By Basingstoke Roofing Experts · Call 0125 624 2410
This case study follows a typical re-roof on a 3-bed mid-terrace in Popley — one of Basingstoke's original 1960s overspill estates. The property had its original concrete interlocking tiles, original iron nail fixings, and original bitumen underlay. It had never been re-roofed.
The homeowner contacted us after finding tiles on the front path after every strong wind for the past two winters. An inspection confirmed advanced nail sickness throughout — the original iron nails were corroding and losing grip across the entire roof surface. The underlay was brittle and torn in multiple places. Ridge mortar had crumbled along the full apex. Three battens on the rear slope had moisture damage from decades of water tracking through the failed underlay.
Full strip and re-tile: Marley Edgemere concrete interlocking tiles in smooth grey. New Tyvek breathable roofing membrane. New 50×25mm treated softwood battens at 343mm gauge. All fixings stainless steel. Dry ridge system (Manthorpe). Dry verge caps. Three replacement battens in treated C24 timber. Ridge and hip ventilation tiles. All lead flashings renewed in code 4. Guttering refitted to correct fall.
Day 1: Scaffold erected. Day 2: Full strip — tiles, battens, underlay removed. Timber inspection completed, three damaged battens marked. Day 3: Damaged battens replaced, new membrane and battens installed, tiling commenced from eaves. Day 4: Tiling completed, dry ridge and dry verge fitted, lead flashings dressed. Day 5: Guttering refitted, site cleaned, scaffold struck. Final walkthrough with homeowner.
Total: £5,800 including scaffold, all materials, labour, disposal and 10-year guarantee. This was competitive with other quotes the homeowner received, but our specification included dry ridge and dry verge as standard — two other quotes omitted these and would have required additional cost to add.
The roof is now waterproof, mechanically sound, and specified for another 60+ years of service. The homeowner reported that the house felt noticeably warmer the first winter after re-roofing — the combination of new breathable membrane and properly ventilated ridge was a significant improvement over the original 1960s specification.
Roofing is one of the few trades where the customer usually cannot see the work being discussed. That asymmetry is why getting a second opinion on any significant quote is sensible — not because most roofers are dishonest, but because specifications genuinely vary and comparing them is the only way to know what you are buying.
When comparing quotes, look past the headline figure. Does each quote include scaffold? Are materials named by manufacturer or described vaguely as "quality tiles"? Is waste disposal included? Is there a written guarantee, and what does it actually cover? A quote that is £500 cheaper but omits scaffold and dry ridge is not cheaper at all.
Ask what happens if additional problems are found once work starts. A good answer describes a process: stop, photograph, discuss, agree cost, then continue. A vague answer suggests you may face unexpected charges. Ask what guarantee is provided and request it in writing. Ask whether the guarantee transfers if you sell — a transferable guarantee is a genuine selling point.
Finally, ask for references from recent local work. Any roofer confident in their standards will provide them readily, and following up two or three takes ten minutes that could save you thousands.
The National Federation of Roofing Contractors publishes technical guidance for homeowners covering material selection, standards compliance and choosing a contractor. Your local authority building control department can advise on when notification or approval is required. For conservation area and listed building work, the Basingstoke and Deane conservation officer is the definitive source on what materials will be acceptable.
For anything specific to your own roof, a professional inspection is worth more than any amount of general reading. Call 0125 624 2410 — advice costs nothing and there is no obligation to book work.
General roofing advice only takes you so far, because the right answer depends heavily on what your roof is actually made of and when it went on. Basingstoke's housing splits into clear eras and each behaves differently.
The 1960s–70s overspill estates — Popley, Winklebury, South Ham, Oakridge, Buckskin and Black Dam — account for over a third of the town's stock and were roofed with concrete interlocking tiles on iron nail fixings. Those fixings are now 50 to 65 years old and failing across whole slopes at once, because they were all installed within a few years of each other. Anything you read about roof maintenance needs filtering through that: on these roofs the covering is often sound while the thing holding it on is not.
The 1980s–2000s estates — Chineham, Kempshott, Lychpit, Hatch Warren and Beggarwood — have decades of life left in the covering. What fails there is mortar and detailing: ridge and verge bedding, and flashing junctions at dormers and extensions where volume housebuilders used mastic instead of lead. Those are cheap fixes caught early and expensive ones left alone.
Old Basing and the older pockets around the Top of Town are different again. Handmade clay and natural slate last 80 to 150 years, so a century-old roof may have half its life remaining. Conservation area requirements mean matched materials and lime mortar, which changes both the method and the cost.
Roofing is one of the few trades where the customer cannot see the work being discussed, cannot watch it happen and cannot properly assess it afterwards. That asymmetry is why comparing quotes properly matters more here than almost anywhere else.
When you compare, look past the headline number. Does each quote include scaffold as its own line? Are materials named by manufacturer, or described vaguely as quality tiles? Is waste disposal included? Is there a written guarantee, and what does it actually cover? A quote £500 cheaper that omits scaffold, new battens and dry ridge is not cheaper — it is a smaller job wearing the same name.
Ask what happens if additional problems appear once work starts. A good answer describes a process: stop, photograph, discuss, agree the cost, continue. A vague answer means you may face charges you did not sign up for.
The National Federation of Roofing Contractors publishes technical guidance for homeowners on material selection, standards compliance and choosing a contractor. Your local authority building control team can advise on when notification or approval is required. For conservation area and listed building work in Old Basing or Whitchurch, the Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council conservation officer is the definitive source on acceptable materials.
For anything specific to your own roof, an inspection is worth more than any amount of general reading. Call 0125 624 2410 — advice costs nothing and there is no obligation to book work.
Call 0125 624 2410 for a free, no-obligation quote.
Roofing decisions rarely exist in isolation. A question about repair costs usually leads to a question about whether replacement makes more sense, which leads to material choices, which leads to what a good quote should contain. Our other guides cover each of these in the same detail as this one.
If you are working through a specific decision and want to talk it through rather than read about it, call 0125 624 2410. There is no charge for advice and no expectation that you will book anything. We would rather you made a well-informed decision — even if that decision is to use someone else — than an uninformed one.
General guidance takes you only so far. The right answer for a 1960s system-built terrace in Popley is different from the right answer for a Victorian cottage in Old Basing or a 2000s detached in Beggarwood. Housing era, roof structure, exposure and existing condition all shape what is appropriate.
A free inspection resolves this in under an hour. We look at your actual roof, tell you what we find, and give you a written assessment you can act on or file for reference. No obligation either way.
A typical 3-bed mid-terrace: £4,500–£6,500 including scaffold, all materials, dry ridge, and guarantee. End-of-terrace properties with an extra exposed gable cost slightly more.
3–5 working days for a standard mid-terrace. This includes scaffold erection and striking. Weather delays may extend the timeline but we work through light rain where safe.
Marley Edgemere or similar modern concrete interlocking tiles. These are the same format as the original 1960s tiles, ensuring correct fitment to the existing roof structure.
Yes — all battens are replaced as standard. 60-year-old battens have been exposed to moisture for decades and their remaining life is uncertain. New battens are a small cost for significant peace of mind.
Yes. Shared scaffold between terraced properties can save £300–£500 per property. We offer discounted rates for coordinated street projects.
We stop, document the issue with photographs, and discuss with you before proceeding. Our quotes include a timber repair allowance for minor issues. Significant structural problems are quoted separately with your approval before work continues.
Yes. Our 10-year workmanship guarantee transfers to new owners, which is a selling point when marketing your property.
No call-out fees. No obligation. Just an honest quote from a local Basingstoke roofer who'll turn up when they say they will.
0125 624 2410Last updated: August 2026