A roof replacement, or re-roof, strips the old tiles or slates, battens and felt from a pitched roof and replaces them with a new breathable membrane, battens and covering, repairing timbers and renewing ridges, valleys and flashings at the same time.
Homeowners in Chatham usually consider a new roof for one of a few reasons: something has worn out, the house no longer suits the way they live, or they are getting it ready to sell. We visit, agree a specification and put a fixed price in writing. Most jobs like this take 1–2 weeks on site, plus scaffolding time, and we work across Kent, including Rochester, Gillingham and Strood.
- Guide price
- £7,800–£17,000 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 1–2 weeks on site, plus scaffolding time
- Postcodes
- ME1, ME2, ME4, ME5 and ME7
- Planning rules
- England
- Local area
- Medway
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
What should you budget for a new roof in Chatham?
What will a new roof cost in Chatham? Our guide range is £7,800–£17,000 including VAT. That figure is adjusted for the South East, about 12% above the national guide, and is intended for planning a budget. A firm written price for your chosen specification follows a free survey at your home.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Chatham |
|---|---|---|
| Terraced house or bungalow | A smaller pitched roof re-covered in concrete or clay tiles, including scaffolding. | £5,600–£11,000 |
| Typical semi-detached | A 3-bed semi re-roofed in concrete or clay tiles with new membrane, battens and leadwork. | £7,800–£17,000 |
| Detached or natural slate | Larger or more complex roofs, or any roof finished in natural slate. | £13,500–£28,000 |
Expect these to shape the final quote:
- Roof area, pitch and the number of hips, valleys and dormers
- Condition of rafters, fascias and other timbers
- Chimneys, leadwork and roof windows to rework
- Scaffolding, access and the height of the house
What’s included?
- Survey of the covering, timbers, chimneys and loft ventilation
- Scaffolding with edge protection, erected and removed
- Stripping old tiles or slates, battens and felt in stages
- Repairs or replacement of damaged rafters and fascia boards
- Breathable membrane and new treated battens
- Ridges, hips and verges dry-fixed or bedded, with new leadwork
Homes in Kent
Kent's older buildings include oast houses, weatherboarded cottages, Wealden timber-framed houses and Kentish ragstone walls. Medway towns have long rows of Victorian terraces, Margate and Ramsgate have Regency and Victorian seafronts, and Ashford, Maidstone and Dartford have seen large new estates alongside interwar and post-war housing.
Victorian terraces suit loft rooms and rear extensions; weatherboarded and timber-framed buildings may need cladding repairs and lime work. Newer estate homes often take garage conversions, porches and landscaping.
With that background in mind, here is how we typically handle a new roof for homes in Chatham, from the first visit to the finished result.
Planning and building rules in Chatham
For anyone in Chatham, the relevant framework is England's. The summary below is general, so we always contact the council about your address before putting a price in writing.
Re-roofing a house with similar materials does not usually need planning permission in England. Listed buildings and conservation areas may need consent if the covering changes.
Replacing more than a quarter of a roof’s covering counts as renovation under Building Regulations, so the work is notified and the roof insulation may need upgrading. Bats are protected across the UK; if they roost under roof tiles, soffits or fascias, work stops and a licensed ecologist advises before it restarts.
Rules change and every property is different, so we check the planning history and constraints for your address before we quote.
The four stages
Survey and measure
Book a visit and we'll come to you. The survey covers measurements, the state of what's there now and any obvious constraints, so the price that follows is based on your actual home, not an average.
Written quote
We put everything into a written, fixed-price quote: the specification, what's excluded, staged payments and the expected time on site. Take whatever time you need to decide; there's no pressure to commit.
Booking the work
Once you accept, we agree start dates, order materials and deal with any planning, building control or neighbour notices the job needs. You'll know who is coming and when before work begins.
The work itself
The job proceeds in the order set out in the programme, with dust and debris kept under control. Finally we tidy away, inspect the work together and pass the finished project over to you with its paperwork.
How we work
Common questions
How long will a new roof last?
A well-installed roof lasts for decades. Concrete tiles typically last around 50 years or more, clay tiles longer, and natural slate can last a century with proper upkeep. Lifespan depends on the quality of materials, fixings, ventilation and leadwork, and on how exposed the roof is. Keeping gutters clear and fixing slipped tiles quickly helps it reach its full life.
Do I need planning permission in Chatham?
It depends on the work, the size of the project, your property type and whether the building is listed or in a conservation area. Chatham is in England, so England's rules apply. Many smaller jobs need no planning application, but some still need building control approval. We check what applies to your address before quoting.
Do you cover Rochester, Gillingham and Strood?
Yes. As well as Chatham, we cover Rochester, Gillingham and Strood and the rest of Kent. Our coverage is UK-wide, so the process is the same wherever you are: a free site survey, a quote in writing that fixes the price for the agreed scope, and one point of contact while the work is planned and carried out.
Do I need planning permission to replace my roof?
Planning permission is not usually needed to re-roof in similar materials, but it depends on the change, your home's location, whether it is listed or in a conservation area, and which UK nation you live in. Changing the roof shape, height or covering material can need permission. Listed buildings need consent for re-roofing. We check the position for your home before quoting.
What happens if it rains during the work?
We strip the roof in sections and only remove as much covering as we can replace or protect the same day. New breathable membrane goes on straight after stripping, which keeps most rain out, and we sheet exposed areas at the end of each day and before forecast showers. If heavy rain or high winds are forecast, we pause work. The house is never left open.
Also covering areas around Chatham
Addresses in ME1, ME2, ME4 and ME5 are all covered for Chatham, along with Rochester, Gillingham and Strood close by. Give us your postcode when you get in touch and we will confirm the details.