century houses.
Roofs like these bring particular jobs. Tall brick chimneys need repointing and new flaunching (the sloped mortar round the pots), lead flashings wear out where stacks and walls meet the roof, and old clay tiles hung on oak pegs slip as the pegs rot. On soft old brick and stone I use lime mortar: hard cement traps water, and the brick ends up taking the damage. My chimney repairs page goes into the detail.
If your house is listed or in the conservation area, check with South Oxfordshire District Council before roof work starts: my guide to listed building roof repairs explains why.
Crowmarsh Gifford, across the river, and the villages of Cholsey, Benson and Brightwell-cum-Sotwell mix older cottages with post-war and newer houses.
Wallingford is about 13 miles south of Oxford, by the A4074. The visit to look at your roof is free.
Roofing work I cover in and around Wallingford
Heritage roofing
Clay tile, slate and stone roofs on the town's listed and period houses, repaired to match what's there.
Chimney repairs
Repointing tall brick stacks, new flaunching round the pots, and lead flashing where the stack meets the roof.
Leadwork and flashing
Split or lifted lead aprons, flashings and valleys renewed in lead or a lead alternative.
Slate roofing
Natural slate on the town's 19th-century houses, with sound slates kept and re-laid.
Roof repairs
Slipped tiles, broken slates and loose ridges on houses of every age in Cholsey, Benson and Crowmarsh.
Questions from Wallingford
Do you cover Wallingford?
Yes, Wallingford is in my area, along with Crowmarsh Gifford across the bridge, Cholsey, Benson and Brightwell-cum-Sotwell. I cover the whole of Oxfordshire. To start, WhatsApp a photo of the roof and your postcode to 07306 077999, or call, and I'll arrange to come and look for free.
Who do I ask about consent for roof work on a Wallingford house?
South Oxfordshire District Council, whose planning team includes conservation officers. They can tell you whether work on a listed building needs listed building consent, and whether a change in the Wallingford conservation area needs planning permission. Like-for-like repairs often don't, but changing the materials or the look of a roof or chimney can. My listed building guide covers what to ask.
Why use lime mortar on an old Wallingford chimney?
Because lime mortar lets an old chimney dry out, and cement doesn't. Lime is softer and more breathable than old brick, so moisture escapes through the joints, and they wear instead of the bricks. Repointing in hard cement traps water in the brick, and frost then breaks off the brick faces. On old stacks and stone I use lime mortar for both pointing and bedding.
Have your Wallingford roof or chimney looked at
WhatsApp a photo of the roof or chimney to 07306 077999, or call. I'll come to Wallingford to look at no charge, and the quote is in writing.
No call-out charge, day or night