This August job in Chester was a new roof for a brick bungalow with a hipped front and a chimney on the main slope. The photos on this page were taken while the work was under way, so they show the part of a re-roof most people never see: the roof with its old tiles off and the new layers going on underneath.
From the drive you can see two of our team up on the slope, part of the roof already taken back to membrane and battens, and our trailer parked on the drive for materials and waste.
What the photos show
The old roof was covered in concrete interlocking tiles. As each section came off, the tiles were stacked on the neighbouring slope rather than thrown down, which keeps the drive and garden clearer while the roof is open.
Once a section was stripped back to the rafters, a new breathable membrane was rolled out across it and new battens were fixed through it at even spacing. One photo shows a grey membrane going on, another a green one on a different slope, both with the battens fixed in straight lines from eaves to ridge. In the second photo you can also see the loft insulation between the rafters on the section that had not yet been covered.
- Old concrete interlocking tiles lifted and stacked on the roof
- Old underlay and battens removed back to the rafters
- New breathable membrane laid across the rafters
- New timber battens fixed through the membrane, ready for tiling
Why a re-roof starts underneath
On an older roof the tiles themselves often look sound, but the felt beneath can be brittle or torn and the battens can be soft where they have been wet. Re-laying new tiles on tired timber and underlay would only hide the problem, so a full re-roof strips everything back and rebuilds from the rafters up.
A breathable membrane lets water vapour out of the loft while keeping driven rain and snow out, which helps with condensation in the roof space. The battens are what the new tiles hang from, so getting them straight and evenly spaced is what makes the finished tile courses line up.
If your own roof has started to slip tiles or let water into the loft, we can come and look at whether it needs a repair or a full re-roof. You can see a finished Chester re-roof on our April 2026 project page, or send us an enquiry.
Questions About This Kind of Job
Do you strip the whole roof at once?
Not usually. We work in sections so that only part of the roof is open at any time, and whatever is open can be covered if the weather turns.
What happens to the old tiles?
They are lifted and stacked as they come off. Any that are going to waste are taken away, and we can talk to you about whether any are worth keeping.
Will I need to move things out of the loft?
It helps to clear anything valuable near the eaves, as some dust and debris can fall into the loft while the old underlay comes out. We will tell you what to expect before we start.
