Roof Replacement in Ipswich, Suffolk

Roof replacement for Ipswich homeowners whose roof has reached the end of its working life. We strip and re-cover pitched roofs in tile and slate, and flat roofs in high performance built-up felt. Every job includes a full inspection of the timbers beneath, replacement of any decayed sections, and a written guarantee on completion. We do not sub-contract — the roofer who surveys your property is the one who does the work.

When a roof needs replacing rather than repairing

There is a point at which patching stops making financial sense, and most homeowners reach it later than they should. On a tiled or slate roof the signal is not one slipped slate but a pattern of them — once nail fixings have corroded across a whole slope, every winter brings another handful down, and you end up paying for the same access repeatedly.

On felt flat roofs the deck is what decides it. Felt that has split in one place over a sound timber deck is a repair. Felt that has been letting water through for a season, where the deck gives underfoot and the ceiling below shows staining, is a replacement. Once the boards have absorbed water they will not dry out under a new covering, and laying good felt over a failed deck wastes the material.

Age is a rough guide rather than a rule. Ipswich has Victorian slate roofs still doing their job at a hundred and twenty years, and post-war concrete tile roofs that needed stripping at fifty because the underlay had gone. What matters is the condition of the fixings, the underlay and the timbers, none of which are visible from the ground.

What a replacement involves

1. Survey and specification. We inspect the roof and, where access allows, the roof space from inside. You get a written specification setting out what is being stripped, what is going back on, the underlay and battens being used, and the guarantee that applies.

2. Scaffolding and protection. Pitched roof replacements need scaffolding and it is included in the quoted price. Gardens, paths and drives are sheeted before anything comes off.

3. Strip and inspect. The old covering comes off and the timbers are exposed and checked. Anything decayed is photographed and shown to you before it is replaced. This is the one stage where costs can change, and we agree any variation with you before proceeding.

4. Re-cover. New breathable underlay, new treated battens, and the new covering laid to manufacturer specification. Ridges and hips bedded or dry-fixed, flashings renewed in lead where required.

5. Clear and hand over. All waste removed, site cleared, and your written guarantee issued.

Roof replacement costs in Ipswich

Prices depend on roof size, pitch, access and the covering chosen. These are the ranges most Ipswich properties fall into, including scaffolding, materials, labour and waste removal.

• Terraced house, concrete tile, front and rear slopes — £5,500 to £8,500
• Semi-detached, concrete tile — £7,000 to £11,000
• Detached house, concrete tile — £9,000 to £16,000
• Natural slate, add roughly — 40 to 60 per cent over tile
• Reclaimed slate to match a period property — priced on availability
• Deck replacement where timbers have failed, per square metre — £45 to £75

For flat roof replacement pricing, see our flat roof replacement and felt roofing pages.

We give you a fixed price, not a day rate. The only figure that can change is deck replacement, because nobody knows the state of the timbers until the covering is off — and we agree that with you at the time, with photographs.

Common questions

How long does a roof replacement take? A terraced or semi-detached tiled roof is typically three to five working days once scaffolding is up. A garage flat roof is usually one day, sometimes two if the deck needs replacing. Weather can extend either.

Can I stay in the house while the work is done? Yes. The roof is never left open overnight — we sheet and secure at the end of each day. You will hear us, but you will not be without a roof.

Do I need planning permission? Not for a like-for-like replacement. If you are changing the covering type, or the property is listed or in a conservation area, permission or consent may be required. Parts of central Ipswich and Woodbridge fall into conservation areas, and we will tell you at survey if it applies.

What guarantee do I get? A written workmanship guarantee, plus the manufacturer’s product guarantee on the covering. Both are handed over on completion in writing, not verbally.

Will you match my existing tiles? On a partial replacement, yes wherever the product is still made or available reclaimed. On a full replacement it matters less, but we will always show you samples before ordering.

For independent guidance on roofing standards and what to expect from a contractor, the National Federation of Roofing Contractors publishes homeowner guidance covering specification and guarantees.

Areas we cover

We replace roofs across Ipswich and the surrounding Suffolk area, with no travel surcharge within our standard patch:

• Felixstowe — coastal exposure shortens roof life, and replacements come round sooner
• Stowmarket — domestic and light commercial across mid-Suffolk
• Woodbridge — period properties, conservation areas and reclaimed slate matching
• Hadleigh — historic centre and post-war housing across Babergh

If your roof is in poor condition, a repair may still be the right answer. Have a look at our roof repairs page, or let us survey it and tell you honestly which one you need.

Book a free survey

A roof replacement is a significant spend and it is worth getting a proper look before committing to anything. We survey free of charge, tell you plainly whether the roof needs replacing or whether a repair will see you through a few more years, and put a written price in front of you within 24 hours. There is no obligation and no charge for the survey. Call 01473 974744 or request an estimate below.