A new roof in Bedford from Reliable Roofers Ltd: re-slating the Victorian and Edwardian houses with the original slates sorted and reused where they are sound, and re-tiling the post-war suburbs in concrete or clay, with new membrane, battens, lead and ridge, priced in writing before the scaffold goes up.
Bedford has more slate than anywhere else we work, and re-slating is the new-roof job we do there most. The Welsh slate on the De Parys, Castle Road and Queens Park houses is usually sound after 120 years; the iron nails are not. We strip the roof, sort the slates on the ground, discard the cracked and delaminated ones, lay breathable membrane and new battens, and re-lay the good slates with copper or stainless nails, topped up with matched new slate, with new lead soakers, flashings and valleys and the ridge re-bedded.
In Brickhill, Putnoe, Goldington and Kempston the job is a concrete tile re-roof: strip, timber check, membrane, battens, new interlocking tiles fixed to the manufacturer's schedule, dry or bedded ridge and hip, and the loft left clean. Both kinds of roof are photographed at every stage. A semi is four to six days; a large Victorian re-slate can be two weeks.
Planning a new roof in Bedford starts with deciding which parts of the existing appearance matter to you. On a De Parys villa, that includes the slate colour and ridge profile. On a Goldington semi, the junction with the adjoining tiled slope deserves attention before you settle on a replacement material.
Bring photographs showing the entire elevation to the conversation. Close views reveal defects, but the wider view shows how the roof fits the house. Ask to compare natural slate, clay and concrete against your roof's pitch and the surrounding coverings. Retaining sound slate also requires sorting time, which belongs in the proposed work.
The first exposed area lets us examine the supporting timber directly. You receive photographs of that stage, before fresh layers hide the structure. On an older Bedford house, distinguish timber repairs from replacement of the covering when reviewing the scope. Each serves a different purpose and deserves a clear description.
Membrane then protects the roof beneath the battens. Their spacing follows the chosen tile or slate, so the material decision comes before setting out. Around a chimney or valley, leadwork fits into that sequence as the covering advances. Ridge and hip details complete the roof after the slopes have been laid and fixed.
If your Queens Park terrace has limited frontage, identify the available scaffold and skip space during the visit. Tell us about shared paths and the route you need to keep using. Saving original slates also means allowing ground space to separate reusable pieces from damaged ones before they go back up.
A tiled semi involves several working days; an intricate Victorian roof needs a longer programme. Multiple stacks, valleys and dormers add individual finishing tasks. Scaffold access, the chosen covering and the extent of timber work all affect the price. Your itemised quotation should make those differences clear before you commit to a start date.
Keep the installation photographs with the invoice and named materials. For a Brickhill hipped roof, useful views include the hip ends and each junction around a chimney. For a re-slate, retain the pictures of the sorted slate and the new fixings as well as the finished slopes.
These records help you describe the roof if you need guttering, chimney repairs or other work later. Arrange gutter clearance when debris collects and report displaced coverings after strong winds. The guarantee for new installations is up to 10 years, with your terms in writing. Request a survey with your address, roof photographs and the changes you are considering.
Photos of our own jobs. Tap to enlarge.
Timber rafters and purlins exposed during a re-roof
Grey interlocking tiles being laid up to a chimney stack
Dark slate-effect hipped roof completed on a bungalow
Tell us what the roof is doing. A photo of the outside and of any damp inside is usually enough for a price range.
We find the cause, not the stain, and tell you whether it is a repair or a replacement.
Itemised, with materials named and dates set. Nothing starts until you have it.
Our own team does the work, photographs each stage and leaves the site clean.
Usually, yes. Good Welsh slate outlasts its nails. We sort, reuse the sound ones and top up with matched new.
A terrace or semi is normally a week. A large detached Victorian house can take two.
Yes. Concrete tile re-roofs on the post-war hipped roofs there are typical four to six day jobs.
Yes, and it is the cheapest time to do it because the scaffold is already up and the roof is open. Tell us at the survey.
Only where they need it. Rafters, purlins and wall plates are checked once the old covering is off. Rotten or damaged sections are cut out and replaced or sistered, and it is priced separately so you only pay for what is found.
No. Reusing the visible covering and renewing what supports it are separate decisions. Salvaged slates are lifted and assessed while the old battens and underlay are removed. The sound pieces return onto fresh battens over breathable membrane, with suitable new fixings. Your quote should identify both the salvage work and the supporting layers.
Point out the boundary and any shared chimney, valley or access path when we visit. Bring up the appearance of the adjoining covering before selecting yours. Ask how the proposed work finishes at that junction and what scaffold space is needed, so the practical arrangements are clear before stripping begins.
Guttering fixed, all exterior walls rendered & new pathing slabs down. Work was done within the agreed time frame. Well mannered and professional.
I had a leaking gutter it was leaking and he came and fixed it! I’m very happy with it will definitely recommend!
Ring, WhatsApp a photo, or send the form. You get a written price before any work starts, and we reply within one working day.
