5.051 Google reviews5.0 on Yell from 213 ratings
A new roof in Brighton, done once and done right
A new roof in Brighton, stripped to the rafters and rebuilt with fresh battens, membrane and slate or tile, ends the patch-it-again cycle for good. There's no deposit to pay, and your free quote comes with drone photos of the roof you've got now.
Get a new roof quote
Pick the job. It takes about 30 seconds.
Or call 01273 115938. No deposit, no call-out charge.
5.0 on Google51 reviews, all 5 stars
5.0 on Yellfrom 213 ratings
Expert Roofer VerifiedEvery check passed, see our profileSigns it's time for a new roof
One of these on its own is a repair, but several together say the roof has had its day.
Slates slipping every winter
When another slate slips every time the wind blows, the nails holding all of them have rusted through. Fixing one at a time means paying for the same job again and again.
Sagging or uneven roof line
A dip along the ridge or waves across the slope mean the battens or rafters beneath have given way. New tiles laid on old timbers won't fix that.
Torn or missing underlay
Older roofs have brittle bitumen felt, or none at all. From the loft you can see it torn and flapping between the rafters, letting in wind-driven rain.
Porous or flaking tiles
Concrete tiles that have lost their surface and clay tiles that flake in frost soak up water, get heavy and crack. Once most of them are like that, it's a new roof.
Repair bills climbing each year
Add up what you've spent on roof repairs over the past few winters. If the total keeps rising, that money is better spent on a roof you can forget about.
Built from the rafters up
We scaffold the house, protect the garden and strip the old covering right back to the rafters. With the roof open, we check every timber, replace anything soft and correct any sag before a single batten goes on. Then a breathable membrane goes down, followed by new treated battens set out for the slate or tile you've chosen, and the covering is laid and fixed course by course from the eaves up to the ridge.
The details are where new roofs fail, so we give them the time. Ridges and hips are fixed securely, verges are finished neatly, and new lead goes in around chimneys, valleys and dormers. Gutters and fascias can be replaced while the scaffold is up. Felix on Google said we were "able to start the work right away and do it all in 3 days", and Laura said the team "worked over the weekend to ensure my roof was done".
- Stripped to the rafters
- Timbers checked and repaired
- Breathable membrane and new battens
- New lead at chimneys and valleys
- All waste removed
- No deposit, fully guaranteed
Matching a new roof to a Brighton house
Large parts of central Brighton are conservation areas, and on a Regency or Victorian terrace the right answer is natural slate that matches the rest of the street. Those roofs hide parapet gutters and valley roofs behind the front wall, and they need new lead as part of any re-roof. On the 1930s semis in Patcham and Withdean, and the post-war estates on the edge of the Downs, clay or concrete tile is the natural fit. Whatever the house, the seafront wind means the fixings matter as much as the slate.
Your options: repair, slate or tile
The right answer depends on the house, the street and your budget, and we're happy to price more than one.
Repair instead
If the drone shows sound slates and dry battens with one or two problem areas, a repair is the honest answer and that's what we'll quote. You keep your roof and your money, and we tell you what to keep an eye on over the next few winters.
Best for: Local faults on a sound roof
Natural slate
Welsh or Spanish slate is the traditional covering on Brighton's older houses and the one conservation officers expect to see. It's thin, light and lasts for generations when it's fixed with copper or stainless nails on sound battens.
Best for: Victorian and Regency homes
Clay tile
Plain clay tiles weather to a warm red and suit Sussex cottages, Edwardian houses and anywhere with Wealden character. They're heavier than slate and need a pitch steep enough to shed water properly, which most older Sussex roofs have.
Best for: Period and rural Sussex houses
Concrete tile
Interlocking concrete tiles go on quickly, cover the roof in fewer pieces and are the most economical way to re-roof. They suit 1950s to 1970s houses and bungalows that had concrete tiles to begin with.
Best for: Post-war houses on a budget
Recent new roofs jobs
Straight from our Google reviews
Such a brilliant service from start to finish. Returned calls, kept in contact and the workmen were absolutely first class. Everything was left immaculately. They worked over the weekend to ensure my roof was done. It was a first class job and I recommend highly!
We hired Thomas based on a friends recommendation, for what was meant to be a small repair job. It turned out we needed the entire roof surface redone. SureSeal were able to start the work right away and do it all in 3 days. The work was done to a high standard, tidying up afterwards was very thorough. I would especially highlight the great communication. Thomas kept me updated about everything, answered questions and concerns and was very available.
Lovely man came to do my roof, we had a massive hole down the centre, saw two three different roofers and they all gave ridiculous quotes, this was affordable, reasonable, and a very quick and safe process, highly recommend everyone to give them a call
Brilliant service from start to finish. The team was friendly, professional, and did a great job on our roof and gutters. Everything was completed on time and to a high standard. Highly recommend Sure Seal Roofing & Guttering!
Sureseal has done an amazing job on our roof replacement kept us updated all the way true from start to finish, also made our garden cleaner than it was before they came, highly recommended.
Had a leak on the roof also the gutters needed changing the guys was brilliant from start to finish very happy with to works will recommend to anyone
What goes into the price of a new roof
The size of the roof and the covering you choose set the baseline, but in Brighton the scaffold can be as big a part of the bill as the slates. A mid-terrace with no side access and a basement lightwell needs a very different scaffold to a detached bungalow. Chimneys, dormers and valleys all add leadwork, and nobody can see rotten rafters until the old roof is off, which is why we check them first.
What sets the price
- Roof size and pitch
- Scaffold and access on terraced streets
- Slate, clay or concrete tile
- Chimneys and lead flashing
- Valleys, dormers and parapet gutters
- Timber repairs found once stripped
- Fascias and gutters done at the same time
No surprises: the price on your written quote is the price you pay. No deposit.
From your call to a finished job
Tell us what's wrong
Tap the problem, fill in the short form or call Jamie. We respond fast, and emergencies get a call-out 24/7.
Free drone survey
We put a drone over the roof and show you the photos, so you see exactly what we see.
Fixed written quote
One price for the job that's actually needed. No deposit and no call-out charge.
Done and cleared
We do the work, take every bit of waste away and leave the place spotless.
New roofs questions
Do I need planning permission for a new roof?
Not for a like-for-like re-roof on most houses. It changes on a listed building or where an Article 4 direction is in place, and Brighton has plenty of both, mostly in its conservation areas. On a listed house or under an Article 4 direction, swapping natural slate for concrete tile needs consent. We flag it at the quote so there are no surprises.
Do I need scaffolding for a new roof?
Yes. A full re-roof needs proper scaffolding with edge protection, for the crew's safety and yours, and to give us a platform to strip and lay from. On a terrace that means scaffold on the pavement at the front and in the garden at the back. It's priced into your quote from the start, not added later.
Can I stay at home while my roof is replaced?
Yes, almost everyone does. The roof is only open one section at a time, and it's covered every evening so the house stays dry overnight. Expect some noise and dust in the loft, so clear anything precious out of there first. We protect the garden and take the waste away as we go.
What happens if it rains halfway through a re-roof?
The roof never sits open to the sky. We only strip what we can cover again the same day, and the new membrane goes down as soon as the old covering is off, so a shower runs straight off it. If heavy rain is forecast, the open section is sheeted and battened down before we leave.
Can you replace the gutters while the scaffold is up?
Yes, and it's the cheapest time to do it. The scaffold is already up, so replacing tired fascias, soffits, gutters and downpipes costs far less than scaffolding the house again later. We supply and fit uPVC roof line products and price them as an option alongside your roof, so you can decide with the numbers in front of you.
Is it worth swapping slate for concrete tiles to save money?
On a post-war house that had concrete tiles originally, yes. On a Victorian or Regency house, no. Concrete tiles are heavier than slate, the roof timbers weren't built to carry them, and in much of central Brighton the change needs consent. Reclaimed or new natural slate is the right answer there.
Ready to stop patching and start again?
Book a free quote and drone survey and see the whole roof from above before you decide.