Local roofers · Hackney
Roofers in Hackney.
Hackney’s streets are full of tall Victorian terraces, many of them split into flats, from Clapton and Dalston to Stoke Newington and London Fields. The roofs are often out of sight behind a parapet, which means problems can go unnoticed until water reaches the top-floor ceiling. We get up there, find out what is going on, and show you photos.
- Slaterepairs and full re-roofs
- Photosof roofs you can’t see from the street
- Freeno-obligation quotes
Butterfly roofs behind the parapet
Many London terraces have a butterfly roof: two slopes falling to a central valley, hidden behind a front parapet wall. All the water from the roof runs along that valley, so split lead or a blockage can put a lot of water into the house quickly. A build-up of leaves and silt can be enough to turn a sound roof into a stained ceiling.
- Central valleys cleared and checked for splits
- Lead valley repairs, or renewal where it has worn out
- Parapet flashings and junctions checked and re-dressed
- Outlets and downpipes tested so the water can get away
Old slate: when nails go before slates
Natural slate can outlast the nails holding it. When nails rust through, known as nail sickness, slates start to slide even though the slates themselves are sound. A few slipped slates can be refixed, but when they are slipping all over the roof, stripping and relaying with new fixings, membrane and battens is the lasting fix.
- Slipped and cracked slates replaced individually
- Sound slates saved and reused where a re-roof allows
- New breathable membrane and treated battens under the slate
- Concrete tiles swapped back to slate where the house suits it
Rear outriggers, dormers and shared houses
Behind the main roof there is often a rear addition, a flat-roofed extension or a loft dormer, each with its own joints to fail. In a converted house, a leak can show in one flat but start above another, and you may need the freeholder or other leaseholders to agree. Many parts of the borough, such as De Beauvoir, Clapton Square and Victoria Park, are conservation areas, so changes to the look of the roof should be checked with Hackney Council first.
- Flat rear roofs repaired, or renewed in torch-on felt
- Lead and flashings resealed at wall junctions
- Photos and written prices you can share with neighbours or a freeholder
- Roof access planned around top-floor flats and shared hallways
How the job works
- 1Agree who is involvedIf the house is split into flats, we find out early who owns the roof and who needs to see the quote.
- 2Get a proper viewWe work out safe access to the hidden valley, then check the slates, the lead and the parapets.
- 3Plan around the streetAny access equipment on a narrow road is thought through before work starts, including whether a council licence is needed.
- 4Send the evidenceWritten prices and photos are easy to forward, so everyone sharing the bill sees the same information.
Why choose us in Hackney
- Photos of hidden valleys and parapets that you can’t see from the street
- Written prices that are easy to share with other flats or a freeholder
- Honest advice on whether old slate is worth saving or should be replaced
Common questions
What is a butterfly roof, and how do I know if I have one?
It is a V-shaped roof with a valley running down the middle from front to back, usually hidden behind a flat parapet wall at the front. If your terrace looks flat-topped from the street and has a low point in the middle of the loft, you probably have one.
I live in a top-floor flat in Hackney. Who pays for the roof?
That depends on your lease. In many converted houses the roof is the responsibility of the freeholder or is shared by all the flats, so check the lease first. We can give you a written price and photos to pass on to the people involved.
Are my slates finished if they keep sliding off?
Not necessarily. Slipping slates are often caused by rusted nails rather than the slates themselves. If the slates are in good shape, many can often be reused when the roof is relaid.
Can you get scaffolding on a narrow Hackney street?
Usually, though scaffolding on a pavement or road needs a licence from the council. We’ll look at the street at the quote stage and tell you what the job is likely to need.
Ready for a free, no-obligation quote?
Speak to our team today. London, Essex, Kent, Sussex and the Cotswolds.