Roofers in Swindon: Roof Repairs, New Roofs and Flat Roofing

Find a local roofer in Swindon, fast

Roofers Swindon is a simple way to get a roofing quote without ringing round half a dozen firms. You tell us what's happening with your roof, whether that's a drip coming through the bedroom ceiling, a few tiles on the lawn after a windy night, or a flat-roofed extension that's started to pond, and we pass your enquiry to an independent roofer who works in Swindon. They call you back, arrange to look at the roof and give you a quote. You deal with them directly, and there's no charge to you for using this site.

We're upfront about how this works: we are not a roofing company and we don't send out our own roofers. We're a referral service. That means we never claim to have done work we haven't, and we'd rather you understood exactly who you're dealing with before anyone climbs a ladder.

Roofing services in Swindon

Most of the calls we get fall into one of these jobs. Each page explains what's involved, what usually causes the problem and what to ask a roofer before you agree a price.

• Roof repairs: slipped, cracked or missing tiles and slates, leaking valleys, failed lead flashing, loose ridge and hip tiles and broken verges.
• Roof replacement: a full strip and re-roof when repairs no longer make sense, including new battens, breathable membrane and, where needed, insulation work to meet Building Regulations.
• Flat roofing: EPDM rubber, GRP fibreglass and torch-on felt for extensions, garages, dormers and bay roofs.
• Chimney repairs: repointing, new flaunching, lead flashing, chimney pots, cowls and caps, and taking redundant stacks down.
• Guttering, fascias and soffits: leaking joints, sagging runs, blocked downpipes and replacing rotten timber boards with uPVC.
• Emergency roof repairs: making a roof watertight after storm damage, fallen trees or a sudden leak.

Swindon's roofs: what local roofers see

Swindon grew in a series of distinct phases, and you can often guess the type of roof, and its common problems, from the age of the street.

Victorian and Edwardian terraces

The town expanded quickly from the 1840s after the Great Western Railway set up its works here. The stone cottages of the Railway Village and the long brick terraces that followed in areas such as Rodbourne, Gorse Hill, Broadgreen and around the Old Town were built with natural slate or clay tiles on timber roofs with no membrane underneath. Many have since been re-covered, often with heavier concrete tiles. On these houses roofers commonly find nail fatigue (slates sliding as the old nails rust through), crumbling mortar on ridges and party-wall parapets, lead valleys and back gutters between terraces that have split with age, and chimney stacks that need repointing. Because terraces share walls and sometimes valleys, a leak can start on your neighbour's side, so a good roofer will look at the whole run rather than just your patch.

The Railway Village and parts of Old Town are conservation areas. If your home is in one, or is listed, check with Swindon Borough Council before changing the roof covering, chimneys or roof windows, because work that would normally be permitted may need consent there.

Post-war and 1960s estates

Estates built after the Second World War, such as Penhill, Walcot and Park North, mostly have concrete interlocking tiles. These are tough, but after decades the ridge and hip mortar cracks, verges come loose and old bitumen underfelt sags or tears near the eaves, letting wind-driven rain reach the timbers. Many of these homes also have original timber fascias and soffits, now replaced or due for replacement with uPVC. Flat-roofed garages, porches and rear extensions from this period are frequently still on their original felt.

West Swindon and the northern expansion

From the 1970s the town spread west into areas such as Toothill, Freshbrook and Shaw, and later north into Abbey Meads, Taw Hill, Redhouse and Oakhurst. These homes generally have trussed rafter roofs with concrete tiles, dry ridge or mortar ridge systems and plastic fascias. Common jobs here are dry-verge fittings that have worked loose, blocked or leaking valley troughs, flat-roofed dormers and extensions, and gutters that overflow because of moss and leaves. Newer developments, including Wichelstowe and Tadpole Garden Village, are still recent enough that any problems may be covered by a builder's or warranty provider's scheme, so check that first.

Surrounding villages

Villages around Swindon, such as Wroughton, Highworth, Purton and the Stratton area, have a mix of older stone and brick cottages, some with natural stone slate or thatch, alongside modern estates. Older and listed buildings need roofers who understand traditional materials and lime mortar. You'll find more on our areas page.

Weather, wind and your roof

Swindon sits in north-east Wiltshire, between the Cotswolds to the north and the Marlborough Downs to the south. Like the rest of southern England, it gets most of its rough weather from Atlantic storms blowing in from the south-west. When a named storm crosses the country, the roofs that suffer first are the ones that were already weak: loose ridge tiles, slates held by rusted nails, flimsy verges and lifted lead. After a storm, look from the ground (never climb up yourself) for tiles out of line, gaps along the ridge, lead that has peeled back, or bits of tile or mortar in the gutter or garden.

Leaks are often noticed long after the damage happened. Brown rings on ceilings, damp patches around chimney breasts, a musty smell in the loft or daylight visible through the tiles from inside the loft are all worth getting looked at before the next wet spell.

Planning, Building Regulations and other rules

Most roof repairs and like-for-like replacements on houses don't need planning permission. But there are some rules that catch homeowners out, and a reputable roofer should mention them without being asked:

• Building Regulations: if more than a quarter of a roof's covering is being renewed, the work usually counts as renovating a thermal element, so the roof normally has to be brought up to current insulation standards where that's practical. The roofer should either be registered with a competent person scheme that can self-certify the work, or you'll need a Building Control application. Ask which applies and keep the certificate for when you sell.
• Conservation areas and listed buildings: as above, changes to the look of a roof may need consent.
• Scaffolding on the pavement or road: if scaffolding or a skip has to stand on the public highway, the contractor needs a licence from the council. A proper roofer will arrange this.
• Shared walls and roofs: work on a party wall between terraces or semis may fall under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. Talk to your neighbour early.
• Bats and nesting birds: bats are protected by law and often roost in roof spaces and under tiles. If bats might be present, the work may need a survey first.

What affects the price of roofing work

We don't publish price lists, because two jobs that sound the same can be very different once a roofer sees the roof. These are the things that move a quote up or down, so you can compare quotes fairly:

• Access. A bungalow roof reachable from a ladder costs less to work on than a three-storey Victorian house on a busy road where scaffolding needs a council licence. Terraces with no rear access can mean materials and waste go through the house or over the roof.
• Scaffolding. For most work beyond small repairs, scaffolding is the safe option, and it can be a large part of the bill. If you need several jobs, such as chimney repointing, gutters and a few slipped tiles, doing them while the scaffold is up usually saves money.
• Materials. Natural slate and handmade clay tiles cost more to buy and lay than concrete tiles. Lead work, GRP and branded EPDM systems vary too.
• What's found underneath. Rotten battens, rafters or flat roof decking only show once the covering is lifted. Ask how the roofer will price any extra work before they start.
• Waste. Old tiles, felt and timber need disposing of properly, and asbestos-containing materials (sometimes found in old soffits, gutters or garage roofs) need specialist handling.
• Guarantees. Insurance-backed or manufacturer guarantees can add to the cost but protect you if the roofer stops trading.

A very low quote isn't always a bargain if it leaves out scaffolding, waste removal or the Building Regulations sign-off. Ask each roofer to break the quote down in the same way so you're comparing like with like.

Looking after your roof between repairs

A few simple habits can catch problems while they're still small and cheap to fix:

• Look at the roof from the ground, ideally with binoculars, after any big storm and once a year in autumn.
• Clear gutters after the leaves fall, or have them cleared; overflowing gutters are one of the most common causes of damp walls.
• Pop into the loft after heavy rain with a torch and look for damp timber, stains or daylight.
• Keep loft vents and eaves vents clear so moist air can escape, which helps prevent condensation.
• Don't pressure-wash a tiled roof; it can damage the surface of the tiles and force water under them.

How to choose a roofer in Swindon

Whether the roofer comes through us or not, the checks are the same:

• Get a written quote that lists the work, materials (for example the make of membrane or flat roof system), whether scaffolding is included and what happens to waste.
• Ask for proof of public liability insurance and how long any guarantee lasts, and whether it is backed by insurance or a manufacturer.
• Ask for photos of the problem. A good roofer is happy to show you what they've found, especially on a part of the roof you can't see.
• Be wary of anyone who knocks on the door saying they "noticed a problem" on your roof, asks for most of the money up front, or pushes you to decide on the spot.
• For bigger jobs, get more than one quote and compare like with like.

How it works

1. Tell us about the job. Use the form or call. A postcode and a few words about the problem are enough. 2. A local roofer gets in touch. We pass your details to one independent roofing business covering your area. We don't sell your details to lists of companies. 3. Get a free quote. The roofer arranges a visit or, for simple jobs, may quote from photos. There's no obligation to go ahead. 4. Agree the work directly. Price, timing, guarantees and payment are agreed between you and the roofer.