Roofers in Chichester
Top Guard Roofing & Paving works as roofers in Chichester, from the old streets inside the city walls to the newer housing built around them. Chichester is a cathedral city with a great many old roofs, so slate roofing and roof tiling matter here more than in most places.
We are a family owned firm based in Arundel, and we work on homes and commercial properties. Alongside slate and tile we repair roofs, build new ones, lay flat roofs and look after fascias, soffits and chimneys.
Slate Roofing in Chichester
Slate roofing in Chichester covers everything from one loose slate on a terrace to a complete new roof. We work in natural slate and in man made slate. For slate roofing Chichester is a demanding place, because so many of its roofs are old and in plain view from the street.
On a repair we replace broken or missing slates and match the type and size of the existing slate where possible, so the new ones sit level and weather in beside the old. A slate that has dropped out of line usually has a rusted nail behind it. Once many have gone the same way, the nails across that slope are near the end of their life, and stripping and relaying the roof is the better answer.
A new slate roof from us has a breathable membrane and new battens beneath it. Our slate roofing page has more.
Roof Tiling in Chichester
Roof tiling in Chichester starts with clay. For roof tiling Chichester has a long tradition: clay tiles on pitched roofs are part of how the old city looks, alongside red brick and slate. Newer houses around the edge of the city mostly have concrete tiles. We work with both.
Repairs include replacing cracked tiles, filling gaps where tiles have been lost, and rebedding or refixing the ridge tiles and the verges at the gable ends. Where the underlay has perished, or tiles are failing all over, we strip the roof and retile it with new underlay and fixings.
Matching counts with tiles as much as with slate. A new machine made tile on an old handmade roof shows from the pavement, so we look for the nearest size, colour and profile before we order. Our tiled roofs page explains the work.
Facias Replacements in Chichester
Facias replacements in Chichester follow the same rule as the roofs: new work should suit the building. We fit, replace and maintain fascias and soffits in uPVC and timber.
Fascias carry the gutters, and soffits close the underside of the eaves. When the boards rot, the gutter drops and rainwater runs down the wall instead of the downpipe. On an older house, timber painted to match the windows often looks right. On newer homes uPVC is common and needs very little upkeep. Gutters and downpipes are refixed as part of the job. See fascias and soffits.
Older and listed buildings
The centre of Chichester is a conservation area. It takes in the whole of the Roman town inside the walls and holds many listed buildings, set around the four main streets that meet at the Market Cross. In the Pallants most of the buildings are listed and largely 18th century, and the traditional materials are red brick, tile and slate. The former Graylingwell Hospital, north of the centre, has a conservation area of its own.
On buildings like these, like for like materials matter. A slate roof should stay slate, and a clay tiled roof should stay clay, in a matching size and colour. Work to a listed building can need listed building consent, and a change of roof material in a conservation area can need planning permission. Check with Chichester District Council before work starts. We can set out the materials we propose in the quote, which gives you something to show the council.
Roof Repairs in Chichester
Roof repairs in Chichester range from a leak over a bay window to storm damage across a whole slope. We repair leaks, flashing around chimneys and skylights, gutters and downpipes, and slates or tiles that have shifted or come away. We also inspect roofs and clear moss and debris. Urgent repairs are covered by our emergency service, day and night, every day of the week. Read more about roof repairs.
Chimney Repairs in Chichester
An old city has old chimneys. Stacks that have stood for a century or more lose their mortar, and the lead where the stack meets the roof splits or lifts. Our chimney repairs in Chichester include repointing, lead flashing repairs and resetting loose bricks. If a stack has become unsafe and is no longer needed we can remove it, though on a listed building or in a conservation area you should ask the council first. Details are under chimneys and guttering.
New Roof in Chichester
A new roof in Chichester is worth considering once repairs have become a yearly event. We replace pitched and flat roofs in slate, tile and felt. The old covering comes off, the timbers are checked, and a breathable membrane, new battens and the new covering go on. Chimney repairs, leadwork, fascias and soffits can be included. On an older house we keep to the original material unless you have permission to change it. See new roofs.
Flat Roofing in Chichester
Flat roofing in Chichester is mostly on extensions and garages, with some on dormers and commercial buildings. We install, repair and replace flat roofs in felt, rubber and single ply membrane, and we can advise on insulation. Splits, blisters and water that will not drain are the signs to act on. Our flat roofing page goes through the options.
Chichester and the villages around it
The city lies on the River Lavant, south of a gap in the South Downs. We cover all of it, postcode PO19, including Summersdale just north of the centre and Whyke on the south east side, together with the neighbouring parishes of Fishbourne, Lavant and Donnington. Towards the coast we are roofers in Bognor Regis too.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need permission to replace a roof in a conservation area?
Replacing a roof like for like, in the same material, often needs no permission, but a change of material can. Listed buildings are stricter, and most work to them needs listed building consent. The rules differ from one street to the next, so ask Chichester District Council before you agree a start date.
Natural slate or man made slate?
We fit both. Natural slate is quarried stone. It is the traditional choice and the one usually expected on a listed building or in a conservation area. Man made slate is lighter and more uniform, and it suits many newer roofs and extensions. We will say which we would use on your roof, and why.
Can you match my existing tiles?
We match as closely as we can. We look at the size, colour and profile of what is on the roof and find the nearest tile available. On an old roof an exact match is not always possible, and if that is the case we tell you before we start.
Can a slate roof be repaired rather than replaced?
Often, yes. If the slates are sound and only a few have moved or cracked, we put those right. If slates are coming loose all over the roof, the fixings have worn out and relaying the roof is the lasting answer.
Is the quote free?
Yes. We visit, inspect the roof and give you a free quote.
To arrange a visit in Chichester, call Top Guard Roofing & Paving on 01903 442348 or 07394 150273, or write to us through the contact page.