The Honest Answer First
Most roofs don't need replacing. Most calls we receive across Chippenham and Wiltshire result in targeted repairs — not full re-roofs. A good roofer will always recommend the minimum work that genuinely meets the situation. If a roofer arrives at your door after a storm and immediately recommends a full re-roof, get a second opinion.
That said, there are clear indicators that a full re-roof is the correct recommendation — and in those cases, continuing to patch is more expensive in the long run than doing the job properly once.
Signs You Probably Need Repairs — Not a Re-Roof
- A small number of tiles have slipped or cracked due to a specific cause (storm impact, age-related failure in one area)
- A chimney flashing or valley has failed but the surrounding tiles are in good condition
- Ridge or hip mortar has deteriorated and tiles are rocking, but the roof structure beneath is sound
- A flat roof extension is leaking but the main pitched roof is fine
- The roof is less than 25 years old on concrete tile, or less than 50 years on clay tile
In all these cases, targeted repair is the correct and more cost-effective approach. The repair addresses the specific failure without touching the rest of a serviceable roof.
Signs You Probably Need a Full Re-Roof
- Tiles are regularly sliding or lifting across multiple areas of the roof, particularly in moderate wind
- You have had the same sections repaired two or more times in five years
- Survey confirms nail sickness — corroded fixing nails — across two or more slopes
- The roof is 50+ years old on concrete tile and felt/batten condition is unknown
- Water is entering multiple locations through the ceiling
- There is visible daylight from the loft when the roof is surveyed from inside
- Battens are rotten when tiles are lifted for inspection
Nail sickness is the defining indicator in Chippenham. Hardenhuish, Stanley and other 1960s–70s estates have housing stock where original steel fixing nails are now 50–60 years old and corroded through. Individually replacing displaced tiles doesn't fix the fixing failure — it just delays the next tile sliding. If your property has original 1960s–70s concrete tile and tiles are regularly moving, get a nail sickness assessment.
The Re-Strip and Re-Lay Option
There's a third option that many homeowners aren't aware of: the re-strip and re-lay. Where tile condition is good but felt and batten condition has deteriorated, existing tiles are carefully removed, the old felt and battens are stripped out, new BS5534-compliant underlay and treated battens are installed, and the original tiles are relaid.
This costs 20–30% less than a full re-roof with new tiles and makes sense when the tiles themselves have significant remaining service life. On Victorian clay tile properties in Chippenham where the tiles are sound but the felt has failed, this approach extends the roof life by 30–40 years without the cost of new tile supply.
How We Assess: What We Look At During a Survey
When we carry out a free roof survey in Chippenham, we assess each of the following:
- Tile condition — surface integrity, nail fatigue, broken or cracked tiles
- Fixing security — do tiles move when pressed? Nail sickness check.
- Ridge and hip mortar — open joints, loose sections
- Lead valleys and flashings — code weight, condition, thermal cracking
- Guttering — brackets, joints, fall, fascia condition behind
- Chimney — pointing, flaunching, pot condition
- Felt condition (via loft inspection if accessible) — tears, moisture, batten condition
- Ventilation — adequate airflow to prevent condensation build-up
We give you our honest findings and a clear recommendation — repair, re-strip and re-lay, partial re-roof, or full re-roof — with the reasoning behind it. We don't quote full re-roofs where they aren't warranted.
Book a Free Roof Survey
We assess and give honest advice — repair where it meets the situation, re-roof only when necessary.
📞 Call 01249 247 076The Cost Comparison: Repair vs Re-Roof
| Scenario | Repair Approach | Re-Roof Approach |
|---|---|---|
| 3 displaced tiles after storm | £200–£350 (repair) | £5,500–£8,500 (unnecessary) |
| Nail sickness confirmed system-wide | £200–£400 per year ongoing | £5,500–£8,500 once (correct) |
| Failed felt, sound tiles | N/A | £3,500–£5,500 (re-strip/re-lay) |
| Valley failure only | £300–£700 (repair) | £5,500–£8,500 (unnecessary) |
What to Ask a Roofer Before Agreeing to Work
- What specifically is failing — tile, felt, batten, fixing or lead?
- Is the failure localised or does it appear across the whole roof?
- If you're recommending a full re-roof, what condition are the battens and felt in?
- Would a re-strip and re-lay be appropriate given the tile condition?
- Can you show me photographs of what you've found?
A roofer who can answer all of these clearly, with evidence, is giving you a genuine assessment. One who can't explain why a full re-roof is necessary beyond "it's old" or "it's been leaking" isn't giving you enough information to make a good decision.