Roofing help - cost of new roof valleys
Discussion
Good afternoon all.
I have a 1930s bungalow. There are 2 bay windows which have apex roofs above each bay. I therefore have 4 valleys (2 either side of each bay).
All 4 valleys are currently made of lead and are about 8 feet length each. I have had a leak from one of the valleys and the roofer has come and done a temporary fix with weathershield painted down each valley. This appears to have fixed the leak.
He is suggesting that I need 4 new valleys - and I agree with him, as the lead is starting to split in places. He is saying the cost to do all 4 valleys will be £1,400 - and this is in fibreglass (not lead). It will involve the removal of the valley tiles, fibreglassing in the new valleys and then replacing the tiles.
3 questions:
(a) Is fibreglass ok to use or would lead be better?
(b) Is £1,400 about right for this job? It sounds pretty steep to me (we are in Devon)
(c) Would you remove the old lead, or fibreglass on top of it? Can I sell the old lead myself? How much would I get for it? It has a generous smothering of weathershield on it - will I still be able to sell it in this condition? Who would I sell it to - would I just go to the local scrappy?
Thanks as always for your advice.
I have a 1930s bungalow. There are 2 bay windows which have apex roofs above each bay. I therefore have 4 valleys (2 either side of each bay).
All 4 valleys are currently made of lead and are about 8 feet length each. I have had a leak from one of the valleys and the roofer has come and done a temporary fix with weathershield painted down each valley. This appears to have fixed the leak.
He is suggesting that I need 4 new valleys - and I agree with him, as the lead is starting to split in places. He is saying the cost to do all 4 valleys will be £1,400 - and this is in fibreglass (not lead). It will involve the removal of the valley tiles, fibreglassing in the new valleys and then replacing the tiles.
3 questions:
(a) Is fibreglass ok to use or would lead be better?
(b) Is £1,400 about right for this job? It sounds pretty steep to me (we are in Devon)
(c) Would you remove the old lead, or fibreglass on top of it? Can I sell the old lead myself? How much would I get for it? It has a generous smothering of weathershield on it - will I still be able to sell it in this condition? Who would I sell it to - would I just go to the local scrappy?
Thanks as always for your advice.
He's talking about putting the moulded GRP valleys in, which is fine, but.....the cost to buy is minimal, a decent brand (Filon is ok as is Redland/Marley) will last at least 20 yrs, but they are usually for a dry fix system as the expansion rate of grp causes the cement bed to crack prematurely. To do 4 8 ft valleys would take a good Roofer with laborour 2 days to fit. So, his material cost is about £100 in grp and he wants to charge you £1300 for 2 days work. Scrap lead from your valleys depending on code £60-£80 if your lucky.
He is not only a greedy b
d, but he probably doesn't know how to work with lead properly either.
He is not only a greedy b
d, but he probably doesn't know how to work with lead properly either.I would not use fibreglass as it has a relatively short life compared to lead.
Ask for a quote for zinc valleys (they come preformed with welted/folded edges to prevent water spread) Lead is best (will last 50years) but will be more expensive and requires some skills to dress to shape and welt the edges. It should also be a minimum of Code 4 and laid in sections no longer than 1.2metres with 100mm overlaps.
The price sounds quite high and I would say £1000 would be a fairer cost using zinc valleys but it may be he has allowed for having to recut new tiles to the valley if he feels they will break trying to remove them.
Maybe he has included a cost for scaffolding. I know it`s only a bungalow!
I would not lay anything on top of the old valley lining. Better to strip out the old and check the valley boards are ok too.
You could sell the old lead but normally it would be taken by the roofer to sell.
Get a guarantee for at least 5years and preferably underwritten so if he goes bust you still have a guarantee.
Make sure he has libility insurance too.
Ask for a quote for zinc valleys (they come preformed with welted/folded edges to prevent water spread) Lead is best (will last 50years) but will be more expensive and requires some skills to dress to shape and welt the edges. It should also be a minimum of Code 4 and laid in sections no longer than 1.2metres with 100mm overlaps.
The price sounds quite high and I would say £1000 would be a fairer cost using zinc valleys but it may be he has allowed for having to recut new tiles to the valley if he feels they will break trying to remove them.
Maybe he has included a cost for scaffolding. I know it`s only a bungalow!
I would not lay anything on top of the old valley lining. Better to strip out the old and check the valley boards are ok too.
You could sell the old lead but normally it would be taken by the roofer to sell.
Get a guarantee for at least 5years and preferably underwritten so if he goes bust you still have a guarantee.
Make sure he has libility insurance too.
MGTS said:
Thanks Groucho. That's really helpful, I'm going to get some more quotes and see what they come out at. You don't ever come to Exeter???!!!
I may be doing a job in Crediton next year. I couldn't do your job anytime soon though, booked up til crimbo. Don't know what's happened lately, gone a bit mad.
Will see who we have down that way thats not a pisstaker on our subbies list tomorrow.Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff