How do I know if my roof needs replacing rather than repairing?

The reliable signs are tiles that have gone porous and absorb water, metal sheeting rusted through at the fixings and cut edges, rotted or borer-damaged battens, and the same area failing repeatedly within a season or two. Two or three of those together point to replacement.

Can a new roof be fitted over the old one?

Sometimes, depending on the weight the structure can carry, the state of what is underneath, and whether the existing layer is still properly fixed. It is never a way around a structural problem — if the battens or deck have failed, they need replacing rather than covering.

Do you remove asbestos roofs?

Cracked asbestos-cement sheeting is replaced rather than patched over, and it is handled as the hazardous material it is rather than broken up and removed loose. Older South African homes often still have it, and it becomes brittle and cracked with age.

Full re-roofing

Roof Replacement & Re-Roofing

When the rain gets in, we get to work.

There is a point where a roof stops being repairable. Tiles that have gone porous stay porous, sheeting that has rusted through stays weak, and battens that have rotted cannot hold a covering. That is when the whole roof comes off and a new one goes on.

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Strip and re-roofTile & slateIBR sheetingAsbestos removal

Repair or replace? How to tell

Age alone is not the answer. A well-maintained roof can outlast a neglected newer one. The signs that point to replacement rather than repair are specific.

Concrete tiles that have lost their surface and gone porous, so they absorb water instead of shedding it. Sheeting that has rusted through at the fixings and cut edges rather than just showing surface rust. Battens or rafters that have rotted or been eaten by borer. Repeated repairs in the same area failing within a season or two. And a roof where the fixing points have lost their grip, which is a wind risk as much as a leak risk.

When two or three of those are true at once, the money spent on another repair is money spent on a losing argument. When none of them are true, a repair is the right and honest answer — and we would rather do that.

What a full re-roof involves

It is more than swapping the covering. The old material comes off and is disposed of, the structure underneath is exposed and checked, and anything that has failed is replaced before a new roof is put over it. Roofing over rotten battens simply hides the problem for a few years.

Underlay, flashings, valleys, ridge work and the drainage are all part of the job, because those are the details that decide whether the new roof performs. Where asbestos-cement sheeting is being removed, it is handled properly as hazardous material rather than broken up and carted away loose.

Old covering stripped and disposed of
Rafters, purlins and battens checked and replaced where failed
New underlay fitted before the covering goes on
Flashings, valleys and ridge work renewed as part of the job
Asbestos-cement sheeting handled as hazardous material
Gutters, fascia and downpipes replaced where they have reached the end of their life
The fall checked on flat and low-pitch roofs so water drains

Roofing over an existing roof

Sometimes a new covering can go over an existing one, and sometimes it cannot. It depends on the weight the structure can take, the condition of what is underneath, and whether the existing layer is still fixed down properly.

Where it is possible it saves on disposal, but it is not a shortcut around a structural problem. If the battens or the deck have failed, covering over them just delays the inevitable.

Re-roofing and replacement work we handle

✓

Full Strip And Re-Roof

The complete job: old covering removed and disposed of, structure checked, and a new roof installed.

✓

Tile Roof Replacement

Concrete and clay tile roofs replaced, including the battens, underlay and ridge work.

✓

Slate Roof Replacement

Slate repair and full slate re-roofing, including the fixings and details slate depends on.

✓

IBR And Corrugated Re-Roofing

Metal sheeting replaced, with new fixings, flashings and laps done properly.

✓

Thatch Re-Roofing

Full rethatching and ridge work for thatch roofs that have passed the point of a patch.

✓

Asbestos Sheeting Replacement

Cracked asbestos-cement sheeting replaced and handled as the hazardous material it is.

✓

Timber And Batten Replacement

Rotten or beetle-damaged rafters, purlins and battens replaced before the new covering goes on.

✓

Underlay Replacement

Perished underlay renewed, which is the layer that catches water when the covering is breached.

✓

Flat Roof Replacement

Flat and low-pitch roof coverings replaced, with the fall corrected so water drains properly.

See all roof repair services

Other roof repair services

Every service below is handled by the same team, so a leak that turns out to be a different problem is not a second appointment.

How urgent is your roof problem?

Choose the rating that best describes the problem. Ratings 7–10 enter the genuine emergency queue. For urgent jobs rated 1–6, Priority Booking can move you ahead by one standard booking when the next non-emergency slot is available.

10My roof has blown off and I can see the moon from my Lazy Boy in the lounge.

9Water is pouring into the house and causing active damage.

8Several rooms are leaking and buckets are everywhere.

7Water is coming through the ceiling whenever it rains.

6The leak is getting noticeably worse.

5New water stains are appearing.

4Damp patches are spreading.

3I have one small damp patch.

2Something does not look right.

1I have noticed a possible early warning sign.

Selected urgency rating: 7/10 — Emergency queue

Priority Booking

Need a faster booking?

Genuine 7/10 to 10/10 emergencies always come first. If your job is urgent but does not qualify for emergency dispatch, Priority Booking can move it ahead by one place in the standard queue and secure the next available non-emergency appointment.

Standard BookingNo scheduling fee. Your report stays in the normal repair queue.Priority Booking — from R1,000Move ahead by one standard booking and take the next available non-emergency slot.

How it works: this is a scheduling and dispatch fee paid to Leaky Roof Repair, separate from the repair quotation. It never moves a job ahead of genuine emergencies. We only charge it after we confirm that a priority slot is available.

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Areas we cover

Re-roofing and roof replacement dispatch across South Africa’s major cities.

Cape TownLeaky roof repair in Cape Town → DurbanLeaky roof repair in Durban → JohannesburgLeaky roof repair in Johannesburg → PretoriaLeaky roof repair in Pretoria → East LondonLeaky roof repair in East London → BloemfonteinLeaky roof repair in Bloemfontein → Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)Leaky roof repair in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) →

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Need help with a leaking roof?

Call Pete on 081 554 9231 or send a WhatsApp message with your location and photos of the problem.

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