A house facade problem. Is roofer the right person for the job or somebody else?

jj_home_80

Not sure what you'd call this little ledge on a house facade? It's crumbling away at places. Who should I get to inspect and repair? I suspect it's covered with something.. like a roofing material on top, but I can't see that without getting up to it (which I can't). Not sure if it's a job for a local roofer or should I get somebody else in for it? Like a builder?

stuart45

It's a cornice, and the supports are corbels. I'd get a builder to check it.

ThisIsWeird

A builder, or plasterer (exterior).
It does look largely solid and in decent order, and has just not been painted for a looong time. You'd want it done properly, tho' - all the loose stuff scraped off, any soft surface SBR'd or stabilised, damaged bits patched using exterior filler or mortar, and then fully redecorated - prob best to hand that over to a painter/decorator, tho' a multi skilled builder should be able to handle it all.
It should look superb when done.

jj_home_80

Thanks. Yes, I'll check it out. I'm just thinking if a professional roofer might know what to do too. I have a repair booked next week.

stuart45

On site it would depend on what the repairs involved. A cornice needs to be carefully checked because of it's potential danger from falling pieces.
Stone masons, bricklayers, or plasterers would normally be used. 
However, for small repairs in the private sector roofers are often used as they've got the ladders permanently on their trucks.

ThisIsWeird

If you had to choose a single trade, then I think I'd be inclined to go brickie/renderer/general builder over a roofer. But most of these tradesfolk will have a wide range of skills, so can overlap.

What I would do is to ask ask ask, and listen very carefully to what they say. "What work does it need?" And follow up if they don't explain fully - you want assurance they are au fait with this sort of stuff. "That bottom 'rail' - there are bits missing - how would you get that looking good again?" "Are these thin cracks a problem? How can they be prevented from reappearing?"

Be wary of, "That just needs to have the loose bits scraped off, and a couple of good thick coats of paint...".