We are JD Home Improvements, a family run roofing company on West Town Road in Shirehampton. Joe, our director, has more than 20 years of roofing experience, and he leads a team of over a dozen roofers with his son Tommy. This page explains what we see on Clevedon roofs and how we can help with yours.
Victorian villas by the sea
Clevedon grew as a fashionable resort in the Victorian era, and much of the town still reflects that. Large villas and terraces line the roads up the hillsides, many built from local stone with natural slate roofs. Ornate ridge tiles and tall chimney stacks are common, as are bay windows with their own small roofs.
Away from the seafront, twentieth-century estates spread out across the flatter land inland, mostly semis and bungalows with concrete tiled roofs. Newer homes have followed on the edges of the town.
Coastal weather on period roofs
Clevedon faces straight out across the Severn, and wind off the water brings driving rain and salt. Roofs on the seafront and the higher roads take the most weather. Slates near ridges and verges are the first to move, and salt in the air speeds up corrosion of the original iron nails.
Tall chimney stacks catch wind from every direction, and their mortar wears away until the lead flashing lifts. Leadwork on valleys and bay roofs can fatigue faster here than it would inland. All of this makes regular checks worthwhile on a Clevedon period home.
Common roof problems in Clevedon
- Slipped slates from nail sickness, often worse near the coast.
- Weathered chimney stacks with failing flashing.
- Split lead on valleys and bay roofs.
- Leaking flat roofs on extensions and garages.
Slipped slates and split lead are everyday roof repairs for us. Tall stacks often need our chimney repairs service, which repoints the masonry and renews the lead. When a slate roof has worn out across several slopes, a new roof in natural slate keeps the Victorian look while giving the house decades of protection.
Keeping the character of the town
Much of Clevedon's Victorian core lies within conservation areas, and some buildings are listed. Like-for-like repairs with matching slate and traditional lead are usually straightforward, while changes to how a roof looks may need consent from the council. We are happy to explain what we propose and supply details of materials.
We keep decorative ridge tiles and finials wherever they are sound, and we source matching replacements when one is beyond saving. That attention to detail keeps a Clevedon villa looking as it should.
Strip and relay with stainless fixings
When nail sickness spreads across a slope but the slates are still sound, a strip and relay is usually the best value. We take the slates off and lay new battens over a breathable membrane, then refix the sound slates with stainless or copper nails that resist the salt air. Damaged slates are replaced with matching reclaimed or new slate.
Lead valleys and bay roofs
Clevedon villas often have several roof slopes meeting at lead valleys, plus front bays with lead or slate roofs of their own. When lead splits after decades of heat and cold, water gets through and soaks the timbers beneath. We renew lead valleys and bay coverings carefully, dressing the lead so it can expand and contract without cracking again.
Inland estates and bungalows
Away from the Victorian hillsides, much of Clevedon is made up of twentieth-century semis and bungalows. Their concrete tiled roofs are now fifty years old or more, and the usual signs of age are showing, with cracked mortar along the ridges and moss filling the gutters.
A few targeted upgrades often extend the life of these roofs considerably. Dry verge and ridge systems replace failing mortar with mechanical fixings, and new uPVC fascias and guttering stand up well to salt air. If the tiles have reached the end of their life, we will explain the case for a new roof and price both options.
How we work
Ring us and tell us what is happening. We will arrange a visit and inspect the roof, then explain what we find in plain language. You receive a free written quote that sets out the work and the cost.
Once you are ready, we agree a start date and keep you informed. Payment is only due when the job is finished and you are completely satisfied.
Why Clevedon homeowners choose us
- Easy reach. Our Shirehampton base is a short run down the M5.
- Pay when happy. We only ask for payment once you are satisfied with the finished job.
- Accredited team. We are registered with the Confederation of Roofing Contractors, and our roofers hold CSCS cards.
- A 15 year warranty on our roofing work.
“Excellent job at a fair price. Caring professionals who provide quality work who are also clean, tidy and courteous.”
Getting to Clevedon from Shirehampton
We cross the Avonmouth Bridge and follow the M5 south to the Clevedon junction, then head into town towards Hill Road and the seafront. The pier makes an easy landmark.
We also cover neighbouring Portishead along the coast and Nailsea inland.
Clevedon roofing FAQs
Can you match the slate on my Victorian villa?
Yes. We reuse sound slates and source reclaimed or new slate to match the size and colour of your roof.
Why do my slates keep slipping?
Usually the original nails have corroded, which happens faster near the coast. We can refix slates or strip and relay a slope with stainless fixings.
Do you repair chimney stacks?
We do. We repoint stacks and renew lead flashing, rebuilding the top courses where needed.
My bay window roof is leaking. Can you fix it?
Yes. We repair or replace the lead or slate covering on bay roofs, along with the flashing against the wall.
Do I need permission to repair my roof in the conservation area?
Like-for-like repairs usually do not, though changes to materials or appearance may. Check with the council, and we can supply details.
Can you replace the flat roof on my extension?
We can. We strip the old felt and check the deck before laying a new covering.
When do I pay?
Only once the work is finished and you are fully satisfied with it.
Are your quotes free?
Yes. Every quote in Clevedon is free and carries no obligation.
Talk to a local roofer
If your Clevedon roof needs attention, we are happy to help. Call 07717 610410 or ask for a free quote.