Consult A Professional Before Considering Any Building Work.
Roof Replacement
Replacement roof costs are generally estimated by the size of the roof in square meters and the type of roof covering (i.e. type of tiles). A typical job would include the hire and erection of scaffolding, then the removal and replacement of the battens, lead flashings, tiles, fixings etc. Plus the removal of the old roofing usually by way of a skip (though you should always try and recycle any undamaged tiles if possible, this can produce huge savings on the total replacement cost).
Roofing problems can easily go undetected until they become more serious and costly to fix, so regular checks should be carried out to detect faults early and avoid costly roofing disasters. But if you are considering replacing a roof, then things have probably progressed way beyond minor repairs. Typically leaking roofs will cause water damage in the upper stories of your home, everything from watermarks to damp patches and mold. More severe water damage could present as sagging or bowed parts of the roof internally. At this stage, not only will you need expensive roofing work, you could also require a joiner to replace the ceiling, plus a plasterer and/or interior decorator to repair the water damage inside your home.
Sometimes it may be possible to patch roofing problems rather than replacing the entire roof, whether this is a good idea or not depends on the age of the roof and the severity of the problems. For example, if the roof is very old and likely to need a full replacement in the next few years anyway, plus the roofing repairs required are expensive and cropping up with monotonous regularity, then it could be more cost-efficient to simply bite the bullet and replace the entire roof. On the other hand, if the roof is relatively new and the damage that needs repaired is confined to one small area (such as a few missing or damaged roof tiles) then it makes financial sense to simply repair that area.
We all like to save money on home maintenance, but replacing an entire roof is not recommended as a DIY project, although there are no laws preventing home-owners from doing roofing work, a few mistakes can mean the DIY job can easily end up costing more than hiring a professional would in the first place! You do not normally need planning permission to replace the roof of your house, especially if it is a simple “like-for-like” replacement. But any roof alterations that project 150 millimeters from the existing roof plane may need permission. As always, consult a professional before considering any building work.
When removing the old roof it may be the case that long term water damage could mean replacing the internal roof frame (rafters) and even bedroom ceilings, though this is unusual without any prior indication of problems such as large water marks or bowed bedroom ceilings. When it comes to gathering prices for a complete roof replacement, the surface area of the roof, the type of roof design, and the cost of the replacement tiles or shingles are the main considerations, but your location will also be a factor, both in terms of the prevailing labor costs in your area, and also the access to the property.
