Roof Re-felting & Re-battening Across Bucks, Berks & Herts

Beneath your tiles or slates there are two hidden layers doing important work. The battens are the horizontal timbers that the tiles hang from and are nailed to. The felt or membrane is the secondary waterproof layer that catches any rain that gets past the tiles and directs it to the gutter.

Older roofs often have bitumen felt, which becomes brittle with age and heat. It tears, sags between rafters and eventually stops doing its job. Battens can rot where water has got in, or become so weak that nails no longer hold. When either fails, the tiles may look fine from the ground while the roof is quietly letting water in.

Re-felting and re-battening involves carefully stripping the tiles, replacing both layers, and refitting the tiles. Where the existing tiles are in good condition, reusing them keeps cost down. Modern breathable membranes also let water vapour escape from the loft, reducing condensation that older felt traps.

This is often the right choice when a survey flags felt or batten problems but the tiles themselves are sound. We will tell you honestly whether re-felting will give a lasting result or whether a full replacement makes more sense.

You can often check the condition of your felt from inside the loft with a torch. Look for tears, sagging between rafters, daylight showing through, and brittle edges at the eaves. Damp or dark staining on the battens is also a warning sign.

Because re-felting involves lifting the tiles, it is also a good opportunity to renew ridges, verges and leadwork at the same time, giving you a roof that is sound from top to bottom. We will explain what is worth doing while access is in place and what can wait.

BMB Roofing is owned and managed by Billy, who has 16 years of roofing trade experience. The business has traded for over two years and works with a dedicated on-site team.

All work is quote-only, with free, no-obligation quotes. Payment is by bank transfer or cash only; deposit and staged-payment requirements have not been provided.

The supplied reviews include individual accounts of communication, paying the quoted price and tidy sites. These are customer experiences, not universal promises about timing, price changes or results.

BMB Roofing is a Checkatrade member and carries £1 million public liability insurance. New pitched roofs come with a 20-year guarantee; flat roof guarantee length varies depending on the system installed. Working hours are Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm.

Before accepting your quote, discuss the work included, materials, access, expected timing and payment arrangements with Billy.

Ask how any additional work and costs would be agreed if the roof reveals further issues. Timing can depend on the scope, access and weather.

Payment is by bank transfer or cash only. Ask for the guarantee terms applicable to your job; only new pitched roofs have a confirmed 20-year guarantee, and flat roof guarantee length varies by system.