Roofers covering Brighton & Hove
Roofers in Brighton.
Brighton and Hove grew fast in the Regency and Victorian years, and much of that building still stands: stucco squares on the seafront, bow-fronted terraces in Kemp Town and long brick rows climbing the hills. Plenty of those roofs are hidden behind parapets, and many houses are now split into flats. We are a London firm newly covering the city, so we keep things simple: a free visit, a written price and photos of whatever we find.
- Slate & tilerepairs and full re-roofs
- No chargefor the visit or the quote
- Photo reportto share with flat owners
Roofs that hide behind a parapet
Many Regency and early Victorian houses here have a front wall built up past the roof, concealing a shallow slate roof or a central valley behind it. Rain runs into a lined gutter along the back of that wall and out through a narrow outlet. When the lining cracks or the outlet clogs, water finds its way into the top-floor ceiling, often well away from the actual fault.
- Lead and felt gutter linings behind parapets split with age
- Leaves, moss and nesting material choke the outlets
- Low-pitched slate needs generous laps to stay dry
- Parapet copings and their joints let water into the wall
Hills, sea wind and exposed stacks
The city climbs steeply from the beach towards the Downs, so streets on high ground and the seafront both catch strong south-westerly weather. Tall chimneys and end-of-terrace verges take the brunt of it. Salt air speeds up the wear on nails and slate hooks, which is why slipped slates on the windward slope are such a familiar sight.
- Slipped slates refixed with clips suited to coastal air
- Chimney stacks repointed and their flashings dressed back in
- Verges on end houses secured against wind lift
- Bay roofs over front windows checked at the wall joint
Flats, lets and wide Hove avenues
Around Hanover, Preston Park and the Lewes Road, a lot of houses are now flats or shared lets, so one roof can matter to several owners and a managing agent. In Hove, the broad avenues hold larger Victorian and Edwardian homes with clay tiles, gables and decorative ridges. Either way, a clear record of the fault helps everyone agree on what to do.
- Written prices that freeholders and agents can review
- Photos of the problem before any work begins
- Matching clay and slate on period Hove houses
- Repairs above top-floor flats planned around access
How the job works
- 1Work out how to get upBrighton streets are steep and narrow, so we first decide between a roof hatch, ladders or scaffold, and whether a scaffold licence for the pavement is needed.
- 2Look behind the front wallHidden gutters, outlets and slopes are checked first, because the fault on a parapet roof is rarely where the stain appears.
- 3Price it for everyone involvedYou receive a written price and photos that can be passed to a freeholder, landlord or the other flats in the building.
- 4Repair and show the resultOnce the slates, lead or linings are done, we send pictures of the finished work so nobody has to climb up to check.
Why choose us in Brighton
- Pictures of the hidden parts of the roof, not just the street side
- A free quote in Brighton or Hove with no pressure to go ahead
- Plain advice on whether old slate needs patching or relaying
Common questions
Can gulls nesting on my roof cause a leak?
Indirectly, yes. Nests and the debris around them can block parapet outlets and gutters, which then overflow under the slates. Active nests are protected by law, so they cannot simply be removed in the breeding season. We can still check the roof and plan any clearing or repairs for when it is allowed.
Will I need consent to change the slates on a Regency house?
Quite possibly. A large part of Brighton and Hove sits in conservation areas, and many Regency buildings are listed. Like-for-like slate repairs are usually the simplest route, but check with Brighton & Hove City Council before changing materials, and we can give you the details they may ask for.
Do you also cover Hove, Portslade and Rottingdean?
Yes, those are all part of our Sussex coverage. We are based in London rather than locally, so tell us your postcode when you get in touch and we will be straight with you about when we can get down to look.
My top-floor flat has damp in the ceiling. Who should arrange the repair?
Check your lease first, as the roof is often the freeholder’s responsibility. Either way, we can inspect it, photograph the cause and give a written price that you can pass on, which tends to speed things up when several people share the cost.
Ready for a free, no-obligation quote?
Speak to our team today. London, Essex, Kent, Sussex and the Cotswolds.