Call: 01332-529704

A plain-English guide for Derby homeowners — the ten stages of a new roof installation, realistic costs, timelines, planning rules, and the questions many roofers never raise, from Derby Roofers.

• Free CAA-Compliant Drone Survey
• Written, Itemised Quote
• In-House Team Only, No Subcontractors
• Workmanship Guarantee Up to 20 Years

We are Derby Roofers. We have been installing roofs across Derby and Derbyshire for over 20 years, and this page is written to explain the process clearly, not to sell you anything on this page alone. If you want a survey once you have read it, call 01332-529704.

A full new roof installation in Derby involves ten stages, from the first site visit through to the paperwork you’re handed once the scaffold comes down.

1. Initial roof survey — We inspect tiles, underlay, battens, timbers, chimney, flashings and guttering. For difficult-to-access properties, we use our CAA-compliant drone to capture high-resolution images before the report is written up.
2. Scaffolding erection — Safe access is set up one to two days before stripping starts.
3. Strip-out — All existing tiles, battens and underlay are removed. Waste is disposed of by a licensed carrier. Sound natural slate or quality clay tiles may be set aside for reuse — we flag this at survey stage.
4. Timber inspection and repair — Every rafter, ridge board and purlin is checked. Rotten or damaged timbers are replaced before anything new goes on. On Derby terraced properties, we also check the shared fire-stop wall at this stage.
5. Breathable underlay — A new breathable membrane is fitted across the full deck, replacing the old felt.
6. Battens — New treated timber battens are fixed at the correct gauge for your chosen tile or slate.
7. Tiling or slating — Material is laid row by row from eaves to ridge, mixed from multiple pallets to avoid colour banding.
8. Drip edge, ridge, verge, hips and flashings — A drip edge goes in first to direct water into the guttering. Ridge tiles, hips and verges are completed, and lead flashings around chimney stacks, valleys and abutments are cut, dressed and sealed.
9. Insulation check and upgrade — Under Building Regulations, re-roofing a pitched roof requires insulation to be checked and upgraded to Part L standards. We handle this as part of every installation.
10. Final inspection, clean-up and documentation — Every section is checked before the scaffold comes down. You receive written Building Regulations confirmation and your workmanship guarantee.

From the field: on a terrace in Alvaston last summer, our survey picked up three snapped rafters invisible from the loft hatch, only visible once the tiles came off. We replaced them the same day — the homeowner would otherwise have had a new roof laid on a failing structure. Scaffold is also the right time to replace fascias, soffits and guttering, since doing it now avoids a separate hire later.

All of these figures cover complete replacement: scaffold, strip-out, timber repairs, underlay, tiles and all finishing work. Material choice makes the biggest difference to where your job lands — concrete tiles are the most cost-effective option, natural slate adds significantly to the cost but lasts far longer, and synthetic slate sits between the two. Timber condition is the variable most homeowners don’t account for: rotten or damaged rafters found during strip-out are priced separately, at a day-rate, and we identify likely issues at survey stage where possible.

Two quotes for the same job can differ by £2,000 or more — the difference is usually in what one contractor has left out. Always ask whether a quote includes VAT, skip hire and licensed waste disposal, and treat any quote significantly below these ranges, particularly a verbal one or one that asks for a large cash deposit, with caution. We provide free, written, itemised quotes for every Derby job: what we quote is what you pay.

Building Regulations apply to almost all re-roofing work in England, regardless of whether planning permission is needed — this is the area most homeowners overlook. The two most relevant are Part L, which covers conservation of fuel and power (if you’re replacing more than 25% of the roof covering, insulation must be upgraded to current standards), and Part F, which covers ventilation. Part F is particularly relevant for Derby’s older terraced properties, many of which were built without any roof ventilation provision. We handle both as part of every installation, and we check your property’s planning status as part of the free survey.

From the field: we regularly survey Derby semis where homeowners have spent several thousand pounds on repeat repairs over a few years. A free drone survey is often the moment they see, in photographs, that the whole surface has deteriorated, not just the sections that have leaked.

Do you need to leave your home? In the vast majority of cases, no. Our team works from scaffold above the roofline and the inside of your home isn’t accessed, other than a loft check if insulation needs upgrading, which we’ll tell you about in advance. If you work from home, have young children or vulnerable occupants, the strip-out day is the one worth planning around.

What about bad weather? Derby and Derbyshire have unpredictable weather, particularly in autumn and winter. We monitor forecasts and plan around them where possible, and your roof is never left exposed overnight — heavy-duty temporary protection goes on at the end of every working day where the deck isn’t yet fully covered. Rain can pause tiling or leadwork, but your property is always protected before we leave site. Spring and early summer slots book up fastest, so it’s worth booking your survey early if you have warmer months in mind.

The right material depends on your property type, roof pitch, any planning constraints, and your budget. Derby’s housing stock is varied, and so are the correct answers.

• Concrete interlocking tiles — the most widely used material on Derby’s post-war housing stock. Fast to lay, durable, and available in a wide range of profiles and colours. A practical, cost-effective choice for most semi-detached and detached properties, with a standard lifespan of 30 to 40 years.
• Clay plain tiles — traditional on Derby’s Victorian terraces and Edwardian properties, and required in several conservation areas where planning restrictions apply. Highly resistant to Derbyshire’s wet winters, and correctly installed clay plain tile roofs routinely last 60 years or more.
• Natural slate (Welsh or Spanish) — a premium material that can last well over 100 years when correctly installed. Required on some period properties and often preferred in Derbyshire’s stone belt villages. Heavier than other options, so rafter condition must be checked before specifying it.
• Synthetic slate — a lightweight composite that closely replicates the appearance of natural slate. A good option where the timber structure can’t carry the weight of natural stone, or where budget makes natural slate impractical. Better-quality synthetic slates carry manufacturer warranties of 30 to 40 years.
• Fibre cement slate — a lighter, cost-effective alternative to natural slate, popular on Victorian terrace replacements where budget is a factor but a plain-tile look isn’t the preference. Typically carries a 30-year manufacturer guarantee.
• Flat roofing systems — for extensions, garages, bay roofs and commercial properties, we install EPDM rubber, GRP fibreglass and felt flat roofs. EPDM can last 50 years or more when correctly installed, and GRP fibreglass is the most popular choice for residential extensions: seamless, low-maintenance and UV-resistant.

Ventilation is part of the material decision, not an afterthought — under current Building Regulations, adequate roof ventilation must be confirmed or upgraded when re-roofing, and many of Derby’s older properties have none at all. We specify the correct ventilation provision for your chosen tile and roof construction as standard on every job, and advise on the right material for your property, pitch and planning status at the free survey, with no obligation to proceed.

Shared chimney stacks and fire-stop walls: we inspect the fire-stop wall condition before stripping and always communicate with neighbours before work starts — lead flashing on a shared stack has to be correctly detailed on both sides. Ventilation retrofitting: pre-1919 roofs were built without ventilation, so we install appropriate eaves and ridge ventilation to meet current Part F requirements on every terrace re-roof. Conservation areas: replacing Welsh slate with concrete tiles on a conservation area street may require planning consent from Derby City Council, which we check before the survey.

From the field: on terrace jobs in Derby, we carry out a full fire-stop wall check before stripping. It takes five minutes and has saved several very awkward conversations with neighbours mid-job.

Signs of bat roost activity:

• Small dark droppings near the ridge or eaves that crumble to powder when rubbed
• Grease marks around gaps at the eaves or beneath ridge tiles
• Squeaking sounds from the roof space at dusk between May and September

If you suspect bats: stop — do not start work. Contact Natural England on 0300 060 3900 and commission a survey from a licensed bat consultant (surveys must run between April and October). If bats are confirmed, a European Protected Species mitigation licence is required before roofing work can legally proceed. We check for bat indicators at every pre-roof survey on older Derby properties, and if we see signs, we stop and advise you before any work is scheduled.

We provide insurance documentation on request, and your property is never left exposed overnight — heavy-duty temporary protection is fitted at the end of every working day as standard. After completion, it’s worth asking your insurer whether the new roof and updated insulation affect your premium, since some policies offer reductions.

Accreditations worth checking: NFRC membership (nfrc.co.uk), CompetentRoofer registration (competentroofer.co.uk), and TrustMark (trustmark.org.uk).

Red flags to watch for:

• A verbal quote with no site visit
• Full payment required upfront
• Same-day pressure to sign
• Cash only, no written contract, no physical address

We provide a written, itemised quote on every Derby job, and we do not use subcontractors — the team that surveys your roof is the team that fits it.

• Strip-out and removal of the existing roof covering, old battens and felt back to the rafters
• Timber survey once stripped back, with any defective rafters, purlins or wall plates repaired or replaced
• New breathable roofing membrane and treated battens fitted to current Building Regs spacing
• New tiles or slates fitted to the agreed spec — concrete, clay, natural or synthetic slate, or fibre cement
• New lead flashing to chimneys, valleys and abutments
• New or renewed dry ridge and dry verge system
• Fascias, soffits and guttering renewed where they’ve perished or the eaves detailing needs updating
• A check of loft insulation levels, topped up to current Building Regs where the roof void is opened up during the strip
• Site clearance and skip removal of all waste once the roof is complete
• CAA-compliant drone survey, written itemised quote and workmanship guarantee up to 20 years, included as standard

• Structural rebuilding of walls, chimney stacks or dormers beyond making them safe — quoted separately if this is found once the roof is opened up
• Bat or protected-species mitigation works if a roost is identified during survey
• Loft conversions, roof windows or Velux installation, or solar panel fitting, unless added to the job at quote stage
• Internal decoration or ceiling repairs from historic leaks that pre-date the new roof
• Planning permission or listed building consent fees, where these apply to the property

Derby is home turf — from the Victorian terraces of Normanton and Alvaston to the newer estates around Littleover and Allestree — with the team based at Loscoe Grange, near Heanor. Alongside Derby and Derbyshire, we also carry out new roof installations across Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, Sheffield, Hull, Leeds, Manchester, Doncaster, Wakefield, Rotherham, York, Glasgow, Newcastle, Sunderland, Durham and Liverpool. Wherever the job is, the same free survey, written quote and guarantee terms apply.

A new roof installation needs planning — scaffolding, materials and a weather window all have to line up, and the warmer months book out first.

New roofs here are fitted with BBA-approved materials only, backed by a workmanship guarantee running up to 20 years, and the crew who carries out the free survey is the same crew stripping the old roof and fitting the new one — no subcontractors are brought onto site at any stage. Every quote is written and itemised before work is booked, so what’s agreed on survey day is what’s invoiced once the job is finished.

• ✅ Free CAA-compliant drone survey and written, itemised quote
• ✅ Over 20 years fitting roofs across Derby and Derbyshire
• ✅ In-house team only, from survey to sign-off
• ✅ Workmanship guarantee up to 20 years

Getting a free survey and drone report done now means a written quote and a fixed programme are in place before autumn weather makes scheduling harder.