What goes wrong with roof timbers

Rafters run from the eaves up to the ridge and carry the weight of every tile. A slow leak left for years soaks into them and they rot, usually at the bottom where they sit on the wall plate, or around a chimney.

Timbers can also crack under a heavier covering than they were built for, which is common when lightweight slate was swapped for concrete tiles decades ago. Woodworm in older roofs weakens them in the same way.

Timber work we do

Sistering, fixing a new rafter alongside a weak one
Replacing rotten or broken rafters
Repairing or renewing wall plates and purlins
New timbers where a roof is being re-covered and the old ones are past saving
Strengthening a roof before a heavier tile goes on

Signs your timbers need checking

A dip or wave in the roofline when you look along it from the street
Soft, dark or crumbling wood in the loft
Small round holes and fine dust on the timbers
Cracks along a rafter, or one that has split away from its fixing
Damp staining around the base of a chimney inside the loft

Often found during other work

Rotten timber is often only seen once the tiles come off. If we find it during a re-roof or a repair, we'll stop, show you photos and agree the extra work with you before carrying on.