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FAQs
Because every property is structurally unique, there isn’t a single one-size-fits-all price tag. The total cost depends entirely on the size of your home, the structural pitch of the roof, and the materials you choose, for instance, natural slate carries a different budget than standard concrete interlocking tiles.
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We don't believe in guesswork or hidden surprises. We provide completely free, comprehensive site surveys across Horsham, Crawley, Guildford, and surrounding areas. We’ll assess your roofline, calculate materials transparently, and hand you a fixed, itemised written estimate so you know exactly where you stand before any work begins.
This is the most common concern we encounter, and the good news is that many issues can be completely resolved with a targeted repair! If you notice a few slipped slate tiles, a minor leak after a severe storm, or cracked lead flashing around your chimney stack, a swift repair will easily secure your home and prevent internal water damage.
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However, if your roof is over 40 to 50 years old, sagging structurally, or constantly letting in water despite multiple repairs, it usually means the underlying felt lining has degraded. In those cases, a complete re-roofing project is the most cost-effective long-term solution. Our team will always give you an honest, transparent assessment—if it can be safely repaired, we will tell you.
If you have an older extension, garage, or balcony with a traditional felt roof, you are likely used to dealing with pooling water, cracking, and leaks every few winters. Traditional torch-on felt expands and contracts harshly with seasonal temperature shifts, which eventually splits the seams.
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By upgrading to modern systems like GRP (liquid fiberglass) or EPDM (synthetic rubber), you are investing in a completely seamless, jointless membrane. Because there are no seams, it is physically impossible for water to track through. These modern flat roofing materials are incredibly durable, fully UV-resistant, and easily boast a lifespan of 30 to 40 years without cracking or requiring constant maintenance.
Absolutely. We know how stressful it can be choosing a tradesperson to work on your home, which is why we’ve gone through rigorous vetting processes to give you absolute peace of mind. Summit Contractors is fully insured with comprehensive public liability insurance, and we are proud active members of the UK's leading trade bodies, including Which? Trusted Traders, Checkatrade, TrustMark, and FairTrades. Every complete roof installation we undertake comes backed by our comprehensive workmanship guarantee.
For an average-sized detached or semi-detached home, a full roof replacement typically takes between one to two weeks, depending entirely on the weather.
We manage the entire schedule seamlessly so you don't have to worry about a thing. This includes organizing the structural scaffolding delivery, scheduling material drops, and arranging for responsible waste disposal. Our local team works continuously from day one to get the project dry and secure as quickly as possible, ensuring we leave your property clean, tidy, and pristine at the end of every working day.
We get asked this a lot, and our answer is always an honest "no." Some companies offer a cheap fix called "capping" or "cladding," which involves nailing thin uPVC boards right over your existing timber roofline. While this looks clean for a few months, it traps moisture underneath, causing the hidden wood to rot rapidly and pull the gutter brackets right out of the wall.
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At Summit Contractors, we only do full-replacement upgrades. We completely remove the old, weathered wooden fascias and soffits, inspect the exposed structural rafter feet for rot, and install solid, premium-grade uPVC boards. This gives your roofline a pristine look and total weather protection that never requires painting.
Leaking gutters can quickly cause damp patches on your internal walls, so it's always best to act fast. If you notice a single drip from a joint or a loose bracket after a heavy downpour, a simple repair or seal replacement is usually all it takes to get things working smoothly again.
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However, if your gutters are visibly sagging, constantly overflowing even when clear of leaves, or the plastic has become brittle and cracked from UV exposure, a full replacement is the smartest move. We install modern, seamless, high-capacity uPVC guttering and downpipes designed to handle intense British storms without buckling or leaking.
Traditionally, the tiles on the edges (verges) and the peak (ridge) of a roof are held in place using sand and cement mortar. Over time, seasonal temperature shifts cause this mortar to crack, crumble, and fall out, leaving your roof vulnerable to wind damage and nesting pests.
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A dry verge or dry ridge system completely eliminates mortar. Instead, we use durable, weather-resistant mechanical clips and caps to securely lock your tiles into place. It creates a sleek, modern finish, provides superior ventilation to prevent attic condensation, and means you’ll never have to pay a roofer to re-mortar your roof edges ever again.
Seeing a puddle on your extension or garage flat roof after a rainstorm can be worrying, but it doesn't always mean you need to panic! Small amounts of shallow "ponding" water that completely evaporate within 48 hours are generally harmless if the membrane is fully intact.
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The danger comes when deep water pools continuously for days. This happens because the timber roof deck underneath has started to sag from age or moisture. The heavy standing water puts immense stress on the seams of old felt roofs, eventually causing them to split. If your flat roof is pooling water and you notice internal ceiling stains or damp patches, it's a clear sign that a structural replacement is needed before the underlying timbers rot.
If you are used to old-fashioned mineral felt roofs that split and fail every 10 to 15 years, you will be amazed by the longevity of modern materials. A professionally installed GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic) fiberglass flat roof easily boasts a lifespan of 30 to 40+ years.
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Because GRP is applied as a cold liquid across the entire roof surface before curing into a single solid sheet, it has absolutely no seams, joints, or welds. Seams are where 99% of traditional flat roofs fail. Once it cures, it forms an incredibly tough, impact-resistant shield that you can safely walk on for window cleaning or maintenance without any fear of piercing the surface. It is completely weatherproof, UV-resistant, and entirely maintenance-free.