The roofing terms Lancaster homeowners meet most often, explained in plain English.
This glossary explains the roofing terms Lancaster homeowners meet most often, from nail sickness on Victorian slate to dry-fix ridge systems on 1960s estates. Each definition is written in plain English with local relevance. For advice on your own roof, call Lancaster Roofing Experts on 0152 474 5928.
The failure of the iron nails that fix slates to the roof, rather than the slates themselves. Common on Lancaster's Victorian terraces where original iron nails are now over a century old. Slates slip while remaining sound, and the roof needs re-slating with new copper or stainless fixings.
A traditional mortar that flexes with masonry movement and allows soft stone to breathe. Essential for Lancaster's Victorian sandstone chimneys and walls, where hard Portland cement traps moisture and causes the stone face to crumble and spall over time.
Removing failed mortar from beneath the ridge tiles at the roof apex and re-bedding them in fresh mortar, or converting to a mechanical dry-fix system. One of the most common repairs on Lancaster's 1960s concrete tile estates such as Ryelands and Moorlands.
A mechanical method of fixing ridge and verge tiles with screws and clips instead of mortar. It meets current British Standard fixing requirements, needs no maintenance cycle, and withstands Lancashire wind better than mortar, which cracks and drops out over time.
Shaped lead sheet that weatherproofs the junctions between a roof and chimneys, walls or valleys. Lancaster's older properties often have flashings that have fatigued after decades, causing persistent leaks that surface repairs cannot fix without full lead replacement.
Glass-reinforced plastic applied as a seamless liquid coating that cures to a hard waterproof surface. Ideal for the flat roofs on Lancaster garages and extensions, it eliminates the joints that fail on felt roofs and carries a 20-year manufacturer guarantee.
The edge of a roof at the gable end, where the tiles meet the outer wall. Verge mortar is exposed to weather on three sides and fails faster than the main ridge, making it a frequent early repair on Lancaster's post-war housing stock.
The finished mortar in the joints between bricks or stones. Correct pointing sheds water off the wall face; failed or wrongly specified pointing lets water into the masonry. Lancaster's exposed and period properties need pointing matched to the original construction material.