Moved in to a mid terrace 1890’s house last year. Have been doing loads of refurb work and are reaching the end of the savings. We’ve spotted a minor damp patch showing through the new decorating in the top of the bedroom wall so got a roofer round hoping for a quick and cheap repair, but he’s flagged up:
front of house – felt rotten at eaves. Needs replacing across width of house (had expected).
Flashings also knackered at either side of roof, front and back (had suspected but hoped could put off).
Chimney pots lose and chimney stack in desperate need of re-pointing. I watched him lift one pot off, and had a peek from the top of his ladder and am in total agreement with him about the pointing (had really not wanted to think about this just yet).
I’d been aware that the chimney was a bit of a risk when we purchased. One of the breasts has been taken out at first floor level with some rather old-school gusto, and is supported at loft level on gallows brackets fixed to the party wall and posts off a joist. I really do not want to think about sorting that yet. (Other than the poor state of the pointing it’s dead true, and there’s no sign of cracking or collapse).
He’s given what seems like a pretty good quote – 1250 to strip the lower tiles at the front and replace the old felt with new membrane, re-point all of he old biscuit tile flashings along with a few dodgy ridge tiles, and to cap of the chimney and install vents.
I’m 90% sure I’m going to go for it and do it in one hit. Anyone care to reassure me that I’d be daft not to?
The complication is that we’re about to push the button on a full new kitchen inc. re-wire and re-plaster (and funnily enough a re-roof of the kitchen lean-to). That’s a fixed price with the builder, but money is going to be pretty tight to also do the roof as well.