We are JD Home Improvements, a family run roofing company on West Town Road in Shirehampton. Joe, our director, has more than 20 years in roofing, and he leads a team of over a dozen roofers with his son Tommy. Here you can read about Southmead roofs and how we can help with yours.
An estate built between the wars
Most of Southmead was built by the council in the 1920s and 1930s, laid out with wide verges and plenty of green space. Typical homes are brick semis and short terraces under hipped roofs, usually with a chimney shared between each pair of houses. Later building added flats and maisonettes, and many owners have since extended their homes at the back.
Original roofs were often clay tiled. Over the years a large number have been re-covered in concrete interlocking tiles, some of them more than once. That means roofs in the same street can be at very different stages of life, and a quick look from the pavement rarely tells the full story.
How Southmead roofs wear
Hipped roofs have more joints than a simple gable, and each hip and ridge was bedded on mortar. Once that mortar breaks down, tiles work loose and rain can enter. Concrete tiles from earlier re-roofs lose their surface over time, becoming porous and growing moss, especially on slopes shaded by trees in Badock's Wood and along the streets.
Many homes still have little or no breathable membrane under the tiles. In driving rain, water can be pushed under the tiles and onto the battens, which slowly rot. Signs include damp patches in the loft or a musty smell when you open the hatch.
Common roof problems in Southmead
- Loose hip and ridge tiles where the bedding mortar has failed.
- Porous concrete tiles that let damp through and grow moss.
- Leaking felt flat roofs on rear extensions and porches.
- Failing flashing on shared chimney stacks.
Most of these are straightforward roof repairs if we catch them early. Where tiles and battens have reached the end of their life, a new roof with a modern breathable membrane will keep the house dry for decades. Leaking extension roofs are a job for our flat roofing team, who strip back the old felt and lay a new covering.
Repair or replace?
This is the question we are asked most often in Southmead, and the honest answer depends on the roof. A few slipped tiles and a loose ridge on an otherwise sound roof are best repaired. When tiles crumble at the touch and the battens beneath have gone soft, repairs only buy a little time.
We look at the whole roof before giving advice. Where both options are realistic, we price them side by side and explain how long we would expect each to last. That way you can make the decision with the facts in front of you.
Shared roofs and neighbours
Plenty of homes in Southmead share a roof with neighbours, either within a terrace or as part of a block of maisonettes. Repairs can still be carried out on one section, though it is worth speaking to your neighbours first, especially if a chimney stack or a gutter is shared. If you rent from a landlord or housing association, check who is responsible for the roof before booking any work.
Southmead through the year
Autumn brings leaves from Badock's Wood and the street trees, and Southmead's long gutter runs fill up quickly. Overflowing gutters soak the brickwork and can rot the fascia boards behind them, so a clear-out before winter is money well spent.
Winter storms then find any loose hip or ridge tile. If you hear rattling in the loft on a windy night or spot pieces of mortar on the path, book a check before the next spell of bad weather.
Spring and summer suit larger planned jobs such as a full re-roof or a new extension roof. Drier weather makes the work easier, and you go into the following winter with a roof you no longer need to worry about.
How we work
Ring us and describe what you have noticed. We will arrange a visit and inspect the roof, then explain what we find without jargon. A free written quote follows, setting out the work and the cost.
Once you are ready, we agree a start date and keep you updated. You pay only when the job is finished and you are completely satisfied.
Why Southmead homeowners choose us
- Close by. Our Shirehampton base is a short drive across north Bristol.
- Payment at the end. We only ask to be paid when you are happy with the finished work.
- Accredited roofers. We are registered with the Confederation of Roofing Contractors, and our team holds CSCS cards.
- Warranty backed. Our roofing comes with a 15 year warranty.
“Excellent tradesmen, best I have found in a very long time. Replacement guttering, very experienced.”
Getting to Southmead from Shirehampton
From West Town Road we head through Lawrence Weston and Henbury, then down Passage Road or Crow Lane into Southmead. Southmead Road and Greystoke Avenue run through the area, so most homes are easy to reach once we are there.
We are regularly in neighbouring Henbury to the west and Filton to the east as well.
Southmead roofing FAQs
My hipped roof keeps losing tiles in the wind. What can you do?
We replace slipped tiles and rebed or mechanically fix loose hips and ridges, which makes them far more secure in future storms.
Is it worth re-roofing a Southmead semi?
If the tiles and battens are failing across the roof, yes. We will give you an honest view and price both repair and replacement where each is realistic.
My loft smells musty. Is that the roof?
It can be. Damp from failing tiles or a lack of membrane often shows first as a musty smell or dark patches on the timbers. We can check the roof and the loft together.
Can you replace the flat roof on my porch?
Yes. Porch roofs are small but take a lot of water from above. We can replace the covering and renew the flashing against the wall.
Do you remove moss from concrete tiles?
We do. Moss is cleared by hand and the tiles treated to slow regrowth, with a gutter clean during the same visit.
Can you repair one half of a shared roof?
Yes, though it helps to speak to your neighbour first if a chimney or gutter is shared. We are happy to explain the work to both households.
When do I pay?
Only once the work is complete and you are fully satisfied with it.
Are your quotes free?
Yes. Every quote in Southmead is free and comes with no obligation.
Talk to a local roofer
If your Southmead roof needs attention, we are close by and glad to help. Call 07717 610410 or request a free quote.