10 Signs Your Godalming Roof Needs Replacing Your

Guarantee and Aftercare

All work carries our written 10-year workmanship guarantee covering everything we install, repair or replace. Material manufacturer warranties apply on top. The guarantee excludes subsequent storm or impact damage (that is insurance) and alterations by others. If a fault develops within the guarantee period, call 01483 346 855 — we inspect and fix at no cost.

We also recommend annual inspections for all properties over 20 years old. The inspection fee of £120–£250 is credited in full against any repair work booked. Many customers book on a recurring annual basis — we hold the details and schedule the visit automatically. In the Wey Valley climate, annual inspection is the most cost-effective maintenance investment a homeowner can make.

The Warning Signs — What to Look For

From the ground: multiple missing or cracked tiles visible, ridge tiles sitting at odd angles, lead flashings lifting at edges, moss covering more than 30% of the visible surface, or a visible sag in the roof line. From the loft: daylight visible through the felt in multiple places, felt that tears when touched, battens that flex or crumble under finger pressure, damp timber smell, or widespread dark staining on rafters. Any three of these simultaneously is a strong indicator that the roof has passed the repair threshold.

Age-Based Indicators for Godalming Properties

Concrete interlocking tiles on Binscombe and Aaron Hill estates: 70 years old, past design life. Check for surface erosion (the aggregate is exposed), frost cracking, and nail sickness (tiles lift easily from battens). Clay tiles on Ockford Ridge: 90+ years, check for delamination (surface layers peeling off). Victorian slate in Farncombe: the slate itself may be fine at 120+ years, but the iron nail fixings are the concern. Check from inside the loft for slipped or rattling slates.

The Professional Survey — Confirming What You See

Visible signs from the ground are indicators, not diagnoses. A professional survey confirms or refutes what the external signs suggest by inspecting from roof level and inside the loft space. Tiles that look cracked from below may turn out to be surface staining that washes off. Conversely, a roof that looks fine from the street may have extensive batten rot or nail sickness that is only visible from close inspection. The survey fee (£120-£250, credited against repair work) is trivial insurance against either a false alarm or a missed problem.

Timeline from First Signs to Failure

In the Wey Valley climate, the progression from first visible signs to roof failure is faster than national averages. Concrete tile surface erosion (first crumbling visible): 3-5 years to water ingress if untreated. Mortar ridge cracking (visible gaps in ridge line): 1-3 years to first tile displacement in a storm. Lead flashing lifting (bright edge visible at chimney): 1-2 winters to active water ingress. Nail sickness (slates rattling in wind): 2-4 years to widespread slippage. These timelines are shortened by the valley humidity and should be treated as the starting point for a repair decision, not a reason to defer.