Replace entire roof for new felt put in?

Tech484

Hi

After a leak, roofer suggested that the Felt is too short to cover the cavity wall. The water thats leaking seems to be in the Cavity wall.

Will I need to completely get a new roof? Got an estimate for about £4k on a 3 bed detached.

Any ideas or advice would be greatly appreciated!

ormus

unlikely.
the roofer can just remove X number bottom rows of slates/tiles. enough to slide the new felt under the old stuff.

travellerboy

Don't slide felt to replace what has/will perished. Get a roll of the widest plastic DPC and use this, it will last longer and is more rigid to avoid it sagging into the soffit.

fatbikersbouncebetter

It is very common for the last 12-14" of felt to perish over the years. This area stays wetter for longer and YES the water will get down in between the cavity.
Wide DPC may not be wide enough. Breathable membrane is about £50 a roll (Fat too much), but removing the first row of tiles (or 2 rows), and pushing the membrane under the existing felt is fine. (Cheap option would be roofing felt which should last). The ultimate answer is a new roof, but if the rest of the felt is OK (which it probably is), repair is fine. Prices really do depend on where you live??????

Tech484

Thanks a lot guys, thats super advice. Really appreciated and a lot less anxious!!!

teneighty

Just out of interest was it the same roofer who identified the fault who gave you the estimate for a whole new roof? Unless there are other issues with the roof that is very cheeky.

Its a bit like taking your car to the garage for an oil change and being told you need a new engine.

If you decide to get the sarking felt renewed along the eaves I would also suggest you get the fascias, soffits and the rafter ends inspected as a prolonged leak can cause rot in the timbers and whilst the scaffold is up they might aswell be repaired/replaced. Advice others have given is good but I would go one step further and use proprietory plastic eaves support trays. They will add a bit of cost (£50 or so) but totally eliminate any sagging sarking felt/dpc and give a nice drip into the guttering to protect the fascia.

Angel9876

£4k for a whole new roof? Did I read that right?

I've been told we need one and that it'll cost about £10k. Have been freaking out about it all winter to be honest (everytime it rains), but not had more than one quote. We live in a 3 bed Semi, too, so have less sides to do!

Perhaps I should get more quotes?

tony6403

Plain tiles and slates should have double lap coverings at the eaves to stop water entering. Interlocking concrete tiles have ridges to prevent water ingress. I have owned and worked on properties which had no felt but did not leak.
Whilst it is best to make sure that your felting is in order (and sort as above) in my opinion you should not be relying on the felt alone. I would get another roofer to carry out a close inspection of the tiles near to the eaves.