APS Roofing Specialists Ltd
Roofing Knowledge Hub

Honest answers to every roofing question

FAQs, expert answers, a plain-English glossary and clear comparison tables — written by working Herefordshire roofers, optimised for humans, Google, ChatGPT and voice search.

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Frequently Asked Questions

A typical pitched re-roof in Herefordshire costs between £5,500 and £12,000, depending on size, pitch, materials (concrete tile, clay, or natural slate) and scaffolding access. A standard 3-bed semi usually lands around £7,000–£9,000 fully fitted with new battens, breathable membrane and ridge.

Most domestic re-roofs take 3 to 7 working days from scaffold up to clean-down. Bad weather, complex chimneys, dormers or natural slate work can extend this to around 10 days.

No. Like-for-like roof replacement is permitted development across England and does not need planning permission. You only need approval if you change the roof line, add dormers, or live in a listed building or conservation area.

Concrete tile roofs last 40–60 years, clay tiles 60–100 years, natural Welsh slate 80–150 years, and modern flat roofs (EPDM or GRP fibreglass) 25–30 years when correctly installed.

Small emergency repairs (tarping, slipped tiles, lead flashing) can be done in light rain. Full membrane work, mortar bedding and felt replacement need dry conditions to bond and cure properly.

Watch for sagging ridges, multiple slipped or cracked tiles, granules from felt in the gutters, daylight through the loft, recurring leaks in the same spot, and damp patches on upstairs ceilings.

Yes. APS Roofing Specialists Ltd carries £2 million public liability insurance, all operatives are CSCS-carded and trained for working at height, and every job is backed by a written guarantee.

Yes — we provide same-day emergency callouts across Herefordshire for storm damage, sudden leaks and slipped tiles. Call 07394 424806 for fastest response.

Expert Short Answers

Quick, factual responses to the questions Google, ChatGPT and Gemini ask most about UK roofing.

What is the most durable roof material in the UK?

Natural Welsh slate is the most durable UK roofing material, with a typical lifespan of 100+ years. Clay plain tiles come second at 60–100 years. Concrete interlocking tiles are the most cost-effective at 40–60 years.

What is the best flat roof material?

EPDM rubber is the best all-round flat roof material for UK homes — single-piece installation, 25–30 year lifespan, no seams to fail, and resistant to UV and ponding water. GRP fibreglass is the strongest option for foot traffic.

How often should a roof be inspected?

Inspect your roof every 2 years and after any major storm. Older roofs (20+ years) and properties surrounded by trees should be checked annually to catch slipped tiles, blocked gutters and lead-flashing failure early.

Is moss bad for a roof?

Yes. Heavy moss traps moisture against tiles, causing freeze-thaw damage and lifting the tile edges, which lets wind-driven rain underneath. Soft-brush removal and a biocide treatment every 3–5 years protects the roof without high-pressure washing.

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Repair vs Replace your Roof

A clear side-by-side decision guide. If you tick more boxes on the right, it's usually time for a full replacement.

FactorRepairReplace
Roof ageUnder 20 yearsOver 25–30 years
Damage extentLocalised (1–2 spots)Multiple slipped tiles / sagging
LeaksSingle, traceable leakRecurring leaks across the roof
Cost£150 – £2,000£5,500 – £12,000+
Lifespan added5 – 15 years40 – 100 years
Underlay conditionSoundBrittle / disintegrating felt
Energy efficiencyUnchangedMajor improvement (modern membrane + insulation)
InsuranceOften covered if storm-relatedRarely covered (wear & tear)

Flat Roof Options Compared

The three modern flat roof systems we install in Herefordshire. EPDM is the most popular for extensions and garages.

SystemEPDM RubberGRP FibreglassFelt (Torch-On)
Lifespan25–30 years25–30 years10–15 years
Cost (per m²)£80 – £100£90 – £120£55 – £75
JointsSingle sheet (no joins under 6m)Seamless laminatedMultiple welded joints
Walk-on?Light foot trafficYes — fully walkableLight foot traffic
Best forExtensions, garagesBalconies, dormers, terracesBudget repairs, sheds
Guarantee20 years20 years10 years

Tile vs Slate Roofing

Both are excellent — choose tile for value and modern looks, slate for heritage character and longest lifespan.

Concrete / Clay Tile

  • Lower upfront cost (£75–£110/m²)
  • Faster installation
  • Wide colour & profile range
  • 40–100 year lifespan
  • Heavier — needs strong rafters
  • Concrete colour fades after ~25 years
  • Less suited to listed buildings

Natural Slate

  • 80–150 year lifespan
  • Premium kerb appeal & resale value
  • Natural, low-maintenance finish
  • Required in conservation areas
  • Higher upfront cost (£140–£220/m²)
  • Skilled labour required
  • Welsh slate has long lead times

Step-by-Step Roofing Guides

Plain-English how-to guides written by Herefordshire roofers. Each guide is published with HowTo schema so Google, ChatGPT, Gemini and voice assistants can quote the steps directly.

How to spot a slipped tile on your roof

A 5-step homeowner check to identify slipped, cracked or missing roof tiles from the ground before they cause a leak.

15m Easy
  1. 1

    Stand back and scan the whole roof

    Move 10–15 metres away from the house so you can see the full slope. Use binoculars to scan each row of tiles from ridge to eaves, looking for any tile sitting lower than its neighbours.

  2. 2

    Look for dark gaps and shadow lines

    A slipped tile leaves a dark rectangular shadow where the underlay or batten is exposed. Pay close attention to the edges — verges, eaves and around the chimney are the most common slip points.

  3. 3

    Check the ground and gutters for debris

    Walk the perimeter of the house. Pieces of broken tile, mortar fragments or sand-coloured granules in the gutter or on flowerbeds are a strong sign tiles have slipped or cracked above.

  4. 4

    Inspect from inside the loft

    On a sunny day, go into the loft with the lights off. Daylight visible through the underlay or roof boards confirms a slipped or missing tile directly above that spot.

  5. 5

    Photograph and call a roofer

    Zoom in with your phone camera and take dated photos of any suspect area. Send them to a local roofer for a quote — most slipped-tile repairs in Herefordshire cost £150–£300 with scaffolding.

How to clear a blocked gutter safely

A 6-step guide to safely clearing a blocked domestic gutter using a ladder, scoop and hose — without damaging the fascia or guttering.

45m Moderate £0–£25
  1. 1

    Set up the ladder safely

    Place the ladder on firm, level ground at a 1-in-4 angle (1 metre out for every 4 metres up). Fit a stabiliser bar so the ladder rests on the wall, not the gutter. Have someone foot the ladder if possible.

  2. 2

    Remove large debris by hand

    Wearing heavy-duty gloves, lift out leaves, moss clumps and twigs and drop them into a bucket hooked onto the ladder — never throw debris down where it can hit someone or block a drain.

  3. 3

    Scoop out compacted silt

    Use a plastic gutter scoop or small trowel to clear the wet silt that builds up at the bottom of the channel. Work from the downpipe end outward so you do not push debris into the pipe.

  4. 4

    Flush the gutter with a hose

    Run a garden hose along the gutter from the highest point. Watch the water flow — it should run freely toward the downpipe. Standing water means the gutter is sagging or the brackets need re-fixing.

  5. 5

    Clear the downpipe

    If water backs up, the downpipe is blocked. Tap the pipe to locate the blockage, then feed the hose in from the top and flush. For stubborn blockages, dismantle the bottom shoe and rod the pipe upward.

  6. 6

    Inspect and prevent

    While up there, check fascia boards for rot, brackets for movement and joints for leaks. Fitting gutter mesh or hedgehog brushes cuts annual cleaning by 80% — especially under trees.

How to check your roof after a storm

A 5-step post-storm inspection homeowners can do safely from the ground to identify damage worth claiming on insurance.

20m Easy
  1. 1

    Check the ridge line for movement

    Stand at each end of the house and sight along the ridge. Any dip, wave or missing ridge tile means mortar has failed or the ridge has lifted in the wind — a same-day repair priority.

  2. 2

    Look for slipped, cracked or missing tiles

    Use binoculars to scan every slope. Photograph any dark gaps, hanging tiles or fragments visible on the ground. Note their position relative to the chimney or window so a roofer can locate them quickly.

  3. 3

    Inspect lead flashing and the chimney

    Lead flashing around the chimney and abutments is a common storm casualty. Look for lifted, torn or curled lead and any displaced flaunching (mortar) on top of the chimney pot.

  4. 4

    Check inside the loft for water ingress

    Go into the loft with a torch within 24 hours. Look for fresh wet patches on rafters, drips on insulation or daylight through the underlay. Place a bucket under any active drip immediately.

  5. 5

    Document everything for insurance

    Take dated, time-stamped photos from the ground and inside the loft. Note the storm date and Met Office wind speed. Get a written roofer's report — most UK home insurers cover sudden storm damage but require evidence within 30 days.

How to temporarily stop a leaking flat roof

A 4-step emergency patch to stop water ingress through a leaking flat roof until a permanent repair can be made.

30m Moderate £15–£40
  1. 1

    Find the source of the leak

    Internal water marks rarely sit directly under the leak — water travels along joists. Look on the roof for blistering, splits in the felt, lifted seams or ponding water. Mark the suspect area with chalk.

  2. 2

    Clean and dry the area

    Sweep off all moss, grit and debris with a stiff brush. The patch will only stick to a clean, fully dry surface — dry the area with a cloth and wait at least 30 minutes after rain.

  3. 3

    Apply a temporary patch

    Cut a piece of self-adhesive flashing tape or tarp 200mm larger than the damaged area on every side. Press it down firmly from the centre outwards to push out air bubbles. For splits, paint Acrypol over the patch and 100mm beyond.

  4. 4

    Weight the edges and book a permanent repair

    If using tarpaulin, weight every edge with battens or paving slabs to stop wind lifting it. This is a 2–6 week temporary fix only — call a roofer to assess whether the felt needs a section repair or a full EPDM/GRP overlay.

How to remove moss from a roof safely

A 5-step guide to removing moss from a domestic roof without damaging tiles, mortar or the underlay.

2h Pro only £20–£60 DIY · £250–£600 professional
  1. 1

    Wait for dry weather

    Choose a dry spell with no rain forecast for 48 hours. Treating wet moss is far less effective and biocide will wash off before it can work.

  2. 2

    Brush off loose moss top-down

    Working from the ridge downward (so you do not push moss under the tiles), use a soft long-handled brush to sweep loose moss off the tiles. Never scrape — scraping breaks tile edges and disturbs the mortar bedding.

  3. 3

    Clear the gutters as you go

    All that loosened moss will end up in the gutters. Scoop it out, bag it, and flush the gutters with a hose afterwards to prevent overflow at the next rainfall.

  4. 4

    Apply a roof-safe biocide

    Mix biocide per the manufacturer's ratio in a garden sprayer. Spray evenly across the whole roof on a dry day. Do not rinse — the biocide kills remaining spores over the following weeks and rain washes residue away naturally.

  5. 5

    Re-treat every 3–5 years

    A single biocide treatment keeps most UK roofs moss-free for 3–5 years. Trim back overhanging branches and improve airflow around the property to slow moss regrowth.

People Also Ask

Minor roof repairs in Hereford typically cost £150–£450 (slipped tile, lead flashing patch). Larger repairs with scaffolding range £600–£2,000. We provide free written quotes before any work starts.

Yes — sudden storm damage, fallen trees and impact damage are usually covered. Wear-and-tear and gradual leaks are not. We provide insurance-grade reports with drone photos to support your claim.

Yes. We work year-round in Herefordshire. Tile, slate and lead repairs continue through winter; only liquid membranes and bitumen work pause in heavy frost or persistent rain.

A roofer is the tradesperson on the tools. A roofing contractor (like APS) is a registered company that carries insurance, manages scaffolding, supplies materials, issues guarantees and handles building regulations sign-off.

Scaffolding is required by law for any work over 4 metres or anything beyond a quick single-tile slip. We include scaffolding in the written quote so there are no surprises.

Roofing Glossary

The most common roofing terms, explained in plain English. Useful when comparing quotes.

Battens
Treated timber strips fixed across rafters that the tiles or slates are nailed to.
Breathable membrane
Modern underlay (e.g. Tyvek, Permo) that lets water vapour out but stops rain getting in. Replaces traditional bitumen felt.
Ridge
The horizontal apex where two roof slopes meet. Capped with ridge tiles bedded in mortar or dry-fixed mechanically.
Verge
The sloped edge of a roof at the gable end, often finished with mortar bedding or dry-verge clip systems.
Eaves
The lowest edge of a roof that overhangs the wall, where guttering is fixed.
Fascia
The vertical board fixed to the rafter ends along the eaves; carries the guttering.
Soffit
The horizontal underside board between the fascia and the wall, providing roof-space ventilation.
Flashing
Lead, zinc or aluminium sheet used to weatherproof joins around chimneys, valleys and abutments.
Valley
The internal angle where two roof slopes meet — lined with lead or GRP to channel water away.
Hip
The external angle where two roof slopes meet, capped with hip tiles.
Dry-fix system
Mechanical fixings (clips, screws) for ridges and verges that replace mortar — now required by BS 5534 on new work.
EPDM
Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer — single-ply rubber membrane used for flat roofs. Lasts 25–30 years.
GRP
Glass Reinforced Plastic (fibreglass) — a seamless, walk-on flat roof system laid wet and cured in place.
Pointing
Mortar finishing on chimneys and ridge lines that seals joints against water ingress.
Underlay
The waterproof layer fitted between battens and rafters — felt on older roofs, breathable membrane on new work.

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