Roof advice for Llanelli homes
The best time of year for roof work in Llanelli
People ask two versions of this question. When is the best time to have a roof done? And when is the cheapest? They are not quite the same, and in a town as wet and windy as Llanelli neither has a tidy answer.
Here is how the seasons affect roofing in west Wales, and how to time your own job.
What roofing needs from the weather
- Dry spells. A roof that is being re-covered is open in sections. Each section needs to be stripped and made watertight again between showers.
- Light wind. Roofers will not work on a slope or a scaffold in strong gusts, and felt and sheet materials cannot be handled in them.
- No frost for wet trades. Mortar on a ridge, verge or chimney can fail if it freezes before it has set.
- Some warmth for flat roofs. Adhesives, fibreglass resin and torch-on felt all behave better when it is mild and dry.
- Daylight. A short December day gives far fewer working hours than a June one.
The seasons in west Wales
Spring
Days lengthen and the worst of the gales are usually over. It is a good time to deal with whatever winter exposed, and to have a tired roof looked at before the summer diary fills.
Summer
The longest days and the best odds of a dry week. This is the easiest season for a full re-roof or a new flat roof. It is also when demand for planned work is highest, so book ahead.
Autumn
Early autumn can be settled. Later on it is often the stormiest time of the British year. Use the early weeks to clear gutters, fix loose ridge tiles and repoint the chimney, so the roof goes into winter in good order.
Winter
Gales occur most often in winter, and the western side of Britain gets the most rain. Repairs still go ahead between fronts, but a big job takes longer, with days lost to wind and wet. Winter is the season for urgent repairs, and the worst one for finding out your roof is past it.
Is there a cheap season?
We have not found a reputable UK cost guide that publishes lower roofing prices for one season than another, so we will not claim there is a cheap month.
What does change is how busy roofers are. In a quiet spell you may find it easier to get a date and a roofer may have more time for a small job. Straight after a storm, everyone wants the same few people at once.
If your work is planned and not urgent, the practical advice is simple. Ask for quotes a couple of months before you want it done. Be flexible on the start date so the roofer can pick a dry window. That flexibility is worth more than any season.
When waiting is a false saving
The seasons only matter for work that can wait. A leak cannot.
Water coming into a roof does damage every time it rains, and in Llanelli that is often. Putting off a £300 repair until summer can mean wet timber, spoiled insulation and a stained ceiling by the time summer comes. MyBuilder's roof repair guide puts minor repairs at £100 to £300 and major repairs involving structural work at £2,500 or more. The gap between those two is what delay costs.
So split the work in your mind. Stop the leak now, whatever the month. Then plan the bigger job, if there is one, for a dry spell. A roofer can often do a holding repair that sees the roof through to a re-cover in better weather.
Timing a job in Llanelli
- Single slates, ridge tiles, lead: any time there is a dry, calm day. Do not wait.
- Chimney repointing: spring to early autumn is best, clear of frost. Combine it with other high work while access is up.
- Flat roofs: late spring to early autumn where you have the choice. See flat roofing in Llanelli.
- Full re-roof: late spring and summer give the best run of weather. Start asking in late winter. See new roofs in Llanelli.
- Gutters: late autumn, once the leaves are down, and again in spring under a mossy roof.
Common questions
What is the cheapest time of year to get a new roof?
No published UK guide we have read gives a seasonal price. Roofers tend to be less stretched outside the summer rush and the weeks after a storm, and you may get a start date sooner then. Being flexible about dates and getting quotes early will do more for the price than picking a month.
Can a roof be replaced in winter?
Yes, and it is done every year. It takes longer, because short days, rain and wind all stop work, and the roofer has to keep the house covered between sessions. If the roof is failing, a winter re-roof is better than a winter of leaks.
The best time is before it leaks
Every roof job is easier, quicker and cheaper when it is chosen and planned than when it is forced by water on the floor. If you already know something is wrong up there, the right season is this one.
Say what the roof needs and when you would like it done. Add your part of Llanelli and send the form.