old pan tile roof with wormy trusses Information, help and tips on many areas of roofing including trusses, tiling, venting, insulation etc....

[dan1]

I've got a 150y old cottage + the roof's leaking. I think some of the old (pan) tiles look awry. It's in quite a windy exposed site + rain may blow up under. The felt looks as if it needs replacing, When I looked in the loft several of the original oak roof trusses have woodworm holes in some places with softening powdery wood up to a 1/3 of the thickness of the truss. I want to make it weatherproof and would like to avoid a whole new roof if possible but don't want just a temporary short term solution. I suspect the trusses have had some worm for a while. If structurally sound could they be treated + how would I find out how safe they are. I worry asking a roofer will get a response according to what work he'd like to do? Thanks for any input guys!

[stoneyboy]

dan1,
Presumably you know this is going to hurt!
The roof will have to be stripped back to bare rafters.
Each of the rafters will need looking at individually and their remaining strength assessed - good ones treated and bad ones treated and strengthened with additional rafters. With the age of the house there is probably far more timber than is necessary so you may be lucky.
Your local building control department will expect to be involved and you will probably have to meet current building regulations - insulation, ventilation, strength of rafters .......
good luck
end

[dan1]

Oh Dear. Are we talking 1000's or tens of 1000's? Should I just go for any roofing repair company or one who specialises in elderly building? Presumably they'd know about the building control requirements etc.

[stoneyboy]

dan1
You don't say how large your house is, whether its listed or whether its occupied.
For a small 3 bed house £10-20,000. If it is occupied you will need a temporary roof over it - add £10,000. Difficult site conditions, unforseen problems, listing, poor condition of existing tiles will all add £1000's.
You do need to get roofing specialists in to give you a price.

[TheDoctor5]

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