Roofers in Stoke-on-Trent
We cover the northern half of Stoke-on-Trent from Macclesfield: Tunstall, Burslem, Hanley, Smallthorne and the towns around them. The Potteries are built of red-brick terraces with slate roofs, put up for workers in the pottery and mining industries, and a great many of those roofs are now at the end of their life.
Red-brick terraced houses with chimneys on Nicholas Street, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent. Photo: Steve Daniels, CC BY-SA 2.0.
Stoke-on-Trent's houses and roofs
Stoke-on-Trent was formed in 1910 from six towns: Tunstall, Burslem, Hanley, Stoke, Fenton and Longton. Each grew around potbanks and pits in the nineteenth century, with streets of terraced houses, Welsh slate roofs, back extensions and chimneys shared between neighbours. A few bottle kilns still stand among them.
Coal mining under parts of the city left a legacy of ground movement in places, and some older houses have distorted roof lines. Many terraces have been re-roofed piecemeal, one house at a time, in slate, concrete tiles or a mix.
What goes wrong on Stoke-on-Trent roofs
- Worn-out terrace roofs
- Original slate roofs with failed nails and battens across whole streets.
- Mixed re-roofs
- Terraces where neighbouring houses have different coverings and poorly made joints between them.
- Back extension roofs
- Lean-to and flat roofs over kitchens and bathrooms leaking at the wall abutment.
- Chimneys
- Shared stacks that have been neglected, with loose pots and open joints.
Planning and roof work in Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent is a unitary authority, so planning and building control are with Stoke-on-Trent City Council. Several town centres, including Burslem, have conservation areas. If a roof line has moved, the cause should be understood before re-roofing; the Mining Remediation Authority handles claims and reports for coal mining subsidence.
Council: Stoke-on-Trent City Council. Postcodes: ST1 to ST4 and ST6. Getting to you: We reach the Potteries from Macclesfield via Congleton on the A527, or via Leek and the A53.
Roofing services in Stoke-on-Trent
The jobs we are asked for most here come first.
- 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.
- Roof repairsLeaks traced to the cause, then slates, tiles, ridges, valleys and flashings put right.
- Gutter cleaningGutters, outlets and downpipes cleared, flushed and checked, with photos.
Also in Stoke-on-Trent: 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, heritage roofing, commercial roofing, conservatory roofs.
Roofing in Stoke-on-Trent: questions
Which parts of Stoke-on-Trent do you cover?
Mainly the north and centre of the city: Tunstall, Burslem, Hanley, Smallthorne and Norton, coming down from Congleton. We also cover Kidsgrove and Newcastle-under-Lyme, which are in the separate borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Should my terrace be re-roofed in slate or concrete tiles?
Slate is lighter and matches the original roof structure; concrete tiles are heavier and need the rafters checked under the Building Regulations. We explain the options and costs for both.
My roof dips in the middle. Is that mining subsidence?
It can be, but often it is sagging rafters or purlins. We check the timbers from the loft; if ground movement is suspected, a structural surveyor should look first.
Roof problem in Stoke-on-Trent?
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.