Older properties with older roofs are bound to encounter more problems as time goes on. If the roof has been well maintained, repairs may well still be the best option, but where a roof is beyond its lifespan or has not been well looked after, then it may well be advisable to have the roof replaced entirely with a new one.

If you are unsure, Handy Andys offer free roof inspections throughout the North West Surrey / South West London area. Our roofing professionals will be able to advise you on the status of your roof one way or another to give you complete confidence that your roof is either still fit for purpose or needs to be replaced. Where a roof needs to be fully replaced, Handy Andys offer an honest, reliable and competitively-priced service. All our work is carried out to the highest standards at all times using the best materials for the job. In the UK, roof tiles are traditionally made from locally available materials such as terracotta or slate. Modern materials such as concrete are also used.

your roof protects your home from the weather so if any part of it is damaged such as a broken or loose tile, rainwater can leak into the property and cause significant water damage that will be far more expensive to fix if left unchecked. In addition, if there are missing tiles or slates, birds can make a home in your roof space which can also lead to significant damage.

A lack of proper maintenance and regular roof inspections often mean that problems which start small end up becoming far larger - and more expensive to fix - over time. That’s why Handy Andys offer free roof inspections for homeowners which is especially important if you live in an older property with an original roof.

Among the most common problems are loose or missing tiles or slates dislodged by extreme high winds and overhanging trees. Faulty installations are another common problem. Badly installed roofs are far more likely to encounter problems sooner rather than later. If you are concerned about your roof or need a repair to be carried out, call Handy Andys today.

Flat roofs generally have a much shorter lifespan than traditional slate or clay tiled pitched roofs especially if the flat roof is constructed in traditional felt - still a very common material used on garages and extensions in particular. With a lifespan of around 15 to 20 years, the major issue with felt roofing is that the joins which expand and contract in hot and cold weather eventually allow water to seep into the roof and structure. Furthermore, rainwater which puddles on a flat roof can exacerbate the problem.

However, a professionally installed felt roof should be good for at least 20 years and there are other great options to choose from including GRP fibreglass and EPDM rubber roofing systems.

The great thing about these are that there are no seals. Because rubber and fibreglass are both waterproof materials, these options will more than double the lifespan of your flat roof. Rubber roofing in particular has a lifespan of around 50 years.

It’s not surprising that chimneys are the most vulnerable part of the roof area from extreme weather conditions such as strong winds and driving rain. Older chimneys in particular should be inspected every few years or so to ensure that they are able to stand up to everything the weather will throw at them. The biggest single issue is the cement or mortar work holding the bricks together and the chimney pots in place.

Over time mortar weakens so repointing work is often needed to ensure that the chimney stack remains structurally sound. After all, the last thing you want is to have a very heavy chimney stack or chimney pots crashing down to the ground or through your roof!

Handy Andys offer a full range of competitively-priced chimney work throughout North West Surrey and South West London including repointing the brickwork, chimney rebuilds where a chimney is no longer structurally sound and even chimney removal.

On older properties, soffits and fascias are traditionally made of wood and gutters and roan pipes of metal which means that they need to be repainted every 4 or 5 years to ensure they don’t rot or rust. Because gutters and fascias are high up, this involves working at heights and most homeowners will call in a tradesman to carry out the work for them. However, another simple solution is to replace your old wooden soffits and fascias and metal gutters and roan pipes with low maintenance uPVC ones instead.

With a lifespan of over 30 years, these are the perfect option considering they not only come in a range of colours and styles to match the look of your property, but are far cheaper than metal guttering or roan pipes. We carry out a full range of fascia and gutter replacement and repair work.

With a lifespan of up to 200 years, it’s hardly surprising that lead has been a common feature of many older buildings across the UK in particular, churches and cathedrals. Lead is used on domestic roofs as well, but generally as flashings used to stop rainwater from entering junctions between roof elements such as chimney stacks or to channel water off a building via lead gulleys. However, because lead is one of the oldest and most durable roofing materials, it can be used to create a long lasting, attractive finish such as on flat roofs, whole roof coverings and porches.

Lead is one of the most effectively recycled materials in the world and more lead is produced through recycling than mining, so it is environmentally sustainable too. Although lead roofs are more expensive, their exceptionally longevity make them great value for money.

However, installing lead roofs or lead-work in general is a professional job requiring not only the use of the correct thickness of lead for the purpose to which it is being put, but skilled installation to ensure that the natural expansion or contraction of lead in hot and cold weather conditions does not stress and ultimately tear the lead. Furthermore, strict health & Safety rules for the installers including wearing protective equipment is necessary when dealing with lead.