Specialist repair of pitched and flat roofs on London’s period and prime homes — leaks traced to their real source, slipped slates and tiles reset, lead flashings and valleys renewed, chimneys and parapets made watertight, and flat roofs re-covered to last. We diagnose properly before we quote, carry out a clean, fully-scaffolded repair, and back it with a written guarantee. Emergency make-safe and temporary roofs available.
A roof leak almost never starts where the water appears inside. By the time a stain shows on a ceiling, water has usually travelled along a rafter, a batten or a layer of felt from an entry point that can be a metre or more away. The most common mistake — and the reason so many roof “repairs” fail within months — is patching the spot below the stain rather than finding where the weather is actually getting in. At Hampstead Renovations we survey the roof properly first, trace the leak to its true source, and only then quote the work.
We repair pitched and flat roofs on London’s period and prime homes: natural slate and clay tile on Victorian and Edwardian houses, lead-dressed valleys and parapets, chimney flashings, and the flat roofs over extensions, dormers and bays. Most problems are caused not by the slates or tiles themselves but by the details around them — lead flashings, valleys, mortar fillets and pointing — which weather out long before a sound slate does. Those details are exactly where we concentrate, because that is where the leaks are.
Every repair is carried out with safe, proper access — scaffolding or a roof platform rather than a rushed job off a ladder — cleaned down on completion, and backed by a written workmanship guarantee. Where a leak is active we will make the roof safe quickly to stop further damage, then return to carry out the lasting repair once we have surveyed the cause. The result is a roof that keeps the weather out for years, not weeks.
We will always tell you the truth about whether your roof needs a targeted repair or genuine renewal. Slipped slates, a failed flashing or a localised patch of perished felt are repairable without re-covering the whole roof. We recommend a full re-roof only where the covering is comprehensively at the end of its life or the structure beneath has failed — and even then we price the repair option alongside it so you can choose with the facts in front of you.
Call us at the first sign of trouble — a damp patch on a ceiling, a slate in the garden after a storm, daylight visible in the loft, or staining around a chimney breast. Small faults caught early are inexpensive to fix; the same fault left for a winter can rot timber, ruin plaster and turn a slate repair into a structural one.
The great majority of leaks on London roofs come down to a handful of failures — nearly all of them in the details, not the field of the roof.
Slates work loose as their fixings corrode (“nail sickness”) and tiles crack with age and frost. We reset, re-fix and replace with matching units rather than smearing on mortar or foam.
Cracked, lifted or undersized lead at chimneys, abutments and valleys is the single most common leak. We strip and re-dress new code-appropriate lead to traditional detail.
Perished flaunching, open pointing and failed flashings let water into chimney breasts and parapet gutters. We re-point, re-flaunch and re-flash to stop ingress at its source.
Splits, blisters and standing water on felt, asphalt or GRP roofs over extensions and dormers. We repair or re-cover with proper falls so water drains away.
Overflowing, leaking or sagging gutters and downpipes that throw water at the wall and cause damp. We clear, realign, re-seal or renew rainwater goods.
Slates stripped by wind, fallen branches, sudden leaks. We make the roof safe and weather-tight fast, then carry out the permanent repair.
London’s roofscape mixes steep slate and tile with hidden flat roofs and lead. We work confidently across all of it.
Welsh and Spanish slate roofs on Victorian and Edwardian terraces — re-fixing, matching and renewing slates and the lead details that go with them.
Plain tiles, pantiles and interlocking tiles — replacing cracked units, re-bedding ridges and renewing the verges and hips.
Felt, GRP, single-ply and traditional lead flat roofs over extensions, bays, dormers and parapet gutters — repaired or re-covered to last.
Roof faults rarely sit in isolation. Where a leak has already damaged ceilings or timber, our refurbishment and structural teams can put the inside right too, and where a roof repair forms part of a loft project we coordinate it with our loft conversion work.
A disciplined sequence from first call to guaranteed sign-off — with the diagnosis done before, not after, the quote.
We inspect the roof at close quarters, trace the leak to its true source, and check the flashings, valleys, pointing and coverings — not just the spot below the stain.
You get a clear, itemised, fixed price — including access — that sets out exactly what will be done and why, with the repair-versus-renew options where relevant.
Scaffolding, roof platforms or towers are arranged to suit the building and the work, so every repair is done safely and properly rather than rushed off a ladder.
Slates and tiles reset and matched, lead re-dressed, flashings and valleys renewed, pointing made good and flat roofs re-covered — all to traditional standards.
We check the repair holds, clear gutters and debris, strike the access and leave the site clean — then walk the work with you.
The work is covered by a written workmanship guarantee of up to ten years, backed by £10M insurance — because we fixed the cause, not the symptom.
If you take one thing from this page, let it be this: most roof leaks are lead and mortar problems, not slate problems. Lead flashings at chimneys and wall abutments, the lead-lined valleys between roof slopes, parapet gutters behind the front wall, and the mortar fillets and pointing that seal junctions all weather out long before a sound slate does. They are also invisible from the street, which is why a quick look from the ground so often misses the real cause.
Our survey concentrates on exactly these weak points. We strip failed lead and re-dress new code-appropriate lead to traditional standards, with proper laps, clips and welts so it sheds water and moves without splitting. We re-point and re-flaunch chimneys, rebuild parapet and box-gutter details, and renew valley linings. Done properly, these details outlast everything around them — done badly, they are the first thing to fail again.
Chimney stacks and parapet walls take more weather than any other part of the roof and are a frequent source of internal damp. We re-flaunch chimney pots, repair or rebuild stacks, re-point open joints, and renew the flashings and aprons around them so water is kept out of the breast and the wall head.
A blocked or leaking gutter throws water straight at the wall and is a common cause of damp that is mistaken for a roof leak. We clear, realign, re-seal and renew gutters, downpipes, fascias and soffits so rainwater is carried safely away from the building.
The flat roofs over London extensions, bay windows, dormers and outriggers are a frequent trouble spot — especially older felt and asphalt coverings that have gone brittle, blistered or split, or that pond water because the falls were never right. We establish whether a targeted repair will hold or whether a re-cover is the sensible course, and price both so the choice is yours.
When we re-cover, we use the right system for the situation — high-performance torch-on felt, GRP fibreglass or single-ply membrane — laid over sound, dry decking with correct falls, upstands and drainage so water runs to the outlet rather than sitting on the roof. Detailing at the edges, upstands and around any rooflights is where flat roofs succeed or fail, and that is where we take the most care.
When a roof fails suddenly — storm damage, a major leak, slates stripped by wind — we make it safe and weather-tight quickly with temporary covers or a scaffold roof, stopping further damage to the building and its contents before carrying out the permanent repair in a planned way.
Many of the roofs we repair are on listed buildings or in conservation areas, where the material and detail of the roof are protected. Like-for-like repair is normally routine maintenance needing no consent, but changing the roofing material, adding rooflights or altering the appearance can require permission — and on a listed building almost any alteration needs listed building consent.
We work to traditional standards as standard: natural slate matched to the original, lead dressed to heritage detail, lime mortars where appropriate, and clay tiles and ridges in keeping with the house. Where consent is needed we can prepare and submit the application through our in-house architectural and planning support, and we coordinate with conservation officers, surveyors and freeholders. The aim is a watertight roof that keeps the building’s character and its heritage status intact.
Where a roof repair turns out to be part of a bigger picture — water that has already damaged ceilings, plaster or structure — our heritage restoration and refurbishment teams can put the whole thing right under one contract, inside and out.
A full design-and-build firm with heritage roofing expertise — not a here-today gone-tomorrow roofer.
We trace leaks to their true source and concentrate on the lead, valley and pointing details where roofs actually fail — so the repair lasts instead of returning next winter.
A written, itemised quotation after a real survey, with repair-versus-renew options set out plainly. No phone estimates and no pressure to over-spend.
Safe access, traditional materials, £10M insurance and a written workmanship guarantee — the same standards we bring to every project across prime London.
Directly-employed trades and a single point of contact from survey to sign-off — the people who quote the work carry it out and stand behind it.
We repair roofs throughout North, North West and Central London’s period neighbourhoods.
Our roofers work across the areas we cover — from the slate-roofed Victorian terraces of Hampstead, Belsize Park, Highgate and Kentish Town to the parapet-fronted houses of St John’s Wood and Central London. Wherever your roof is leaking, we bring the same proper diagnosis, traditional materials and guaranteed workmanship. For wider work, our heritage restoration and house refurbishment teams can take on the whole building.
Conservation-led restoration of listed and period buildings — roofs, brickwork, stone, render and joinery under one contract.
Turning roof space into living space — with the roof covering, structure and insulation handled together.
Repairs to rafters, purlins and roof structure where leaks or age have caused movement or decay.
Putting right water-damaged ceilings, plaster and decoration inside, as part of a coordinated whole-house project.
There is no single price for a roof repair — it depends on the fault and the building. We survey first and quote a fixed price, but here is what drives the figure.
Often the single biggest factor. Resetting a slate within ladder reach is inexpensive; the same job at fourth-floor parapet level needs scaffolding, which costs more than the repair itself. We itemise access separately so you can see it clearly.
A handful of slipped slates or a single failed flashing is a modest job. Re-leading a chimney, rebuilding a parapet gutter or re-covering a flat roof is more involved — and a leak left to spread costs more than one caught early.
Matching natural slate, heritage clay tiles or dressing new lead to code costs more than generic materials, but is essential on a period or listed roof — and protects the value of the house.
Tall townhouses, steep pitches, valleys, dormers and multiple chimneys all add time and access requirements compared with a simple two-storey roof.
Because every roof is different, we never quote over the phone. We survey the actual roof, identify the real cause, and give you a fixed written price with the access and materials itemised — so there are no surprises and you know exactly what you are paying for. Where it is the sensible choice, we will set out a like-for-like repair alongside a longer-term renewal option and let you decide.
Roofs give warning before they fail badly. Catching the early signs turns a costly structural repair into a quick, inexpensive fix.
Brown rings or spreading damp on upstairs ceilings and around chimney breasts mean water is getting in. Because water travels before it drips, the entry point is rarely directly above the stain — which is why proper tracing matters.
A slate or piece of mortar on the ground after a storm is a clear sign fixings are failing. One slipped slate exposes the next, so a single dislodged unit can quickly become an open patch of roof.
Light visible through the roof, damp felt, or musty smells in the loft point to gaps in the covering or failed underlay. The loft is the best early-warning system a house has — it is worth a look twice a year.
Water spilling over a gutter, or green algae streaking a wall below the roofline, usually means blocked or failed rainwater goods throwing water at the building — a frequent and easily-fixed cause of damp.
Most roof emergencies are avoidable with a little routine care. Have gutters and downpipes cleared at least once a year — blocked rainwater goods are behind a large share of the “roof” leaks we are called to — and keep an eye on the roof after high winds and hard frosts, when slates slip and mortar cracks. Glance into the loft a couple of times a year for damp, daylight or staining, and act on a single slipped slate or a hairline crack in a chimney flaunching straight away rather than waiting for it to let water in. Above all, deal with small faults in the dry months: a slate reset on a fine day is a modest job, while the same fault left through a wet winter can rot rafters, ruin plaster and ceilings and turn a quick repair into a major one. We are happy to carry out a one-off inspection and put a simple maintenance plan in place so your roof keeps the weather out for the long term.
For an active leak we prioritise a make-safe visit to stop water getting in — tarping, temporary cover or a first-fix repair — usually within a short window of your call, then return to carry out the permanent repair once we have surveyed the cause properly. The worst thing to do with a leak is to patch the spot where water appears inside; water often travels along a rafter or felt before it drips, so we trace it back to the true entry point rather than treating the symptom.
In most cases a targeted repair is all that is needed and we will tell you so honestly. Slipped slates, a failed flashing, a cracked valley or a localised area of perished felt are all repairable without re-covering the whole roof. We only recommend a full re-roof where the covering is comprehensively at the end of its life or the structure beneath has failed — and even then we set out the repair option alongside it so you can make an informed choice rather than being pushed into the most expensive job.
Most roof leaks are not the slates themselves but the details around them — lead flashings at chimneys and abutments, valleys between roof slopes, parapet gutters, and the mortar fillets and pointing that seal junctions. These fail long before a sound slate does, and they are invisible from the street. Our survey looks specifically at these weak points, which is why we find the real cause where a quick ladder inspection often misses it.
Yes — natural slate and clay tile are our core work on London’s Victorian, Edwardian and Georgian homes. We match existing slates and tiles for size, colour and weathering, re-hang them on new fixings, and renew the lead and mortar details to traditional standards. Keeping a period roof in its original material protects both the look of the house and its value, and is usually required in conservation areas.
Yes. We repair and re-cover flat roofs over extensions, dormers, bays and outriggers using the right system for the situation — high-performance felt, GRP fibreglass or single-ply membrane — with proper falls, upstands and drainage so water runs off rather than ponding. Where a flat roof is leaking we establish whether a repair or a re-cover is the sensible course and price both.
Lead flashings, soakers, valleys and chimney details are some of the most common sources of leaks and a particular specialism of ours. We strip failed lead and re-dress new code-appropriate lead to traditional standards, re-point and re-flaunch chimneys, and rebuild parapet and gutter details so the junctions that take the most weather are made properly watertight.
Yes — safe access is part of the job. We arrange scaffolding, roof access or tower platforms appropriate to the work and the building, so repairs are carried out safely and to a proper standard rather than rushed off a ladder. Access is included and itemised in your fixed quotation, with no hidden extras.
Like-for-like roof repair is normally routine maintenance needing no consent. However, on a listed building almost any alteration can need listed building consent, and in a conservation area changing the roofing material or adding rooflights can require permission. We will tell you which category applies to your property and, where consent is needed, can prepare and submit the application through our in-house planning support.
It depends entirely on the fault, the roof and the access required — a few slipped slates reset is a modest job, while renewing a chimney’s lead and re-pointing, or re-covering a flat roof, costs more, and scaffolding is a significant factor on a tall townhouse. We never quote a roof over the phone; we survey the actual roof, identify the real cause, and give you a fixed written price so you know exactly what you are paying for.
Yes. Our roof repairs carry a written workmanship guarantee — up to ten years depending on the scope — and we are fully insured with £10M cover. Because we diagnose the true cause rather than patching the symptom, our repairs are made to last, and we stand behind them in writing.
“I would like to thank Ross and his team for their consistent commitment to quality and their unerring reliability. They delivered our property to specification and on time, proving to be an extremely effective, experienced, and proactive contractor.”
“We have worked with Ross and his company many times. They are extremely professional and hardworking individuals who can work under any circumstances. There was no variation to the works.”
Book a no-obligation consultation at our Finchley Road design studio or in your home. The first meeting is free, lasts 60–90 minutes, and concludes with an honest indication of feasibility, programme and budget band. No salespeople. No pressure.
Site visit · feasibility assessment · outline cost estimate · programme indication. No obligation. Saturday appointments available.