We are JD Home Improvements, a family run roofing company on West Town Road in Shirehampton. Joe, our director, has over 20 years of experience in roofing, and he leads a team of more than a dozen roofers with his son Tommy. Here is what we know about Filton roofs and how we can help with yours.
Homes built around aviation
Filton grew alongside the aircraft industry. As the works expanded in the 1920s and 1930s, roads of semi-detached houses spread out along Gloucester Road North and Filton Avenue for the people who worked there. After the war, more council and private housing followed, and in recent years new estates have risen on the former airfield.
That gives Filton roofs a wide range of ages. Inter-war semis usually have hipped roofs in clay or concrete tiles. Post-war homes tend towards simple gable roofs in concrete interlocking tiles, often with a flat-roofed extension or garage. Newer houses have modern tiles over a breathable membrane, and their roofs are mostly still in good order.
Exposure on the plateau
Filton sits on fairly high, open ground to the north of the city. With few hills or tall buildings to break the wind, roofs here take a steady battering from westerly gales. Ridge tiles bedded on old mortar suffer first, followed by tiles at the verges where wind can get underneath.
Flat roofs on extensions and garages face the same wind, plus the full force of the sun in summer. Older felt dries out and starts to lift at the edges. Once water gets beneath it, the timber deck starts to rot, and a small patch of damp on a ceiling can hide a much bigger problem above.
Common roof problems in Filton
- Loose ridge and verge tiles after windy weather.
- Cracked or lifting felt on extension and garage roofs.
- Porous concrete tiles on post-war homes.
- Overflowing gutters and rotten fascia boards.
Loose ridges and slipped tiles are quick roof repairs in most cases. For a garage or extension roof that has started to leak, our flat roofing service strips back the old felt and lays a modern covering. Rotten timber boards and leaking gutters are best replaced with uPVC fascias and guttering that will not need painting again.
When a post-war roof needs replacing
Many post-war Filton homes still have their original concrete tiles. Those tiles have done well, but after seventy years they often become porous, with crumbling edges and moss in every gap. Underneath, many roofs have no breathable membrane, so wind-driven rain can reach the battens.
When repairs only buy a season or two, a new roof gives you fresh battens and a membrane under new tiles, which will see the house through the decades ahead. We always look at the whole roof first and give you an honest view, pricing repair and replacement side by side where both are realistic.
Newer homes on the airfield
Homes on the new estates are mostly still covered by builders' warranties for structural issues. Even so, small problems can crop up, such as a slipped tile or a blocked gutter. If you are unsure whether something is covered, check with your developer first, and if it falls to you, we are happy to help.
Flat roofs on extensions
Walk down almost any Filton road and you will see flat roofs over kitchen extensions and garages. Most were finished in felt, and felt has a limited life. Once it has been through twenty or thirty summers, the surface crazes and the seams start to open.
Replacing a flat roof properly means more than laying a new layer on top. We strip the old covering off so we can see the deck underneath and replace any boards that have gone soft, making sure the roof falls towards its gutter. Then we lay a new covering and finish the edges and the flashing against the house wall.
On porches and small bay roofs, a tiled or lead finish can look smarter than felt and suit the main house better. We will talk through the choices with you when we quote.
How we work
Ring us and tell us what is happening. We will visit and inspect the roof, then explain what we see in plain English. A free written quote follows, setting out the work and the price.
If you go ahead, we agree a start date and keep you updated throughout. You only pay when the job is finished and you are entirely satisfied.
Why Filton homeowners choose us
- Close by. Our Shirehampton base is a short drive along the ring road.
- Payment at the end. We only ask to be paid once you are happy with the work.
- Accredited roofers. We are registered with the Confederation of Roofing Contractors, and our team holds CSCS cards.
- A 15 year warranty backs our roofing.
“Joe, Barry & Lewis were friendly, professional & carried out the work promptly, efficiently & to a very high standard. Joe & his enthusiastic team clearly take much pride in their work.”
Getting to Filton from Shirehampton
From West Town Road we head east through Henbury and Southmead, then along Southmead Road to Gloucester Road North. Filton Abbey Wood station and Aerospace Bristol make handy landmarks if you are giving directions.
Our vans are just as familiar in neighbouring Patchway and Horfield.
Filton roofing FAQs
The wind keeps loosening my ridge tiles. What can be done?
We can rebed the ridge or fit a dry ridge system, which mechanically fixes the tiles so they no longer rely on mortar alone.
My garage roof is leaking. Should I repair or replace it?
If the felt is old and cracked across the roof, replacement usually makes more sense. We will check the deck and give you an honest recommendation.
Do you work on new build homes?
Yes, for anything not covered by your developer. It is worth checking your warranty first for newer homes.
How do I know if my concrete tiles are past it?
Crumbling edges and heavy moss are common signs, and so is damp in the loft after rain. We can check the tiles and the battens beneath them.
Can you replace rotten fascia boards?
Yes. We replace rotten timber fascias with uPVC, along with soffits and guttering where needed.
Do you fit roof windows?
We do. We fit Velux windows into tiled roofs for loft conversions, with flashing kits that keep the join watertight.
When do I pay?
Only once the job is complete and you are fully satisfied with it.
Is the quote free?
Yes. Every quote in Filton is free and comes with no obligation.
Talk to a local roofer
If your Filton roof needs attention, we are close by and happy to help. Call 07717 610410 or ask for a free quote.