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 with his son Tommy. Below you can read what we see on Patchway roofs and how we can help with yours.
Homes built for the works
Patchway's growth followed the engineering works nearby. After the Second World War, estates of council and private housing spread across the area, mostly brick semis and terraces with simple gable roofs in concrete tiles. Many homes have since been extended, with flat-roofed kitchens and garages added over the decades.
In more recent years, the Charlton Hayes development has brought hundreds of new homes to the edge of Patchway. Those roofs are modern and mostly trouble free for now, but the older estates are at an age where maintenance really matters.
How post-war roofs age
Concrete tiles on post-war homes have often been in place for sixty or seventy years. Over that time their surface wears, and they become porous and brittle. Moss takes hold in the rough surface and spreads into the gutters. Many of these roofs have no breathable membrane at all, so water that gets past a cracked tile lands straight on the battens.
Ridge tiles and verges were bedded in mortar that breaks down over the decades. Pieces fall onto paths and drives, and once enough has gone, tiles can lift in strong wind.
Common roof problems in Patchway
- Porous concrete tiles on post-war homes.
- Loose ridges and verges where mortar has failed.
- Leaking felt flat roofs on extensions and garages.
- Rotten fascias and sagging gutters.
Loose ridges and slipped tiles are straightforward roof repairs. Flat roofs over kitchens and garages are often the first thing to fail, and our flat roofing team strips them back and lays a new covering. Where boards have rotted and gutters sag, we fit new uPVC fascias and guttering that will not need painting again.
Repair or replace?
On a post-war Patchway roof, this is often the key question. When the tiles are sound apart from a few cracked ones and the ridge needs rebedding, repairs give good value. When tiles crumble at the touch and the loft shows damp across several areas, the roof is near the end of its life.
In that case, a new roof will protect the house for decades, with fresh battens laid over a breathable membrane before the new tiles go on. We look at the whole roof before advising and price both options where each is realistic, explaining how long we would expect each to last.
Flat roofs on extensions and garages
Walk round almost any Patchway estate and you will see flat roofs over kitchens and garages. Most were finished in felt, which has a limited life. Once it cracks or starts holding puddles after rain, leaks follow.
Replacing a flat roof properly starts with stripping the old covering so we can see the deck underneath. Any rotten boards are replaced, and we make sure the roof falls towards its gutter so water drains away. Then we lay the new covering and finish the edges and the flashing against the house.
Newer homes at Charlton Hayes
Homes on newer developments may still be covered by a builder's warranty for some faults, so check that first if something goes wrong. For anything outside the warranty, such as a few tiles disturbed in a storm or a blocked gutter, we are happy to help.
Wind across the northern edge
Patchway sits on open ground at the northern edge of the city, close to the old airfield and the motorway. Wind sweeps across it with little to slow it down, and roofs here take more of a battering than those in sheltered valleys. Verges at the gable ends and tiles near the ridge are the first to suffer.
When we replace or refix tiles in exposed spots, we use clips and modern mechanical fixings so they stay put in future storms. Swapping mortar verges for a dry verge system is another simple way to make a Patchway roof more storm-proof.
How we work
Call us and describe the problem. We will arrange a visit and inspect the roof, then talk you through what we find without jargon. 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. You only pay when the job is finished and you are completely satisfied.
Why Patchway homeowners choose us
- Short run up the M5. Our Shirehampton base reaches Patchway quickly.
- Payment at the end. We only ask to be paid once you are happy with the work.
- Accredited team. We are registered with the Confederation of Roofing Contractors, and our roofers hold CSCS cards.
- A 15 year warranty backs our roofing.
“Ten years ago JD Home Improvements replaced my fascia boards, soffits and guttering and it still looks great… The owner occasionally calls by to make sure all the work they have done is still fine.”
Getting to Patchway from Shirehampton
We head up the M5 to Cribbs Causeway and turn into Patchway, or come across via Filton. Patchway station and the shops on Rodway Road make good landmarks.
Our team also works regularly in neighbouring Bradley Stoke and Filton.
Patchway roofing FAQs
My concrete tiles look worn. Do I need a new roof?
Not always. Worn tiles can still keep water out. We check whether they have become porous or brittle and look at the battens before advising.
Pieces of mortar keep falling off my roof. Is that serious?
It means the ridge or verge bedding is breaking down. We can rebed those tiles or fit a dry system that fixes them mechanically.
My kitchen extension roof leaks every winter. Can you replace it?
Yes. We strip the old felt and check the deck before laying a new flat roof suited to the space.
Can you replace rotten fascia boards?
We can. We replace rotten timber with uPVC and refit or renew the guttering at the same time.
Do you work on new build homes?
Yes, for anything not covered by your builder's warranty. Check that first for newer homes.
Can you fit roof windows for a loft conversion?
We fit Velux windows into tiled roofs, with flashing kits that keep the join watertight.
When do I pay?
Only once the work is finished and you are completely happy with it.
Are your quotes free?
Yes. Every quote in Patchway is free and carries no obligation.
Talk to a local roofer
If your Patchway roof needs attention, we are happy to help. Call 07717 610410 or ask for a free quote.