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 runs a team of over a dozen roofers with his son Tommy. This page explains what we see on Southville roofs and how we can help with yours.
Terraces between the river and North Street
Southville was built in the late nineteenth century to house workers from the tobacco factories and other industry along the river. The result is a neat grid of terraced streets running up from Coronation Road towards North Street, with Greville Smyth Park at one end and the harbour at the other. Most houses are red brick or Pennant stone with slate roofs.
Many Southville terraces have front bay windows with their own small roofs, and nearly all have a rear outrigger. Chimney stacks rise from the party walls between neighbours. Today, a large share of these houses have converted lofts, with dormers or roof windows on the back slope.
Riverside weather
Sitting close to the Avon and the Floating Harbour, Southville gets its share of damp, blustery weather funnelled along the river. Rain driven sideways finds its way under slipped slates and through tired flashing. North-facing back slopes stay damp for long spells in winter, so moss and lichen build up, holding water against the slate.
None of this is dramatic on any given day. Over decades, though, it wears away mortar and loosens fixings until small faults grow into leaks.
Common roof problems in Southville
- Slipped slates where the original nails have corroded.
- Leaking bay roofs under the main front gutter.
- Damp at the outrigger where its roof meets the main wall.
- Leaking dormers from earlier loft conversions.
Slipped slates and outrigger flashing are everyday roof repairs for us. Lofts in Southville convert beautifully, and our Velux and roof window service fits windows into slate so they sit neatly and stay dry. Where a whole slope has slipped, our pitched roofing team can strip and relay it with new fixings, reusing sound slate.
Loft conversions done properly
Loft rooms are one of the best ways to add space to a Southville terrace. Roof windows on the back slope are the simplest option, letting daylight in without changing the look from the street. Dormers give more headroom, though they bring more joints to keep watertight.
Older conversions sometimes show their age. Felt dormer tops wear out over time, and roof windows from decades ago can lose their seals. We repair or replace those parts so a loft room stays warm and dry.
Bay roofs and front elevations
Southville's front bays are a lovely feature, with small roofs of lead or felt sitting just below the main gutter. They take a lot of water from the roof above, and when their covering splits, damp shows around the bay window inside. Because they are easy to reach from a short ladder or a small tower, bay roof repairs are usually quick jobs.
Outriggers and back bedrooms
Behind almost every Southville terrace is an outrigger, the narrow two-storey section holding the kitchen and a back bedroom. Its small roof meets the main back wall of the house, and that joint is protected by a lead or mortar flashing. When the flashing cracks or lifts, water runs down inside the wall and shows as damp in the back bedroom or on the kitchen ceiling.
Because the damp appears inside, it is often mistaken for condensation or a plumbing fault. We check the outrigger flashing and the valley beside it early on, since they are such a common cause. Renewing the lead usually solves the problem for good.
Moss and harbourside damp
Damp air from the river means moss settles quickly on north-facing slopes. As it grows, it lifts the edges of slates and washes into the gutters, where it blocks the downpipes. Overflowing gutters then soak the brickwork at the back of the house. Clearing the moss by hand and treating the slate, with a gutter clean at the same visit, keeps the whole roof working as it should.
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 without jargon. You receive a free written quote that sets out the work and the price.
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 Southville homeowners choose us
- Easy reach. Our Shirehampton base is a short run along the Portway and across the river.
- Pay at the end. We only ask for payment once you are happy 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.
“JD did such an excellent job on our gutters and fascias… Such high quality, professional and friendly work.”
Getting to Southville from Shirehampton
We follow the Portway along the Avon and cross at the Cumberland Basin, which brings us straight into Southville. The Tobacco Factory on North Street and Greville Smyth Park make easy landmarks.
Our team also works in neighbouring Bedminster and across the river in Clifton.
Southville roofing FAQs
Can you fit roof windows in my loft?
Yes. We fit Velux windows into slate roofs with flashing kits designed for slate, so they stay watertight.
My dormer leaks when it rains hard. What is wrong?
Worn felt on the dormer top or split lead on the cheeks are the usual causes. We can repair or replace both.
Several slates have slipped. Is my roof failing?
A few slipped slates can be refixed. If it is happening across the roof, a strip and relay may be the better option, and we will give you an honest view.
Damp is showing around my bay window. Is it the roof?
It often is. Bay roofs take water from the gutter above, and a split covering lets it through. We can repair or renew it.
Do you repair shared chimney stacks?
We do, and we can explain the work to neighbours who share the stack.
Do you clear moss from slate roofs?
Yes. We remove it by hand and treat the slate, and we clear the gutters while we are on the roof.
When do I pay?
Only once the work is finished and you are fully satisfied with it.
Is the quote free?
Yes. Every quote in Southville is free and carries no obligation.
Talk to a local roofer
If your Southville roof needs attention, we are happy to help. Call 07717 610410 or ask for a free quote.