Totley is an area we return to regularly. The older stone properties at the heart of the village, the exposed rooflines on the elevated streets above Totley Rise, and the proximity of the Peak District all mean that roofing here isn’t a job you want handed to someone without real experience.
We cover every aspect of roofing for Totley homeowners and landlords. New roofs, repair work, chimney maintenance, flat roofing on extensions, guttering and fascias, and specialist work on natural slate and stone. Whatever your roof needs, we’ll give you a straight assessment and a fair price.
Roofing in Totley
Totley sits right on the edge of the Peak District, which shapes almost everything about how properties here behave. The village has a character that’s noticeably different from the rest of the S17 postcode. You’ve got stone-built cottages and older terraces in and around the village centre, Victorian and Edwardian properties on the more established streets, and then a spread of post-war housing and modern developments as you move out towards Totley Rise and the surrounding roads.
That variety in housing stock means a variety in roofing. The older properties often carry natural Welsh slate or stone slate, both of which are excellent materials when properly maintained but which need sympathetic repair when something goes wrong. Swapping a cracked natural slate for a cheap concrete tile isn’t the right solution, and we won’t suggest it. We source matching materials and make sure the repair sits properly with the rest of the roof.
The weather is the other factor that shapes roofing in Totley more than in other parts of Sheffield. At this elevation, on the western edge of the city, the prevailing wind comes straight off the moorland. It gets into pointing that’s started to fail, works ridge tiles loose over time, and puts sustained pressure on flashings and lead work around chimneys and dormers. A roof that would last another decade in a more sheltered location might need attention sooner here. That’s not scaremongering; it’s just the reality of the exposure, and it’s something we factor into the advice we give.
We also work on properties in and around Totley Bents and Old Hay, where you’ll find some of the older and more substantial homes in the area, and along the roads closer to Abbeydale where the housing transitions into something more urban. Each part of Totley has its own characteristics, and we’ve worked on enough properties here to know what to expect.
Our Roofing Services in Totley
We provide a complete roofing service, covering everything from routine maintenance to full re-roofing projects. Here’s a breakdown of what we offer.
New Roofs and Re-Roofing
When a roof has reached the end of its serviceable life, a full replacement is the right answer. Re-roofing is a substantial piece of work, but it’s one that protects the entire structure beneath it for decades to come. We strip off the existing covering, inspect and repair the underlying roof structure where needed, install new underlay and battens, and lay the new covering to manufacturer specifications. We handle all scaffolding arrangements and leave the site clean. Every new roof comes with a written guarantee, and we’ll always advise you on the most appropriate materials for the style and age of your property in Totley.
Roof Repairs
Most roofing problems don’t warrant a full replacement. A handful of slipped slates, a section of failed pointing, a cracked tile letting water into the loft: these are all jobs we deal with quickly and cost-effectively. The key is catching them before the water gets into the roof structure itself, because that’s when repair costs start to climb. If you’ve noticed a damp patch on a ceiling, water in the loft, or you can see from the street that something looks wrong, it’s worth getting someone to check sooner rather than later. We carry out free roof inspections and give honest, photo-backed assessments of what we find.
Pitched Slate and Tile Roofing
Pitched roofing is the most common type in Totley, and we carry out more work on slate and tile roofs than anything else. We work with natural Welsh slate, which is found on a good number of the older village properties, as well as reconstituted slate and the full range of concrete and clay plain tiles and profiled tiles. We source matching materials for repairs on existing roofs and advise on the most appropriate choice when a full re-roof gives you the opportunity to select something new. For properties in Totley’s older streets, getting the material right matters for both the appearance of the building and its long-term performance.
Chimney Repairs
Chimneys are common on Totley properties, particularly the older ones, and they’re one of the most frequent sources of roofing problems. The mortar pointing on a chimney stack is exposed to freeze-thaw cycles year after year, and it degrades faster at this elevation than in more sheltered locations. Once the pointing starts to fail, water gets into the masonry, which accelerates the damage significantly. Lead flashings at the base of chimney stacks also have a finite lifespan and are a common point of water ingress once they start to lift or crack.
We carry out chimney repointing, lead flashing replacement, pot and cowl repairs, and full stack rebuilds where the deterioration has gone too far for repair to be practical. We also cap and make safe redundant chimneys for homeowners who no longer use them, preventing water ingress while keeping the roofline looking as it should.
Flat Roofing
Extensions, garages, and bay windows across Totley often have flat or low-pitch roofs, many of which were originally covered in traditional felt. Felt is a short-term solution by modern standards, prone to blistering and cracking, particularly in the cold winters this part of Sheffield regularly experiences. We install modern flat roofing systems that are significantly more durable and come with better warranties.
Fibreglass (GRP) Roofing
GRP fibreglass is now the standard for domestic flat and low-pitch roofs, and with good reason. It’s installed as a continuous, seamless membrane with no joints or seams for water to penetrate. It handles temperature extremes well, which matters in Totley winters. It requires very little maintenance once it’s properly installed, and it carries a guarantee of up to twenty-five years when fitted by a qualified installer. We carry out fibreglass roofing on extensions, porches, garages, and outbuildings throughout Totley.
Rubber Roofing (EPDM)
EPDM rubber roofing is the other high-quality option for flat and low-pitch roofs. It’s particularly well suited to roofs with more complex shapes or where there are multiple penetrations such as pipes, flues, or rooflights to work around, because the material is extremely flexible and easy to detail at junctions. A quality EPDM roof can last forty years or more. We install rubber roofing on new and replacement flat roofs and can advise on whether GRP or EPDM is the better fit for your specific job.
Soffits, Fascias and Roofline
The fascias and soffits along the edge of the roofline do a job that’s easy to overlook until they start to fail. They seal the roof structure against birds, pests, and weather, and they carry the guttering. On Totley’s older properties, these are often original timber boards, which have generally served their time. Rotten soffits and fascias allow moisture into the roof timbers and become a route in for wildlife. Replacing them with low-maintenance uPVC boards is a straightforward upgrade that removes the problem for good. We carry out full roofline replacements and can combine this with guttering replacement to keep the time on scaffold to a minimum.
Guttering and Drainage
In an area that sees the kind of rainfall Totley does, working guttering is not optional. A blocked or broken gutter allows water to run down the exterior wall, which leads to damp in the fabric of the building over time. We clean out blocked gutters, repair cracked or leaking sections, replace failed joints, and carry out full guttering replacements where the system has reached the end of its life. We work with uPVC, cast iron, and aluminium systems, depending on what suits the property. Cast iron guttering, in particular, is worth retaining on older Totley properties where it contributes to the character of the building.
Dormer Windows
Dormers are a practical and visually effective way to add usable space and light to a loft room, and they’re a relatively common feature on the larger properties in Totley. The critical roofing element on any dormer is the weatherproofing of the junctions: where the dormer cheeks meet the main roof covering, and at the flat or pitched section on top of the dormer structure. These are points where water can get in if the detailing isn’t done correctly. We build new dormers and repair or re-weatherproof existing ones, including the lead work, tile and slate work around the cheeks, and the flat roof section.
Velux and Roof Windows
A roof window adds light to a loft space without the cost and disruption of a full dormer, and it’s an increasingly popular choice on Totley properties where homeowners are converting loft spaces for use. The installation needs to be done correctly: the flashing kit around the window frame must integrate properly with the surrounding roof covering, and any weakness at that junction will result in water ingress eventually. We install Velux and equivalent roof windows on new and existing roofs and carry out re-flashing on existing installations that have started to leak.
Loft Conversions
A loft conversion is one of the most effective ways to add living space to a Totley home. For properties where the existing roof structure allows it, a relatively modest conversion can create a comfortable bedroom, bathroom, or home office without touching the building’s footprint. The roofing element of a loft conversion covers the structural alterations to the roof frame, any new dormer or roof window installations, changes to the roof covering where the structure has been altered, and the weatherproofing of all new junctions. We work alongside builders and structural engineers on loft conversion projects and are responsible for everything that relates to the roof.
Why Totley Homeowners WORK WITH US
We’ve been working on roofs in this part of Sheffield for over two decades. That’s long enough to have built a reputation that we take seriously, which means we won’t oversell unnecessary work, we won’t cut corners on materials, and we won’t disappear if something isn’t right after the job is finished.
Our teams are directly employed. Every roofer who works on your property is one of ours, trained to our standards and accountable to us. We don’t pass work to subcontractors, which means you know who’s on your roof and we’re responsible for the outcome.
We carry full public liability insurance and provide written guarantees on all our work. For larger installations such as new roofs and flat roofing systems, we also provide product warranties from the material manufacturers. You’ll receive all documentation on completion.
For older or character properties in Totley, we take the time to source the right materials. A natural slate roof that’s had a botched repair with mismatched tiles is both a visual problem and a practical one. We approach heritage roofing materials with the care they need.
Roofing Questions From Totley Homeowners
My roof is old but isn’t leaking. Does it still need attention?
Age alone isn’t a reason to replace a roof, but it’s a reason to have it inspected. Many older roofs have issues that aren’t yet causing active leaks but will do if left alone. Loose ridge tiles, failing mortar, and lifted flashings are all things that get worse over time. An inspection gives you a clear picture of where the roof actually stands, and lets you plan and budget for any work rather than dealing with it as an emergency.
My property is older and has a natural slate roof. Can you repair it with matching materials?
Yes. We work with natural Welsh slate and source matching materials for repairs on older properties. If a section of roof needs replacing rather than just a few individual slates, we’ll find the closest available match in terms of colour and size. We won’t suggest swapping natural slate for a cheaper alternative if the rest of the roof is in good condition.
How much does a new roof cost?
It varies considerably depending on the size and pitch of the roof, the materials chosen, and the condition of the underlying structure. We provide free, no-obligation quotes for all roofing work in Totley. The quote will be itemised so you can see exactly what you’re paying for.
Can you work on my roof in winter?
For most roofing work, yes. Urgent repairs and emergency work we carry out year-round. For planned re-roofing projects, we’ll advise on the best timing, as very cold or icy conditions affect how some materials perform during installation. We’ll always be upfront about this when scheduling work.
Do I need to worry about planning permission for chimney repairs?
Like-for-like repairs to a chimney stack don’t require planning permission. If you’re in a conservation area, or if your property is listed, there may be restrictions on materials or appearance that you’d need to comply with. We’ll flag this at the quote stage and advise you on what applies to your property.
How long does roof repair work take?
Minor repairs, such as replacing a few tiles or repointing a chimney, are usually completed within a day, sometimes within a few hours. More substantial work takes longer, and we’ll give you a realistic timeframe before we start. We won’t leave a job half-done or drag it out unnecessarily.
Get a Free Roofing Quote in Totley
If you’ve got a roofing job that needs doing in Totley, get in touch with Newbould Roofing. We’ll arrange a free inspection and assessment and come back to you with a clear, itemised quote. No obligation, no pressure.