Roofers in Nailsea

We are JD Home Improvements, a family run roofing company on West Town Road in Shirehampton. Joe, our director, has over 20 years of roofing experience, and he leads a team of more than a dozen roofers alongside his son Tommy. This page explains what we see on Nailsea roofs and how we can help with yours.

From glassworks village to commuter town

Nailsea was famous for its glassworks in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and a few older cottages and houses from that era survive around the original village and the lanes leading out of it. The town as most people know it today, though, was built from the 1960s onwards, when estates of semis and bungalows spread across the fields as Nailsea became a popular base for Bristol commuters.

Those mid-century homes usually have concrete tiled roofs, often at a fairly shallow pitch, with timber fascias and attached garages. Many have since gained extensions or loft conversions.

How mid-century roofs are ageing

Nailsea's 1960s and 1970s roofs are now fifty or sixty years old. Their concrete tiles have weathered to a rough, porous surface where moss takes hold easily. Mortar along the ridges and verges has cracked and is starting to fall away, leaving tiles that can lift in strong wind.

Underneath, roofs of this age usually have bitumen felt, which often perishes at the eaves. Water then runs behind the gutter and soaks the timber fascia board, which rots quietly behind the paint. Damp patches near the top of external walls are a common sign.

Common roof problems in Nailsea

• Crumbling verge and ridge mortar on mid-century homes.
• Moss on concrete tiles blocking gutters.
• Rotten timber fascias behind the guttering.
• Leaking flat roofs on garages and extensions.

Loose verges and ridges are straightforward roof repairs, and fitting a dry verge or dry ridge stops them failing again. Moss build-up is dealt with by our roof moss removal service, which clears the tiles by hand and treats them. Leaking garage and extension roofs are a job for our flat roofing team.

Upgrades that add years to a roof

Many Nailsea roofs do not need replacing yet. A few targeted upgrades can make them far more reliable. Dry verge and dry ridge systems replace failing mortar with mechanical fixings. Eaves protection under the bottom row of tiles carries water into the gutter instead of behind it.

Replacing rotten timber fascias and soffits with uPVC gives the roofline a clean finish that never needs painting. Done together, these jobs can extend the life of an older roof considerably for a fraction of the cost of a full re-roof.

When replacement makes sense

Some roofs have gone past the point where upgrades help. When tiles crumble at the touch and the felt has failed across the roof, a new roof with a breathable membrane and fresh tiles is the better long-term value. We look at the whole roof before advising, and we price both options side by side where each is realistic.

Older cottages and houses

Nailsea's older properties, from the glassworks era and earlier, need a gentler approach. Their roof timbers may have settled, so new work should follow the existing lines. Lime mortar often suits old stone chimneys better than modern cement, and we match tiles or slates so a repair blends in.

Garage and extension roofs

Attached garages and flat-roofed kitchen extensions are everywhere in Nailsea. Felt laid decades ago has usually reached the end of its life, and patching only buys a little time. Cracks across the surface and puddles that linger after rain are the warning signs, followed by a damp patch on the ceiling below.

We replace these roofs properly. The old covering comes off so we can check the deck and swap any soft boards, and the new covering is laid to a fall so water drains into the gutter. Fresh flashing against the house wall keeps the junction dry.

Roof windows for converted lofts

Many Nailsea families have converted their lofts, and roof windows are a simple way to light those rooms. We fit Velux windows into tiled roofs, with flashing kits that keep the join watertight, and replace older roof windows whose seals have failed.

How we work

Call us and describe what you have noticed. We will arrange a visit and inspect the roof, then explain what we find in plain English. A free written quote follows, setting out the work and the price.

If you decide to go ahead, we agree a start date and keep you updated. Payment only comes when the job is finished and you are completely satisfied.

Why Nailsea homeowners choose us

• North Somerset coverage. Our Shirehampton base is a straightforward run down the M5.
• Pay when happy. We do not ask for payment until the work is complete to your satisfaction.
• Accredited roofers. We are registered with the Confederation of Roofing Contractors, and our team holds CSCS cards.
• A 15 year warranty backs our roofing work.

Getting to Nailsea from Shirehampton

We cross the Avonmouth Bridge and head south on the M5, then come into Nailsea through the lanes from Portishead or Clevedon. The Crown Glass shopping centre makes an easy landmark.

We also cover neighbouring Backwell and Clevedon.

Nailsea roofing FAQs

Talk to a local roofer

If your Nailsea roof needs attention, we are happy to help. Call 07717 610410 or request a free quote.