New Roofs and Re-Roofing for Rathfarnham Properties

Materials and work covered

Pitched roofs may be covered in natural slate, fibre-cement slate, concrete tile or clay tile, while flat and low-pitched areas may use reinforced bitumen, EPDM, GRP, PVC, FPO/TPO or a liquid-applied system. Every covering has limits on the pitch it suits, the weight it adds, the exposure it can tolerate and how its details are formed. The covering is chosen once those limits have been checked against the roof in question.

Beneath the visible covering, a roof relies on underlay, battens or a deck, fixings, and the details at ridges, hips, verges, valleys and abutments. Where a chimney, roof window, gutter or fascia meets the roof, its interface is considered as part of the work, and any work to the item itself is listed separately so the scope is clear.

Design-led new roof installations

A new roof on an extension, garage, garden room or other new structure should be designed with the building rather than added at the end. The drawings and specification establish the structure, roof shape and pitch or falls, loads, insulation, how moisture in the build-up is managed, and the way rainwater leaves the roof. Where a new roof joins an existing one, the junction is often the most demanding detail of the whole job and deserves attention early.

We work from that design information and install the roof covering and associated roofing details to suit it. If a detail looks difficult to keep watertight, or the chosen covering appears unsuited to the proposed pitch, we raise it before work begins so it can be resolved with the designer. Responsibility for structural design and approvals should be confirmed before the roofing is agreed. Each participant retains the compliance responsibilities relevant to their role, including the contractor's installation work.

Choosing a covering for a new roof

Natural slate and fibre-cement slate both give a slate appearance, but differ in weight, thickness, size options and fixing methods. Concrete and clay tiles come in a range of profiles, and the minimum pitch each profile can be laid at varies, which matters on lower-pitched extensions. Membrane and liquid-applied systems suit flat and very low-pitched areas where slates and tiles cannot be used.

Matching a new extension roof to the existing house is often the aim, but it is only achievable where the extension's pitch and structure suit that covering. If they do not, we explain the alternatives that do work rather than installing a covering outside its limits. The quotation should name the specific products proposed, not just describe the roof as slate, tile or flat.

For tile profiles and pitch limits in more depth, see our tile roofing service.

When re-roofing an existing building is the right call

Re-roofing is justified by evidence of widespread decline: slipping or breaking units across more than one slope, fixings or battens failing over large areas, leaks appearing in several unrelated places, or repairs that keep needing to be redone. A roof that is old but sound is not, on its own, a candidate for replacement, and a single damaged area on an otherwise healthy roof is normally a repair.

An assessment should distinguish what was observed, what can only be confirmed once the covering is lifted, and why the evidence points towards repair or replacement. If the decision is close, a separate repair scope and replacement scope let you compare what each deals with and what each leaves in place.

For a closer look at the trade-offs, read repairing versus replacing a roof.

Hidden condition and authorising extra work

Stripping an existing roof can expose things nobody could see beforehand, such as decayed rafter feet, damaged wall plates or timber that has been wet for years beneath a long-standing leak. A sound quotation identifies where findings like these are possible and explains the process if they occur.

That process should be simple: anything found is shown to you, described and priced, and it proceeds only with your agreement. Timber that is sound is left in place. Exposure is not the same as a defect, and nothing is replaced simply because the roof happens to be open.

Underlay, insulation and moisture control

The layers under a new or replaced covering must work with how the roof space or rooms below are used and insulated. The right arrangement depends on the construction and the products involved, so it is decided for the specific roof rather than applied as a rule. Getting it wrong can lead to condensation, which can look like a leak but needs a different solution.

If insulation upgrades or attic conversion are part of your plans, raise them at the start so they can be considered alongside the roofing build-up. Insulation and any ventilation alterations are included only where the quotation lists them.

To understand how the two problems differ, read roof condensation or a leak.

Planning a new roof or re-roof in Rathfarnham

We serve Rathfarnham from Blanchardstown. When you get in touch, tell us whether you are planning a new roof or replacing an existing one, which building or part of the building is involved, what drawings, surveys or reports you already have, and anything you know about access, parking or neighbouring structures that may affect scaffolding.

Whether you can stay in the property during a re-roof depends on how much of the roof is opened at once and how the building can be protected, so it is discussed rather than assumed. The written proposal should cover each roof area, the named covering, underlay, battens or deck, the main details, access, waste removal and exclusions. Programme and price follow the agreed scope.

Frequently asked questions

Do you build new roofs as well as replacing old ones?

Yes. New roofs on extensions and other structures are installed to the project's drawings and specification. Re-roofing replaces the covering on an existing building where its condition justifies it.

Who is responsible for the structural design of a new roof?

The project's designer or engineer, appointed by the owner. Structural design and any approvals are separate from the roofing installation and should be settled before roofing work is agreed.

Can a new extension roof match my existing slate or tile roof?

Where the extension's pitch and structure suit the same covering, matching is usually achievable. Where they do not, we explain suitable alternatives instead of fitting a covering outside its limits.

How do I know if re-roofing is necessary?

Look at the pattern rather than the age: widespread slipping, failing fixings, multiple leaks or repeated repairs. An assessment explains what was seen and why it points towards repair or replacement.

What happens if rotten timber is found during re-roofing?

It is shown to you, described and priced as additional work, and it proceeds only once you authorise it. Sound timber stays in place.

Request a Roofing Quote for New Roofs & Re-Roofing in Rathfarnham

Send Emerald Isle Roofers Dublin your details and a short description of the work required.

Emergency roofing: 083 158 8431