Roofers in Northwich
We cover Northwich, Hartford, Davenham and Barnton, travelling through Knutsford from Macclesfield. Northwich is the salt town of mid-Cheshire, and the brine pumping that built it caused so much subsidence that several of its town-centre buildings were built with timber frames, partly so they could be lifted and levelled if the ground sank.
Black-and-white timber-framed buildings in Northwich town centre. Photo: Peter McDermott, CC BY-SA 2.0.
Northwich's houses and roofs
Salt made Northwich, and subsidence shaped it. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, many buildings in the town centre were built with timber frames, so they could be lifted and moved if the ground dropped, which gives the town its black-and-white high street. The Lion Salt Works, now a museum, and the Anderton Boat Lift are reminders of the industry.
Around the centre, Victorian terraces in Castle and Witton have slate roofs, while Hartford and Davenham have larger houses and the town has grown with modern estates.
What goes wrong on Northwich roofs
- Movement in old buildings
- Roofs on older buildings that have moved with the ground over the years, leaving uneven lines and open joints.
- Timber-framed shop roofs
- Roofs on black-and-white buildings with valleys and gables that need careful repair.
- Victorian terrace slate
- Original slate roofs at the end of their life in Castle and Witton.
- Modern estate roofs
- Dry ridge and verge fixings and roof windows needing attention on newer houses.
Planning and roof work in Northwich
Northwich is in Cheshire West and Chester, so planning and building control go to that council rather than Cheshire East. The town centre is a conservation area with listed buildings. If a building shows signs of movement, a structural surveyor should look before re-roofing; the Cheshire Brine Subsidence Compensation Board deals with brine subsidence claims in the area.
Council: Cheshire West and Chester Council. Postcodes: CW8 and CW9. Getting to you: We reach Northwich through Knutsford on the A537 and A556.
Roofing services in Northwich
The jobs we are asked for most here come first.
- Roof repairsLeaks traced to the cause, then slates, tiles, ridges, valleys and flashings put right.
- Heritage roofingListed buildings, conservation areas, stone slate, lime and traditional lead.
- New roofsStripped back to the rafters and rebuilt with new membrane, battens and coverings.
- Slate roofingWelsh, reclaimed and natural slate repaired, refixed and relaid to match.
Also in Northwich: emergency roof repairs, flat roofing, fibreglass roofing (GRP), rubber roofing (EPDM), chimney repairs, lead flashing and leadwork, guttering, fascias and soffits, velux and roof windows, roof surveys, garage roofs, roof cleaning and moss removal, commercial roofing, gutter cleaning, conservatory roofs.
Roofing in Northwich: questions
Is subsidence still a problem in Northwich?
The worst brine subsidence ended when uncontrolled brine pumping stopped, and the old mines have been stabilised. Older buildings may still show past movement in their roofs and walls, which we take into account when repairing them.
Do you cover Hartford, Davenham and Barnton?
Yes. We cover CW8 and CW9, including Hartford, Davenham, Barnton, Rudheath, Lostock Gralam and Winnington.
Can you repair a roof on a timber-framed building?
Yes. We work with the frame rather than against it, using matching coverings and lead, and flexible details where the building has moved.
Roof problem in Northwich?
Call, or send a few details and a photo if you have one. We will come back to you, arrange a visit and give you a written quote before any work starts.