Plain-English explanations of the roofing terms Ipswich homeowners come across. Questions about your roof? Call 01473 807630 for a free survey.
The corrosion of the mild-steel nails that fix roof tiles, common on Ipswich properties built between 1955 and 1985. As the nails rust through, tiles are held only by mortar and gravity, causing them to slip in storms. It is not visible from the ground and requires a professional survey.
Replacing the mortar that beds the ridge and hip tiles along the top edges of a roof. On Ipswich's post-war estates the original cement bedding has cracked and washed out through decades of freeze-thaw cycling. We use flexible dry-fix systems on estate housing and lime mortar on period properties.
Glass Reinforced Polyester — a seamless flat-roofing system laid wet and cured to a continuous surface with no joints. It is the standard choice for extensions and garages across Ipswich, with a design life of 25 years or more when installed over a sound, ventilated deck.
Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer — a synthetic rubber membrane used for flat roofing, laid as a single sheet and adhered at the edges. It handles temperature extremes well and is cost-effective on larger, simpler roof areas. Design life is typically 20 years or more.
Strips of lead used to weatherproof junctions on a roof — around chimney stacks, in valleys, and where the roof meets a wall. Correctly specified lead (code 4 or 5) lasts 40-80 years. Most Ipswich leaks at these junctions are caused by underspecified lead or sealant patches over failed lead.
An individual piece of lead fitted under each tile at a roof-to-wall junction. When soakers are omitted or fail, water tracks under the tiles directly to the wall. Fitting individual soakers under each tile course is the correct method for durable weatherproofing at these junctions.
The secondary weatherproof layer beneath roof tiles that catches any water penetrating the tile surface. Bitumen felt from the 1950s-1980s has a 30-40 year life and becomes brittle with age. On many older Ipswich roofs, degraded underfelt is the deciding factor between repair and full re-roofing.
An S-profile clay roofing tile traditional to east Suffolk and East Anglia, introduced from the Netherlands in the 17th century. It is the historically correct material for rural Suffolk cottages and farmhouses. Matching pantile for repairs requires specific sourcing as profiles vary between manufacturers.
Whatever the term, whatever the problem — call us for a free survey and an honest assessment. No call-out fee.
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