Carrying out a roof replacement is a big deal. There are many questions that need to be asked before any decisions can be made. But before you start concerning yourself with things like what a new roof costs in Dundee or how long it's going to take to fit a new roof, you need to first establish whether that's what you actually need.

The lifespan of your roof can be affected by many factors. We've put together a concise list of the typical signs to look out for and what they mean, that will let you know if a new roof is on the horizon. 

Light coming through the roof

It can take a while for water to saturate through your loft insulation and ceiling before it leaves the noticeable telltale marks. That's why we would recommend periodically taking a quick look around your loft space on a bright day to identify any sign of sunlight coming through. This is particularly wise if you have an old roof. Checking for light coming through the roof is a great early indication your roof needs attention, before you homes interior suffers from water damage.

Water stains

When water soaks through a ceiling, it leaves a dark circular stain that gets bigger the longer it's allowed to persist. Eventually, it can cause a  complete collapse of the ceiling, by which point the additional repair bill could be very high. By the time the stains are appearing on your ceiling, your roof could've been leaking for quite some time and should be checked by a local roofing company to see if it can be repaired or a complete replacement is needed. 

Sagging

The framework which supports a roof is typically constructed from timber and can often start to sag in later life, giving a saddle like appearance to tiled roofs or allowing excessive pooling of water on a flat roof. Although this doesn't necessarily mean your roof is about to collapse, you should have it checked over to discover the underlying cause. Moisture can find its way into your roof, which can cause the timber to degrade, leading to sagging. Excess weight to the roof, such as when it snows, can also cause sagging. This can happen if the rafters, sheathing or collar ties aren't large enough to support the extra load and the roof starts to give under the weight.

Age

The age of a roof plays a large part in when it's time to replace, depending on the material it's constructed from. Whilst this isn't such an issue if your roof has reached it's expected life and is still holding up well, it can have a negative impact on the value of your home if you were looking to sell. We've put together a table that details the typical amount of time you can expect a roof to last under normal conditions. 

With regular maintenance, a roof can far exceed these figures, so should only be used as a rough guide. 

Overall condition

A few cracked or damaged tiles here and there isn't usually an indicator your roof is in need of replacement, but if there is damage to numerous tiles across the roof, it should certainly be checked out. This could be an early indicator the tiles are coming to the end of their life and is often seen in artificial tiles that start to deteriorate after a certain period of time has elapsed. Please see the above table for an idea how long you should expect your tiles to last, depending on their construction. 

If you've noticed any of these signs or would like one of our experienced roofers to come take a look and give you their professional opinion, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the Trusted Roofers Dundee. You can call us on 01382 671028 or visit our contact page

Our expert roofers have put together a detailed roofing material guide so you can choose the best roofing material based on its performance and intended application. 

From pitched roofing to flat roofs, different roofing projects in Dundee require different materials so they can not only provide the best performance, but look the part too. A good roof will be solid, long lasting, and reliable. Factors ranging from location, expected costs of a new roof and weather to the building itself can all play a role in determining which roofing material is best suited to the task.

As experienced roofing specialists in Dundee, the professional team here at Trusted Roofers Dundee are perfectly positioned to offer you impartial and genuine advice about your project. Whether you're looking at a whole new roof or just a roof repair, our highly qualified team are happy to help you out.

We’ve compiled a handy guide to the different types of roofing materials we use when carrying out roofing work to help you understand what is available and why one of our roofers might suggest a particular material is more suited over another one when discussing your roofing project.

Types of Roofing Materials

High Performance Felt

Felt is a very versatile material, making it an excellent choice for a wide variety of roofing jobs. High performance felt is particularly well suited for flat roofs. Here at Trusted Roofers Dundee, to ensure longevity and durability, we will only use industry leading brands of felt. We are trained and authorised by the manufacturers we use, enabling us to offer extended warranties on our new felt roofs.

High performance felt makes a great choice for the following types -

• Flat roofs
• Rear extensions
• Garages
• Offices and commercial buildings

Mastic Asphalt

First used in the 60s, mastic asphalt has been a popular choice of roofing material for the last 60 years. Due to its versatility and durability, it is still commonly found on modern projects. Not only is mastic asphalt recyclable, waterproof, and almost completely fire resistant, it has a typical lifespan of 50 years. 

Whilst mastic asphalt can be used for a huge range of applications, it makes a great choice for the following:

• Flat roofs
• Car park roofs
• Porches

Slate

An established favourite when it comes to roofing, slate is an easily recognised and traditional roofing material that can be found protecting buildings hundreds of years old. We offer both synthetic and natural slate, giving you plenty of options when it comes to the finer details of your roof. A long lifespan, next to zero water absorption, and great fire-resistant properties, makes slate roofs a firm favourite when it comes to roofing.

Slate makes a perfect choice for the following:

• Pitched roofs
• Traditional-style Dundee properties

Concrete and Clay Tiles

We offer a huge range of machine and handmade tiles from leading tile manufacturers. Clay tiles are long-lasting and highly fire-resistant, while concrete tiles are a durable, low-maintenance roofing option.

Concrete and clay tile roofing is ideal for pitched roofs of varying sizes and very commonly used on the terraced houses found all over Dundee.

Lead

Thanks to its durability, reliability, and corrosion resistance, lead is one of the oldest materials used for roofing that is still being used today. Flexible and long-lasting, lead roofing makes a great choice for many different roofing projects.

Lead roofing is a good choice for the following:

• Historic and listed buildings
• Parapets
• Flat roofing
• Valley gutters

IKO Armourplan 

A waterproof roof is essential to keep your property and possessions safe and dry all year round. We offer Single Ply Armourplan to repel water and resist standing water, improving the quality of your roof. Lightweight and fast to install, this is perfect for projects with load considerations

For more information about our services or the materials we use, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team of roofing specialists in Dundee today or give us a call on 01382 671028.

The sound of rain is relaxing, but not when you can hear it dripping through your roof. You may have recently purchased an older home or are thinking about selling up - regardless, if the roof on your home is worn out - installing a brand new roof could be one of the best investments to improve its value and appearance.

You may be wondering if it's worth the trouble and expensive, see below for five compelling ways we believe installing a replacement roof can transform your home.

1. Improved protection

First and foremost, a roof functions as an all-important layer of protection. A protective barrier between you and the weather — snow, sleet, rain or wind; it doesn't matter what comes your way - because when that happens, you want to be safe! And, so will your home!

An older roof may not have proper ventilation for your home, which is a problem because this is how moisture gets out of the house. However, if it does not leave through vents in the attic floor or other parts of your roof that are damaged, you're likely to experience mold growth and rusting from inside as well. Damaged soffits or fascia boards on roofs can lead to rot around those areas too!

What started as a leaky roof is now making you sick? Beyond just the damage these problems do to your home, they also create problems for your health, especially if you are allergic to mold. A new roof offers better protection and ensures that everyone in the family remains healthy and safe from any outside forces.

2. Reduced energy consumption

We all care about saving money on utility bills and a new roof is the key to better insulating your home. Typically, around 25% of the heat produced in your house will be lost through the roof, you can slow this down by having appropriate insulation and a well maintained roof. If you have cracks in your current roof or gaps that are letting out heat, then it might be time for an upgrade.

Your home needs a roof to protect it from the weather and keep you nice and comfy inside. But when your roof leaks, air escapes through those openings like it's going out of style! And that means cold drafts for wintertime (and wasted money on heat). A new roof will give your house what they need while saving energy resources by keeping them in with insulation. You'll stay warm all season long - without breaking the bank or hurting Mother Nature either!

3. Increased property value

Installing a new roof on your home can help you get more money when it comes time to sell. It also draws in buyers who are worried about their old roofs leaking or causing mold growth because they don't want the hassle of replacing them right away.

There are plenty of ways to make your home more marketable and valuable, but topping the list is installing a new roof. According to the RCI, the national average increase in home sale price for homes with replaced roofs was up to 63%, whereas improvements to the loft, kitchen or bathroom registered a return on investment of 50%, 49% and 48% respectively.

4. Securing the sale

A new roof is an effective way to get your house ready for sale because it increases the odds that a potential buyer will be satisfied with their purchase. When home inspections and appraisers spot a worn out, leaky roof on homes in need of repairs, they may not consider them at all or provide less than favorable ratings which can lead to lower prices from buyers who are leery about investing money into renovations.

5. Improved overall appearance

With a new roof, you can update the paint colors for an overall transformation of your home’s exterior. A new roof makes up to 40% of curb appeal and will attract buyers when it is on the market or contribute towards better property values in your neighborhood.

When your neighbors see you put a new roof on, they may decide to replace their own roofs. This will make the whole neighborhood more desirable and improve home values by attracting buyers who are looking for modern homes with updated features.

How to tell if you need a new roof

A new roof can do wonders for the look, feel and value of your home. But how do you know when it's time to contact the experts for an estimate? If you're thinking about transforming your home with a fresh roof installation, start by evaluating whether or not you need a new or repaired roof..

It's only a matter of time before the roof will need to be replaced, for one reasons or another. Depending on the type of roof and the material it's constructed from, if the roof is older than 30 years, it may not be offering the level of protection it used to and is worth having a roof inspection to establish it's condition.

If the age of your roof is unknown, there are a few other telltale ways to see if a replacement roof is worth looking into:

1. Multiple missing or damaged tiles
2. Repeated requirement for roof repairs
3. Porous roof tiles
4. Sagging of the roofs timber structure resulting in a saddle-like appearance
5. Multiple water leaks into the loft space

If you’re not sure whether your roof needs to be replaced, it is always better to err on the side of caution and have a professional inspect the roof. Our team of professional roofers will carry out a free inspection that can help you make an informed decision about what steps need to be taken next and answer such questions as what a typical replacement roof costs in Dundee.

Contact us today for more information or feel free to give us a call on 01382 671028 . We look forward to hearing from you!

There are a lot of questions to be answered when it comes to replacing the roof on your home. After the initial question about how much the roof will cost to replace, the second most common question we receive is always how long will it take to replace the roof? 

How Long Does A Roof Replacement Take?

On average, it will take 4-5 days for striping and tiling a roof. This is based on the average sized house found in Dundee, without any particularly unusual roof features. The time it takes to fit a new roof will increase if there is a large area to cover or complex areas to manage. 

What Factors Have An Impact On Roof Replacement Timescale?

The previously mentioned timescale for replacing a roof is only a rough estimate, with many factors influencing the total duration for replacement. Any competent roofing company will be able to give you a more accurate answer when providing a quote for the new roof. 

It can take a longer or shorter amount of time, depending on the following areas - 

Total size of the property

It's safe to assume a large property, such as a tenement or house with a lot of bedrooms is going to take longer than a small bungalow. However, it's common with larger roof replacements to use more roofers on the one job, which helps get the roof replaced as soon as possible, without too much disruption to the owners. 

Roof type

The type of roof can have a big influence on determining the time it will take to carry out a roof replacement. It stands to reason a flat roof or a simple open gable roof with the standard pitch style will be a lot quicker to replace that something like a crossed hip and valley roof, which has a complex shape and requires a more sophisticated timber support structure.

Supporting structure condition

Most roofs make use of some form of timber supporting system, either in the form of trusses or wooden planes on a flat roof. If the timber framework that supports a roof also requires work, this can add significant time to the job. Even if the sub-structure is ok, if you've opted for a heavier roofing material, the supporting framework may need upgraded to withstand the additional load.

Roofing material

Not all roofing material is created equal in terms of time of installation. A large corrugated sheet roof is going to take a lot shorter amount of time to cover the span that something like small slate tiles. Not only does the corrugated sheet cover a greater area in one go, it requires less supporting framework, reducing labour time on the timber structure too.

Roofers experience

All our teams are led by a fully qualified and experienced roofer, but that's not to say some of our guys aren't faster than others. The more experience a roofer has also enables them to more accurately estimate a projects total time to completion as they have more experience doing similar projects, which helps reduce customer dissatisfaction if a project goes beyond the projected date. 

Weather

Bad weather can cause some serious delays when replacing a roof. Not only do you not want to be stripping off an old roof if bad weather is due, but there is also a concern for the roofers safety when he's up there in inclement weather. There is an option of building a temporary roof out of scaffolding to protect the building from rain, but that adds extra costs to a project. Most roofing contractors wouldn't advise starting a roof replacement if there is particularly bad weather due.

As you can see, there are quite a few things to take into consideration when trying to calculate how long it will take to replace your roof. For the most accurate answer, you should arrange for one of our experienced roofers to come by and first establish whether your roof can be repaired or needs replaced, looking for the 5 signs you need a new roof. They will then follow that up with a quote for the required work and go over any questions you may have, such as how long will it take to replace your roof. 

To get in touch, give us a call on 01382 671028 or visit the Trusted Roofers Dundee homepage.