Roofers in Ely

Roofing a cathedral city that stands in the wind

Ely sits on a low hill with the Fens spread flat around it in every direction, and that is the single most important thing to understand about an Ely roof. Wind that has crossed miles of open field with nothing to break it arrives at full strength and goes straight for anything that is not properly fixed down. Lifted tiles, flashing peeled back off a stack, ridges rocked loose, gutters full of whatever the wind has put in them. We come down from Wisbech, which sits in the same Fen country, so none of it surprises us.

The historic core and the older brick streets

The centre of Ely is a conservation area, and the older streets below the cathedral are full of brick property roofed in clay pantile and slate. These are handsome roofs and they are demanding ones. Pantiles have to be matched rather than substituted, the leadwork at the valleys and around the stacks needs doing properly rather than sealing over, and pointing that has weathered for decades wants raking out and redoing. Materials often have to match what is already on the roof, and on a listed building consent can be needed before work starts. We go through that with you before we quote and point you to the district council where permission is likely to apply.

Fixings that hold in Fen wind

On an exposed roof the fixing method matters as much as the covering. When we fit new roofs and re-roofs in Ely we use breathable membranes and mechanically fixed ridges and verges rather than relying on mortar alone, because a mortar-only ridge is the first thing a Fen gale finds. Our roof repairs deal with the storm-lifted tiles, split lead, slipped slates and failed flashing the wind creates across the city and the villages around it, and we refix the surrounding area as well as replacing what has gone, so the same tile is not off again next winter.

Beyond that we carry out chimney repairs, repointing and leadwork on the tall old stacks in the city centre, cover extensions and garages with flat roofing in fibreglass and EPDM rubber, fit uPVC fascias, soffits and guttering that stand up to driving rain, and offer roof cleaning for the moss that thrives in damp Fen air.

Whether your house is a period property under the cathedral or a modern build on the edge of the city, you get the same from us: a proper look at the roof and into the loft, a plain explanation of what we found, and a free written quote that stands for thirty days. Three generations of our family have roofed in this part of the world. You can find out more about how we work, or get in touch for a free quote.