How much is a roof repair in Portsmouth?

Most single-tile or single-slate repairs in Portsmouth are £120–£250 including a tower or short ladder access. Lead flashing renewal around a chimney is typically £350–£700. Ridge tile re-bedding runs £40–£70 per linear metre. Anything that needs a full scaffold lift adds £300–£600 minimum.

What roofing problems are most common in Portsmouth?

Salt air off the Solent is the defining factor. We see far more lead corrosion (especially in Southsea, Eastney and Old Portsmouth), porous mortar on chimneys, lifted ridge tiles after winter storms, and gutter corrosion in PO4 and PO5 than anywhere inland. Victorian terraces in Fratton and Buckland often have shared parapet wall issues that need careful flashing.

What's the most common roof type in Portsmouth?

Mid-city Portsmouth (PO1–PO5) is dominated by Victorian and Edwardian terraces with original Welsh slate or 1970s-replacement concrete tile. Cosham, Drayton and PO6 are mostly 1930s semis and post-war housing on plain clay tile or interlocking concrete tile. Southsea seafront has a higher proportion of slate with tile-hanging detail. Hilsea, Buckland and Stamshaw have a lot of post-war social housing on profiled concrete tile.

Should I repair or re-roof my Portsmouth house?

Rough rule: if more than ~20% of the tiles or slates are nail-sick, cracked, slipped or delaminating, a re-roof works out cheaper over 10 years than repeated patch repairs. Below that, targeted repair is usually right. We'll give you photos of every problem area and a written honest call — including 'leave it alone' if that's what the roof needs.

Do I need planning permission to re-roof in Portsmouth?

For a like-for-like re-roof on a non-listed building outside a conservation area, no — it's permitted development. Conservation areas (parts of Old Portsmouth, Southsea seafront, Eastney barracks) and listed buildings need consent if the material changes. We'll flag this in the quote and can liaise with Portsmouth City Council Conservation if needed.

Who is the best roofer in Portsmouth?

Pick a Portsmouth-based roofer with a fixed address, public liability insurance (ask to see the certificate), a written guarantee, and reviews on Google or Checkatrade from named local jobs. CJH & Sons Roofing Ltd is based in Drayton (PO6), founded 2008 by Chris Holt, fully insured for £2m, and offers a 10-year workmanship guarantee on every job. Free written quotes within 48 hours.

How quickly can a Portsmouth roofer get to me for an emergency?

For active leaks or storm damage anywhere in PO1–PO9 we aim to make-safe within 24 hours during working hours, often same day. We carry tarps, battens, lead and emergency tiles on the van.

The Portsmouth Roofing Guide

A working roofer's guide to roofs in Portsmouth — what's on the houses, what goes wrong, what it costs and when to re-roof. Written by Chris Holt, founder of CJH & Sons Roofing Ltd (Drayton, PO6).

Why Portsmouth roofs are different

Portsmouth is a coastal city on a small island, hemmed in by the Solent to the south, Langstone Harbour to the east and Portsmouth Harbour to the west. Almost every roof in PO1–PO6 is within two miles of salt water, and the prevailing south-westerly wind drives salt-laden air straight across the city. The practical consequence: lead corrodes faster, mortar weathers faster, and ridge tiles get lifted more often than on equivalent inland properties in Petersfield or Winchester. Any honest Portsmouth roofer will tell you the same.

The second factor is the housing stock. Portsmouth has one of the densest concentrations of Victorian and Edwardian terraces in southern England — Fratton, Buckland, Southsea, Eastney and Stamshaw are almost entirely terraced. Most were originally Welsh slate; many were re-roofed in concrete tile in the 1970s–90s, often badly. Then there's a ring of 1930s semis (Cosham, Drayton, Hilsea, Copnor) and post-war housing further out. Each comes with its own predictable list of problems.

Roofs by Portsmouth postcode

What you're likely to be looking up at, and what tends to go wrong:

Postcode	Areas	Typical roof	Common problems
PO1	Old Portsmouth, Portsea, Landport	Victorian terrace, Georgian	Lead flashing corrosion, parapet wall pointing, conservation-area slate
PO2	Buckland, Stamshaw, North End	Victorian terrace, post-war semi	Slipped slates, valley gutter failure, chimney mortar
PO3	Fratton, Copnor, Baffins	Victorian/Edwardian terrace	Ridge re-bedding, gutter renewal, bay window flat-to-pitch detail
PO4	Southsea, Eastney, Milton	Slate terrace with tile-hanging, seafront	Salt-corroded lead, tile-hanging refurb, storm-lifted ridge
PO5	Central Southsea	Victorian villa, mansion blocks	Heritage slate repair, mansard detail, lead valleys
PO6	Cosham, Drayton, Wymering, Paulsgrove	1930s semi, post-war housing	Concrete tile re-roof, fascia/soffit renewal, chimney removal
PO7	Waterlooville, Cowplain, Denmead	1960s–90s detached and semi	Interlocking tile repair, dry-fix ridge upgrade, GRP flat roofs
PO8	Horndean, Clanfield, Cowplain north	Modern estate, some period	Felt-to-EPDM flat roof, gutter clearance
PO9	Havant, Bedhampton, Leigh Park	Mixed terrace and post-war	Chimney lead, slipped tiles, garage flat roof renewal

Indicative Portsmouth roofing costs (2025)

Every quote is property-specific, but these are the realistic Portsmouth bands we work to:

Single slipped tile / slate repair: £120–£250
Chimney lead flashing renewal: £350–£700
Ridge tile re-bedding (per linear metre): £40–£70
Chimney re-point and re-flash: £600–£1,400
Chimney rebuild from roofline: £1,200–£2,500
Full re-roof, 3-bed Victorian terrace (concrete tile): £6,500–£9,500
Full re-roof, 3-bed Victorian terrace (natural slate): £9,000–£14,000
Full re-roof, 1930s semi: £7,500–£11,000
EPDM flat roof, single garage: £1,400–£2,200
GRP flat roof, extension (~20m²): £2,400–£3,800
Full UPVC fascia, soffit and gutter (semi): £1,800–£3,200
Scaffolding (typical semi, 1–2 lifts): £400–£1,200

Source: CJH & Sons Roofing Ltd quoted-job data across Portsmouth, Havant, Fareham and Gosport, 2024–25.

Repair or re-roof? The honest answer

The rough rule we work to: if more than about 20% of the covering is nail-sick, cracked, slipped or delaminating, a full re-roof works out cheaper than repeated repair callouts over a 10-year horizon. Below that threshold, targeted repair is usually the right call. A re-roof is also the right call if the underlay (sarking felt) has perished — you'll often see daylight from inside the loft, or the felt will tear when you touch it.

What we won't do is sell you a re-roof you don't need. About one in four of the "re-roof needed" jobs we go to second-opinion turn out to be 2–3 days of repair work. We'll give you photos and a written honest call either way.

Conservation areas and listed properties

Portsmouth has several conservation areas where roof material changes need consent from Portsmouth City Council — Old Portsmouth, Southsea seafront, parts of Eastney barracks and Highland Road. Listed properties (most of Old Portsmouth, the dockyard fringes, some Southsea villas) require listed building consent for almost any roof work beyond like-for-like repair. We've done conservation slate work in PO1, PO4 and PO5 and can liaise with the Conservation team directly.

How to choose a Portsmouth roofer

Whether you use us or not, these are the four things that matter:

Fixed local address. If they only give you a mobile number, walk away. Ask for the trading address.
Public liability insurance — see the certificate. £2m is standard. Any reputable roofer will email it before they price the job.
Written, itemised quote. Materials specified by name (e.g. "Marley Modern concrete tile" not "tiles"). No verbal quotes that change on the day.
Reviews from named local jobs. Google reviews mentioning Portsmouth streets, Checkatrade verified jobs, or a portfolio you can drive past.

FAQ — Portsmouth roofing

Indicative Portsmouth pricing (2025): a typical 3-bed Victorian terrace re-roof runs £6,500–£9,500 in concrete tile or £9,000–£14,000 in natural slate; a 1930s semi runs £7,500–£11,000. Scaffolding is usually £400–£1,200 on top depending on access and lifts. Prices vary by tile choice, insulation upgrade, and rear-access constraints common in Old Portsmouth and Southsea terraces.

Written by Chris Holt, founder of CJH & Sons Roofing Ltd. Based at 117 Station Road, Drayton, Portsmouth PO6 1PL. Companies House 16317850. Fully insured £2m public liability. Call 07837 781616.