Dormers create more flashing junctions per square metre of roof than any other element. Each junction is a potential water entry point. We carry out dormer repairs, leadwork, flat dormer top replacement and full dormer rebuilds across Chichester and the surrounding area.
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📞 Call Now: 01243 278085The cheek flashings, front apron, flat top or pitched dormer covering, and the junction with the main roof all require correctly specified lead work that moves with the building and stays watertight through decades of thermal cycling. When any element fails, water finds its way in at the most complex junction on the roof.
Cheek flashings — the lead strips running down each side of the dormer where it meets the main roof — are the most common dormer failure point. They are subject to both the thermal movement of the dormer structure and differential movement between the dormer and main roof. On properties over 60 years old, original cheek flashings are often at end of life. Full replacement in Code 4 lead with correctly formed and fixed steps gives 50 to 80 years' service.
Flat-topped dormers have two appropriate covering options: lead for conservation area and listed building properties; GRP fibreglass for standard residential outside conservation areas. GRP handles thermal cycling on flat dormers better than felt — its design life of 25 to 40 years compared to felt's 8 to 12 makes GRP the correct specification for any new flat dormer top installation on a standard property. We do not specify felt for flat dormer tops.
Adding or substantially altering a dormer on a property in Chichester's conservation areas typically requires consent. Even replacing like-for-like on a listed building requires Listed Building Consent where the work goes beyond routine maintenance. Repair and replacement in appropriate materials — lead, clay tile, natural slate — is generally permitted. We advise on the consent position before any work starts on designated properties.
Free survey — no call-out fee — Emsworth & surrounding area
📞 01243 278085Harbour-edge georgian and victorian town centre, high ambient humidity year-round. For dormer roofing in Emsworth, this means highest moss growth rates in coverage area, annual clearance critical. We factor this into our survey, specification and material choice on every Emsworth job — not as an afterthought but as the starting point for getting the work right.
"Excellent dormer cheek flashing replacement in code 4 lead. Free survey, clear quote, arrived on time and cleaned up completely. Exactly what you want."
"Used them for flat dormer top replacement with grp. Honest assessment, matched materials perfectly, no pressure on scope. Very happy with the result."
"Called for full dormer leadwork on victorian semi after another contractor let me down. Professional from first call to completion. Recommend unreservedly."
Emsworth sits at the northern end of chichester harbour with tidal mudflats on three sides, creating high ambient humidity year-round. For roofing work in Emsworth, this means Moss growth rates on Emsworth north-facing pitches are among the highest in the coverage area — annual clearance is critical, not optional. Georgian and victorian town centre with conservation area and cast iron guttering requirements. We factor all of this into our survey, specification and material choice on every Emsworth job.
Cast iron guttering on the Georgian and Victorian properties in Emsworth town centre is a standard service for us — we carry the common profiles and have the installation knowledge for period buildings. For modern properties in the residential streets behind the town, uPVC is the practical choice with full guidance on conservation area compliance where relevant.
Free survey across all Chichester postcodes and the surrounding area. Written quote with full itemised breakdown. No call-out fee, no obligation, and no pressure to commit before you are ready. We have been carrying out this work in Chichester and the surrounding area for over 20 years. Our reputation here is built on honest assessment and correct specification — not on selling work that is not needed. Call 01243 278085 to arrange a free survey.
Dormers have more flashing junctions than any other roof feature, so they leak first — at the cheeks, the flat top, or where they meet the main slope.
When it is not the answer: If the underlying covering is sound and the problem is localised, a targeted repair is the honest answer rather than a larger job. Read the full guide.
We inspect the roof at close range and diagnose the actual issue on your Chichester property.
You receive a written, itemised quote with no call-out fee and no obligation.
We book a time that suits you, with weather margin built in.
We carry out the work in materials matched and correct for the property.
We clear the site and hand over the written 10-year workmanship guarantee.
| Job | Typical duration |
|---|---|
| Minor works | A few hours |
| Typical job | 1 day |
| Larger works | 2–3 days |
Wet or high-wind days can pause work at height — we build weather margin into every Chichester booking.
Access is by tower, ladder or scaffold depending on the job and the property; scaffold is always itemised in the written quote. Scaffold is specified for: any job needing safe standing time at height - always itemised in your written quote, never a hidden extra, and we arrange it.
Emsworth's harbour-village terraces and Georgian centre mean tight streets and permit-controlled access near the quay. Pavement scaffold and skip permits go through Havant Borough Council; allow a few working days on streets like High Street, Queen Street, South Street where space is tight.
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Slipped or cracked tile refix | £150–£250 | Per visit incl. access |
| Lead flashing renewal | £350–£750 | Chimney or abutment |
| Valley lining replacement | £400–£900 | Common on tree-shaded roofs |
| Ridge re-bed (per metre) | £40–£70 | Lime mortar on period stock |
| Chimney repointing | £350–£900 | Per stack, by scope |
Worked example: A rear valley rebuild on a 1930s Summersdale semi: around £680 including tower access and waste removal.
No deposit on repairs under £500. You never pay before the work is done and inspected. Re-roofing over £5,000 is staged — nothing up front before materials are on site. Reduced 5% VAT usually applies to re-roofs; confirmed in writing.
Covering PO10 and surrounding postcodes.
Workmanship is covered for 10 years in writing, with manufacturer warranties on any materials on top.
If a fault appears in covered work, we come back and put it right. No quibbling, no re-charge.
We keep disruption to a minimum, protect the area below the work, and clear everything before we leave. You do not need to stay home for external work - we just need power and access agreed in advance.
Most work runs year-round; temporary weatherproofing goes on the same day if rain interrupts. Emsworth's harbour-edge position brings tidal humidity and accelerated moss growth.
Costs vary by scope and access. Cheek Flashing Replacement: £400–£900. Flat Dormer Top (GRP): £500–£1,200. We provide a free survey and written itemised quote for all work in Emsworth — no obligation to proceed.
Yes. Emsworth is part of our regular working territory. We carry out dormer roofing across all Emsworth postcodes and the surrounding area. Our own team on every job — no subcontractors.
No. The survey visit and quote are free with no obligation. For emergency work, we charge only for the make-safe and repair — no separate call-out fee on top.
Minor repair or maintenance visits typically take 2 to 4 hours. Larger jobs — re-roofing, full flat roof replacement — take 3 to 7 days depending on size and complexity. We confirm the programme in the written quote.
Scaffold requirements depend on the job and property height. We confirm access requirements in the written quote. Scaffold cost is always included as a line item so there are no surprises.
Yes. Harbour-edge georgian and victorian town centre, high ambient humidity year-round. For dormer roofing this means highest moss growth rates in coverage area, annual clearance critical. We specify materials and methods appropriate to Emsworth's specific conditions at the survey.
Yes. Our NFRC membership is current and verifiable at nfrc.co.uk. We hold £5m public liability insurance and provide a written 10-year workmanship guarantee on all dormer roofing in Emsworth. All credentials available on request.
Dormer leaks are among the most complex to diagnose accurately because water can enter at one junction and appear internally at a completely different location after tracking along timbers or running behind linings. We inspect from close range — scaffold or cherry picker — covering every element: cheek flashings on both sides, front apron, back gutter, any flat dormer top covering, and the junction between the dormer and the main roof covering. In Emsworth, where harbour-adjacent properties with year-round high humidity, the typical failure modes depend on the property age — original Victorian leadwork reaching end of service life on period properties; inadequate original flashing specification on post-war additions.
For standard residential properties in Emsworth outside conservation areas, GRP fibreglass is our flat dormer top recommendation. The seamless GRP surface eliminates the joint-and-seam failure mode that makes felt flat dormer tops short-lived, and its 25 to 40 year design life means one installation rather than a repeated 8 to 12 year replacement cycle. For listed buildings and conservation area properties in Emsworth, lead is the correct specification — it is appropriate to the building character, long-lasting when correctly installed, and the only material that conservation officers will accept on heritage properties. We do not offer felt for any new flat dormer top installation.
Cheek flashing replacement on a standard dormer in Emsworth costs £400 to £900 per side. A full leadwork package covering both cheeks, front apron and back gutter runs £1,200 to £2,000. GRP flat dormer top replacement is £500 to £1,200 depending on dormer size. All costs include scaffold where required. Written quotes after a free survey with no obligation.
Honest pricing from a local Chichester roofer. Free survey, written quote, no obligation in Emsworth.
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