Local Traders News » roofing

Irish Home Incinerated In Oil Tank Fire

Nick — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 08:00:54 +0000

A family home was burned to the ground, and left in total ruin as 12^th of July bonfire celebrations turned into disaster in the East Mount Area of County Down. The blaze was started when a neighbouring bonfire ignited a number of domestic oil tanks, which set ablaze a neighbouring fence and house. A fire alarm alerted the family, and the local fire service was subsequently contacted.

Two other neighbouring homes were saved from ruin by the proficient actions of the local fire service. Remarkably footage of the incident was caught on a local CCTV system, which may at least be used for insurance purposes. It is believed that Northern Ireland building regulations were not adhered as the oil tanks were clearly not stored in a fire safe environment.

A local builder has estimated the cost of repair to run into tens of thousands for the adjacent properties, whereas the torched house will require practically a complete rebuild. The building is said to be needing a complete re-wiring as cables that connect the property disintegrated in the blaze. The houses next door have extensive damage to the roofs and will possibly need re roofing, plastering will need to be redone in the downstairs bedroom of the house, and gardens will need to be landscaped due to water damage.

County Down Fire Service has received praise for their hard work, as if not for them more homes would be ruined. One local fire-fighter is recovery from minor burns in a local hospital.

Historical Church has Roof Repaired

Danny — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 08:00:15 +0000

A thirteenth century Monmouthshire church has re-opened to the public after 9 months of extensive repairs was completed on its aging roof. The re-opening is the culmination of three years worth of hard work from a group of local fund raisers who eventually raised £270,000 to get the roof repairs completed. The roof had been leaking on St Nicholas Church in Grosmont for a number of years and the historic churches spire had started to lean.

Roofers moved in to correct the correct the damage and the local church services continued across the street in the village hall. The disrepair the building was suffering from was not only confined to the roof, the floor of the historic structure was reconditioned and money was also raised to rebuild the drains and water runoff systems underneath the structure to prevent water entering the church in the future. Local plasterers were also able to complete plastering work to the internal walls to stop damp from setting in.

In an eagerly awaited ceremony conducted by the Rev Dr Jean Prosser MBE, the hard work of the renovation group was mentioned. He commented on how the community had really pulled together and paid special complements to one church goer who sold over 200 copies of a church literature magazine to raise over £1000. Other fund raising activities included wine tasting and musical events.

The restoration work has not yet been completed though as there are plans to fit a new kitchen to the church and install a new toilet which will be available for use by the community.

Community Centre Faces Complete Replacement Roof

Sarah — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 08:00:57 +0000

Owned and managed by Bradford on Avon town council, the local community centre is set to face huge roof repair bills, to fix a leaking roof. St Margaret’s Hall , used as a frequent meeting place for the likes of senior citizens, usual community groups, and is due to be used for a Thai festival next week.

The replacement costs including reclaimed tiles are estimated to be within the region of £40,000 plus. At present, Bradford on Avon council is waiting for their assigned architect to get back to them with the full report, which will also determine whether the complete roof will have to be replaced.

Although the leak was discovered a couple of months ago, the water has only come through into the hall once, following one heavy night of rain. On a steady night of rain, the water seems to keep out, therefore it isn’t a project that is going to be rushed through, but planning costs and reports are underway for the future.

On the south side of the building, the tiles are generally in good condition and can hopefully be re used rather than having to source new roof tiles, but the tiles on the North side facing the river Avon have slowly become damp during the recent bad winter, and have deteriorated.

Local Mayor Isabel Martindale has stated in a recent report that they are not yet sure of how many tiles are in need of replacement, and will know more next week, once the report is back from their assigned architect.

Appeal To Repair Church Roof

Danny — Fri, 21 May 2010 12:54:31 +0000

They were shouting from the rooftops in Stoke on Trent after an historic church launched a bid for new funds. Seventy sheets of lead were stolen from the roof of Stoke Minster last month leaving the church with a £40,000 roof repair bill. Rector Lingwood scaled the church to launch the campaign from the rooftop of the 180 year old landmark. The insurance company covering the church have a capped payout of only £5000 for lead, so the church needs to raise a whopping £35,000 to pay for repairs to replace the lead and fund the labour to install it.

In the last month, there have been 4 attacks on church roofs in Staffordshire, leaving the police with something to ponder. Rector Lingwood started his service by saying that even though it’s a lot of money, he is sure that people will rally round and make sure the church roof is restored to its once glorious state. The church has a special place in the hearts of the people in the area, so I hope they will donate generously.

The people of the church are hoping the money will be raised as soon as possible. One woman said,

“The people of Stoke-on-Trent will give generously, I’m sure of it, even if money is tight, the amount will be found.”

Another said, “The roof was only repaired about 10 years ago, it’s disappointing and upsetting to see what has happened.”

Rector Lingwood finished by saying he hopes to have the amount needed to carry out the roof repair before the winter.

Replacing a Roof to Improve Your Property

Sarah — Tue, 11 May 2010 08:00:29 +0000

New roofs add value

As well as reducing the likelihood of more expensive repair work later down the line due to water damage and damp problems, a new roof installation can also be a good investment for your home in general. The fact that prospective buyers won’t need to endure the cost of inconvenience of a roof replacement can give you a good selling point, so it’s not only beneficial to reduce household energy bills, but can also add value to your property.

The cost of replacing an existing roof, can range anywhere from £10,000 – £20,000 depending on where about in the UK you live but the piece of mind that your home is more energy efficient, less likely to suffer damp problems, is structurally sound and looks good from the outside is worth the outlay.

Before committing to a roof replacement

Quite often, a shabby roof does not show the true signs of damage or effects caused by the problem for many years. A new roof is a massive investment for your home and can be a length job, so before choosing your installer/contractor, be sure to ask the right questions, such as –

What kind of warranty they offer
Whether they have public liability insurance
Whether they are registered with any professional bodies such as NFRC (National Federation of Roofing Contractors
Ask to see a portfolio of their previous work, to see if you are getting the best for your hard earned money
Where materials are sourced from – useful in assessing quality and durability
If all their charges include their labour

Alternatively, let localtraders.com find a tradesperson for you and we can take the stress out of your roofing project by putting you in touch with the best local roofers in your area.

Reduce Your Energy Consumption With a Replacement Roof

Sarah — Fri, 07 May 2010 15:43:21 +0000

There are a number of steps you can take to keep your energy bills within your budget, which include locating and sealing drafts around doors, windows and from open chimneys, insulating your home and fitting energy efficient windows. However if your roof is not maintained adequately, your efforts could all be in vain.

An old, poorly maintained roof can cost you

Your roof is an important part of your home, responsible for helping prevent heat loss in particular during the cold weather experienced in winter. An old roof can not only look unattractive, but it could be resulting in a lot of hot air escaping through the rafters, meaning you’re paying out on your energy bills to heat the air around your home.

As well as losing heat, your worn out roof could be leaking water into your home which could have a number of consequences, both of which are unpleasant. You could have mould and bacteria growth in your home which can result in allergy problems, and even respiratory infections affecting the health of you and your family. Damp can also damage the structure of your home, requiring rafters and laths to be replaced, cause water damage to plasterwork in ceilings and walls and ruin items stored in your loft.

A fully trained and professional roofer is the best person to seek advice from when you need to identify any problems in or on your roof. They should be able to advice whether minor repairs could be carried out, or if damage is at an extent to require a replacement roof installation.

Thieves Steal Lead Tiles From Church Roof

Sarah — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 15:03:29 +0000

Thefts of tools, building materials and removal of materials from properties have been higher recently. The value of scrap metal is at a high enough level that it has created the ideal opportunity for thieves spying their chance to steal goods and sell them on to get a decent return.

One of the latest theft victims is a church roof which having replaced £5000 worth of lead tiles after a similar theft 3 years ago is now being forced to do the same again after thieves stole lead tiles from the roof last week. The incident was reported to police at 8.30am on Wednesday 7th April by a local resident and it is believed the theft took place some time after 6pm the previous evening.

All Saints Church in South Leverton, Retford, is a listed building therefore the cost of replacing the stolen leadwork is greater than if they were able to choose a cheaper alternative, but being listed, the repair must use like-for-like materials. It’s not only the cost of the roof repair that is causing concern however.

As the British weather is notoriously unpredictable and April often brings forecasts of showers, a temporary repair needs to be made to the roof in order to make good and waterproof the opening created by the missing leadwork. Failure to waterproof the church roof could create even bigger problems for All Saints as rain water leaking in would not only mean potential flooding inside the building, but depending on the amount of rain received, could cause structural damage to laths and structural wood and cause water damage to the decor, fixtures and fittings within the church itself.

Nottinghamshire police are requesting that anybody with any information about the theft who may have witnessed the burglars in action or anyone able to provide information about the whereabouts of the tiles contact them to help with their investigations. They can be contacted on 0300 300 9999.

Choosing A Professional Roofing Contractor To Repair A Leaking Roof

Sarah — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 23:15:48 +0000

The roof of your house is one of the most important areas to maintain to ensure your property is water tight and you don’t end up with problems such as rotting rafters or leaks that can damage the fabric of your home and result in damp patches and structural damage. Contacting a professional roofing contractor at the first sign of trouble can be a crucial way of ensuring the bill doesn’t escalate and your roof repair work is as noninvasive as possible.

Roofing contractors can help with a number of key areas from providing helpful and knowledgeable advice about your roofing problem to providing a quote for carrying out work in your home. Sometimes it can be as simple as replacing slipped tiles to prevent rain entering your roof through holes where storms and bad weather have resulted in dislodged slates or roof tiles. Other times, there may be more serious work to be undertaken, such as replacing roof laths to straighten a crooked roof, or repairs to your chimney, pointing or leadwork and flashing. Whatever your roofing problem, it pays to contact a quality professional first time around to ensure you get value for money and a tradesman you can trust to complete work to the highest standard and not cut any corners.

Flat roofs are renowned for potential leakages, and although repairs to your existing roof may be an option, sometimes the only way to solve the leak for good is a flat roof replacement. One option that can be used to either repair or replace an existing flat roof is made from fibreglass that is combined with a polymer to make it flexible so that it can easily be moulded to fit the shape of your roof, including shaping around existing bumps, pipework and can even be formed into gutters.

So whether you’re looking for advice on the best product or solution to your roofing problem, or are looking for a roofing contractor to provide a quote for a new extension roof or are retiling your roof, localtraders.com can help put you in touch with reputable local tradesmen in your area.

The National Federation of Roofing Contractors

Craig — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:23:41 +0000

The National Federation of Roofing Contractors is one of the leading bodies in the roofing industry and claims to have over 60% of the roofing industry on-board as members. Are they a must have? What do they stand for? This will provide you with a brief insight into this roofing contractors trade body.

If you are considering using a roofer who is a member of the NFRC you can expect a roofer who delivers high quality workmanship and one who should adhere to a code of conduct laid down by the NFRC. If a roofer displays this logo, they will have had to prove to the NFRC that they have full comprehensive insurance cover, giving you piece of mind.

Each member is given a number which can be checked on the NFRC’s website. All members will offer a quotation service giving you a clear and concise breakdown of the work you have requested to be undertaken and a fixed price, or daily rate etc if this is more suitable. You may also receive an estimate based on work that may need to be carried out once inspections of the roof have being carried out.

If, for any reason, you cancel the job with the roofing contractor, you will be entitled to a refund of deposit etc, however any work that has already been carried out will be deducted from the amount. Work carried out by roofing contractors registered with The National Federation of Roofing Contractors will guarantee workmanship for a minimum of one year after completion. If you need further technical advice, NFRC offer a free advice service to customers of roofers who are NFRC members.

These are just a few points of interest from NFRC members. Remember when you need your roof repairing or fixing, shop around and speak to as many tradespeople as you can until you are confident and comfortable you have the right person for the job.

Submitting your details to localtraders.com will enable you to be contacted by up to 6 roofers in your area who will be happy to discuss you requirements and provide you with detailed price breakdowns for your project.

Don’t Get Left Out In The Cold With Roofing Work This Winter

Craig — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:37:39 +0000

Roofing in the winter can be tricky. There are lots of different factors to consider when carrying out roofing work, which can cause problems in the winter. A particular problem during the winter is lower temperatures resulting in ice. Tiles and roofing materials need to be flush to the rafters in the roof to ensure they are water tight, so if moisture freezes into ice during construction, a gap can be left which then enables water to seep through.

A number of precautions can be taken to prevent this, such as using heat guns, salt, or a manual method, but it is far better to try and choose a warmer time of year for your new roof unless you have emergency repairs that need to be undertaken.

People often ask if they can carry out roofing work in winter if there is a spell of cold dry weather. The answer to this is simple; you can, but the finished product can be severely affected. Whether your project is a garage roof, self build or a new conservatory roof, the various materials used in constructing and finishing each type of roof have specific guidance and temperature requirements adivsing how they ideally should be fitted. The last thing you want is for adhesives to freeze, and roofing felt to crack and break. In addition, with steep sloping roofs, you have to be careful that the underlayment does not become brittle.

Condensation can also be a problem in winter, which occurs when warm moist air hits something cold, like the warm air in your house hitting a cold roof deck. There is an easy solution to this which is to install a vapour retarder at ceiling level. This works by trapping warm air rising from below, and preventing it hitting the bottom of the roof deck. Alternatively ensuring there is adequate ventilation in your home can prevent condensation build-up which can in turn lead to damp problems, mold and mildew.