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.
Whatever prompted you to look into a new roof, whether wear and tear, a growing family or plans to move, we can survey your Eltham home and give you a price in writing. Homes in London typically come in at £9,100–£19,500, VAT included, for this kind of work. We also cover Blackheath, Welling and Catford, and the same steps apply wherever you are in London.
- Guide price
- £9,100–£19,500 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 1–2 weeks on site, plus scaffolding time
- Postcodes
- SE2, SE9, SE18 and SE28
- Planning rules
- England
- Local area
- Greater London
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
What should you budget for a new roof in Eltham?
Here is how the guide price for a new roof breaks down in Eltham. We start from national figures and adjust for London, which comes out about 30% above the national guide. The resulting range, VAT included, is £9,100–£19,500, and a survey, at no cost to you, firms it up.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Eltham |
|---|---|---|
| Terraced house or bungalow | A smaller pitched roof re-covered in concrete or clay tiles, including scaffolding. | £6,500–£13,000 |
| Typical semi-detached | A 3-bed semi re-roofed in concrete or clay tiles with new membrane, battens and leadwork. | £9,100–£19,500 |
| Detached or natural slate | Larger or more complex roofs, or any roof finished in natural slate. | £15,500–£32,500 |
Expect these to shape the final quote:
- Roof area, pitch and the number of hips, valleys and dormers
- Covering material: concrete tile, clay tile or natural slate
- Condition of rafters, fascias and other timbers
- Scaffolding, access and the height of the house
What does the job include in Eltham?
- 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
- New tiles or slates, or sound originals refitted where suitable
- Waste removal by skip and a clean site on completion
Homes in London
London's housing is dominated by Victorian and Edwardian terraces, often in yellow London stock brick, with Georgian terraces in central districts and mansion blocks across many inner areas. Outer boroughs have large belts of interwar semis, and there are extensive post-war council estates. Many houses have been split into flats, and conservation areas are widespread.
Terraces suit side-return extensions and rear dormer loft conversions; interwar semis commonly take hip-to-gable lofts. Shared party walls, restricted parking and conservation rules often shape the plans and the programme.
Knowing the typical building types in London helps, but a survey of your own home in Eltham is what decides the right approach to a new roof.
Permissions for a new roof in Eltham
Homes in Eltham come under the regulations for England, summarised below. We don't rely on general rules alone: we confirm the position for your address with the council before a quote goes out.
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.
What happens after you get in touch?
Free site survey
We begin by looking at the job in person. During the free survey we discuss options, materials and budget for a new roof, and photograph or measure anything the quote needs to reflect.
Your fixed price
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.
Plan and prepare
Next comes planning the work itself. We set a start date that suits you, line up the right trades, and make sure any approvals for a new roof are in place before the first day on site.
On site to finish
Work goes ahead as scheduled and you deal with one contact throughout. When the last trade leaves, we clear and clean the site, talk you through what has been done and pass on any certificates and care instructions.
How we work
Common questions
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.
What happens at the survey?
We visit your home at a time that suits you, look at the area involved, take measurements and check access, condition and any services that might be affected. We talk through what you want from a new roof, explain the options and answer questions. There is no charge and no obligation; afterwards we send a written quote.
Is the price fixed?
Yes, for the specification we agree. Your written quote sets out exactly what is included at a fixed price. It only changes if you ask for something different, or if a problem the survey could not reasonably reveal later needs extra work. In either case we explain the change and confirm it in writing before going ahead.
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.
How long does a roof replacement take?
Re-roofing a typical semi-detached house takes around one to two weeks once scaffolding is up, depending on the roof's size, complexity and the weather. Smaller terraced roofs can take a few days. Scaffolding usually goes up a day or two before work starts and comes down once everything is inspected. We give you a programme and keep the roof weathertight overnight.
Near Eltham
Eltham and its SE2, SE9, SE18 and SE28 postcodes are part of our coverage. Homeowners in Blackheath, Welling and Catford can also book a free survey with us and receive a written price for their job.