If you need a new roof in Feltwell, Thetford Roofers installs quality pitched and flat roofs built to last - and this page will help you ask the right questions before you sign anything.
Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
A new roof is one of the largest single investments you will make in your home. Done properly, it protects the structure for decades. Done poorly, problems can appear within a year or two - slipped slates, failed flashings, water tracking into the roof space. Understanding what the job involves is the first step to making a sound decision.
On a pitched roof, the work covers stripping the existing covering, inspecting and replacing any rotten or damaged timbers, fitting new roofing felt or breathable membrane, battening out, and laying the new slates or tiles. Lead or code-quality stepped and soaker flashings are fitted at any abutments, chimneys or valleys. Ridge tiles or a dry-fix ridge system are installed last.
On a flat roof - common on extensions, garage roofs and bay tops - the old covering is stripped back to deck level. Any soft or damaged decking boards are replaced before the new system goes down. We install EPDM rubber membranes and torch-on felt systems depending on the situation. A correctly installed flat roof should have adequate falls built in so water drains away rather than pooling.
This is the angle that saves homeowners money and stress. Most problems with roofing work come not from the materials but from choosing the wrong contractor. The questions below are straightforward to ask and the answers tell you a great deal.
A roofer who has been fitting new roofs locally should be able to point you to completed jobs. You are looking for work on similar property types - a bungalow roof differs from a two-storey pitched roof with hips and a chimney. If they cannot give you any reference or example, treat that as a red flag. Photographs are useful; being able to speak to a previous customer is better.
Quotes that look attractive at first glance often exclude key items. Before you agree to anything, ask the roofer to confirm in writing exactly what is and is not included. Common items that get left out include:
If a quote does not mention scaffold, ask directly how access will be managed. For anything other than a small garage roof, working from ladders alone is not safe practice and should concern you.
Natural Welsh slate, reclaimed slate, concrete plain tiles, concrete interlocking tiles - each has different characteristics, different costs and different looks. A roofer worth hiring will be able to explain the difference and advise on what suits your roof pitch and your budget. Concrete interlocking tiles are the most common choice on post-war housing because they are cost-effective and widely available. Natural slate costs more but lasts considerably longer and looks better on older properties. Ask which product they are quoting and whether it is appropriate for your pitch.
Breathable roofing membrane has largely replaced the old-style sand and felt underlay. It allows moisture to escape from the roof space while preventing rain ingress. If a roofer quotes for a new roof using non-breathable felt, ask why - on most new installations the breathable type is now standard and the better choice.
Some roofing companies send a supervisor to quote, then send a subcontracted crew to do the job. That is not automatically a problem, but you deserve to know. Ask who will carry out the work and who will be on site day to day. On a larger job such as a full house re-roof, having a consistent point of contact matters for dealing with any questions that arise during the strip-out phase.
When the old covering comes off, roofers sometimes find damaged rafters, wall plates or ridge boards that need replacing before the new roof can go on. This is not rare, particularly on roofs that have been leaking for some time before the owner noticed. Ask in advance how this will be handled - will they stop work and wait for approval, will they proceed and charge cost-plus, or is an allowance built into the quote? Knowing the answer before work starts avoids a difficult conversation halfway through the job.
A roofer asking for a large upfront payment before materials are on site is a warning sign. Reasonable payment terms for a new roof might involve a modest deposit to secure materials, a mid-stage payment once the structural work is done, and a final payment on completion. Never pay the full amount before the job is finished to your satisfaction. Walk around the property once work is complete, check the ridge line, look at the flashings, inspect the gutters have been re-fixed, and confirm all debris has been cleared before signing off.
New pitched roof costs vary significantly by size, material and access. As a broad guide, a full re-roof using concrete interlocking tiles on a standard semi-detached house typically costs between £5,000 and £10,000 including scaffold. Natural slate is generally higher, often £8,000 to £15,000 or more for the same size. Flat roof replacement on an average garage or extension runs from around £1,500 to £4,000 depending on size and system used. These figures are indicative only - get at least two detailed, itemised quotes for your specific job before making any decision.
Thetford Roofers works across Feltwell and neighbouring villages. We also cover Thetford itself and nearby places. If you are unsure whether we cover your location, call us and ask.
To get the process started, call us for a roof survey. We will look at your existing roof, discuss what the job involves, and give you the detail you need to make a properly informed decision.
No obligation · We'll call you to arrange a free visit
Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
