Roof replacement in Cambridge
Re-roofing for Cambridge terraces and family homes, with the conservation and listing questions asked up front and the new roof matched to the street.
Roof Replacement in Cambridge
Before a single slate comes off a Cambridge roof, we ask one question: is the house listed, or in a conservation area? A good share of the city is one or the other, from the centre out along Mill Road. It does not stop a re-roof, but it can change what goes back on, and it is far better to know at the quote than halfway through the job.
When the rules matter
- Listed buildings need listed building consent for work that affects their character, and the council decides what counts. Check with them first.
- Conservation areas can restrict changes to materials, rooflights and chimneys, especially on roofs that face the street.
- Like-for-like on an ordinary house normally needs no planning permission, but it does need Building Control sign-off, which we arrange.
Matching what was there
We replaced a 120-year-old, four-gabled roof in Letchworth where the customer told us a close match to the original mattered. Cambridge streets ask the same of a roofer. On the gault-brick terraces of Romsey and Petersfield that usually means natural slate, finished at the ridge and verge in keeping with the houses either side. Where man-made slate is acceptable and you prefer it, we fit that too.
What goes into the new roof
- The old covering stripped to the rafters, and any rotten timber replaced
- A breathable membrane laid over the rafters
- Treated battens, with counter-battens where the build-up needs them
- Eaves support trays at the gutter line
- Slate or tile, with new Code 4 or Code 5 lead at chimneys, valleys and abutments
- Loft insulation topped up to 300mm or more
Dormers and loft conversions
Many Cambridge terraces have had a loft conversion, so the roof carries a dormer, rooflights or both. A re-roof is the time to renew the lead cheeks and flashings around them as well, so the new slopes and the old dormer are not left at different ages.
The quote
Your written quote lists scaffold, materials, skip and labour separately, so you can compare it line by line with anyone else's. Customers often tell us ours was the most detailed they received. We travel to Cambridge from Bedford, about 30 miles along the A428, and the drive is usually under an hour.
Recent work
Recent jobs
Our own photographs, from jobs across the area.
Peterborough A bungalow re-roof in Peterborough
A red tile re-roof in Sandtoft Olympus, Tuscan
A natural slate re-roof with hips and valleys
A Marley Modern re-roof, after some very bad spray foam
A big re-roof on TLX Gold, in a granulated grey tile
Letchworth A plain tile re-roof in Letchworth
A hipped roof in man-made slate
Milton Keynes A natural slate re-roof in Milton Keynes
How we work
Honest roofers: what the roof needs, not what pays best
Read our Google reviews and the same things come up: honest advice, the most detailed quote they received, and a team who arrive smart and leave the site tidy.
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01
A repair when a repair will do
A Bedford customer with a chimney leak got new lead and a metre of felt, not a new roof. "There was no need to start doing loads of unnecessary work," in her words.
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Itemised, line by line
Scaffold, skip, materials, even the portable toilet on a big job. You see exactly what you are paying for.
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Quick when it is leaking
Customers who called in the early evening with water coming in had us there the next day.
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Done the proper way
Dry ridge and verge systems, eaves support trays, welded lead, breathable membranes, and moss scraped off by hand. We never jet-wash a roof.
A 120-year-old roof, matched to the original
“The finished roof looks great, and is an excellent match to the original which is important in Letchworth.”
We noticed the felt in our loft was deteriorating quite badly, so decided it was time to get the roof replaced. We had three different companies out to quote, with Jude from Ultimate Roof Care being the last. Jude came across really well, very polite and well spoken, and took the time to explain everything properly. His quotation was by far the most detailed, with everything clearly itemised so we knew exactly what we were paying for. The team did exactly what was promised and we're really pleased with our new roof. We'd seen their vans working around Bedfordshire before, which was reassuring too. More than happy with the whole experience and would definitely recommend Ultimate Roof Care.
We had a bad leak coming into the roof and couldn't work out where it was coming from. We called Jude and he came out, had a proper look and identified the problem around the chimney. Our house was built in the 1980s and he showed us where the old felt had started collapsing around that area. One of his guys then came out and replaced the lead around the chimney as well as roughly a metre of felt around it. Jude explained that there was no need to start doing loads of unnecessary work and that a localised repair should sort the problem, which we really appreciated. The exact area where the water was coming in before has stayed completely dry. Really happy with the repair and thought the price was very fair. The guys were polite, turned up looking smart and were very professional. We're based in Bedford and would definitely recommend them.
We'd been having problems with a leak on our bungalow roof, despite previously having another roofing company out, so we decided it was time to have the whole roof replaced. Jude was brilliant from the start, and the detail in their quotation was on another level compared to the others we received. Everything was explained step by step, from the scaffolding and materials being delivered to the skip, even a portable toilet for the workers. Their price was very competitive too, but it was really the attention to detail and how professional they were that made us choose them. What a great company. We couldn't recommend Ultimate Roof Care enough!
I had spray foam insulation in my loft which was causing issues with selling my property. Jude explained the full process, gave me a clear written quote and even arranged for an electrician to safely disconnect and reconnect my solar panels. Once the foam was removed, they bagged and cleared every bit of waste and left the loft spotless. The surveyor who came afterwards commented on the quality of the job. True professionals, I'd highly recommend them.
I booked a roof MOT with Ultimate Roofcare because I wanted to be sure everything was in good condition before the winter. They showed me photos of a couple of cracked tiles and some minor pointing that needed attention, but reassured me the rest of the roof was in good shape. They fixed everything there and then at a very fair price. No pushy sales, just genuine advice and quality workmanship.
After the really heavy rain the other day we had quite a bad leak come through and called Jude at around 5 or 6 in the evening. He came out the very next day. Owen then came out shortly afterwards and got the repair sorted for us. They opened up roughly a metre along the bottom of the roof, renewed the felt in that area and fitted a new eaves support tray system. We've had more rain since and everything has stayed completely dry.
Jude and his efficient team of workers have done a complete roof replacement with slates on our 200 year old house. They have done an excellent job and the roof is now entirely watertight and looks very smart. Quality materials and experienced skills have resulted in a great job and peace of mind for us. Thankyou to all. Richard and Lorna
I found Ultimate Roofcare in the local Bedford Bulletin. Joe came along to check out the loft. Jude came along later in one of his branded vehicles (big reassurance) and explained that he could do the job in 4 days with 8-10 men. By Wednesday evening the roof tiles had been removed and replaced, a new roof lining installed, 3 layers of insulation placed between the joists, ventilated soffits and new gutters fitted and a good tidy-up completed. If you need any roofing or loft work done, you would struggle to find a better company.Read every review The full set, in their own words
Where we work
Roof replacement nearby
Before you ring
Questions we get asked
Does my Cambridge house need planning permission for a new roof?
A like-for-like replacement on an unlisted house usually does not. Listed buildings, and some changes in conservation areas, do need consent. Check with Cambridge City Council before work starts; we'll point out anything at the quote that may need their view.
Can I swap natural slate for man-made slate?
On many houses, yes. On a listed building or a prominent roof in a conservation area, the council may expect natural slate. We'll price both so the choice is easy to make.
How long will the scaffold be up?
It depends on the size of the roof and the weather. We give you a realistic timescale at the quote and keep you posted if the weather moves it.
Get in touch
Tell us about the roof
- We call you back To hear what the roof is doing.
- We come and look And take photos of what we find, so you can see it too.
- You get a written, itemised quote What the roof needs and what it costs. No pressure.