Roof Renovation
Across Ireland.

A complete roof restoration — pressure clean, biocide treatment, re-pointing of ridges and verges, and breathable coating — is appropriate for pitched tile and slate roofs where the structure is sound, the covering is in reasonable condition, and the primary issue is biological growth, weathering and failed mortar. On concrete tile roofs across Cork, Limerick and Dublin that are 20–35 years old, a full restoration can extend the roof's serviceable life by 15–20 years at a fraction of the cost of full replacement. This is an honest assessment, not a sales-down — when restoration is the right answer, it is the answer we give.

The restoration process starts with a high-pressure clean to remove moss, lichen, algae and weathered surface coating. A biocide is then applied to prevent biological regrowth for 10+ years. Ridge and verge mortar is inspected — any failed sections are re-pointed with polymer-modified mortar or, where the roof profile permits, converted to mechanical dry-fix systems. A breathable mineral or silicone coating is applied to the full tile surface, restoring weather resistance and preventing freeze-thaw spalling. The finished roof looks significantly better than before and performs reliably for a further 15–20 years across all five of our Irish regions.

Structural roof renovation addresses the timber frame beneath the covering — the rafters, purlins, ridge boards, binders and fascia boards that hold the roof together. On Irish homes built before 1970, and particularly on pre-war properties across Cork city, Limerick and Dublin, untreated softwood exposed to decades of moisture ingress, poor ventilation and condensation can reach a point where the covering itself is performing better than the structure below it. Our survey identifies every element that needs replacement before the price is agreed — no mid-project discoveries.

Replacement timber is treated softwood to BS 5268, sized correctly for the span and the wind loading zone of the property's location — coastal Galway and west Cork have higher design wind speeds than inland Limerick, and we size rafters accordingly. New decking, breathable membrane and battens are installed over the repaired structure before the existing covering is re-laid or replaced. Where the extent of structural damage exceeds survey estimates — rare, but it happens — we agree pricing adjustments before any additional work proceeds. All structural renovation work is included in the 10-year written workmanship guarantee.

TGD Part L 2022 sets a maximum U-value of 0.16 W/m²K for roofs in Ireland. Homes built before 2006 typically have roof U-values of 0.35–0.55 W/m²K or worse — two to three times above current requirements. When a roof is being renovated, it is the right moment to bring the thermal performance into compliance: the scaffold is already up, the felt is being replaced, and the marginal cost of adding PIR insulation is significantly lower than a separate intervention later. We carry out energy efficiency upgrades as a standard option on every renovation project in Cork, Limerick, Galway and Dublin.

For cold-roof conversions (insulation at ceiling level), the upgrade involves ensuring adequate cross-ventilation between insulation and felt, installing a new breathable membrane and upgrading ridge and eaves ventilation. For warm-roof conversions (insulation between and above rafters), rigid PIR boards are cut and fitted between rafters with a continuous layer above, achieving a combined U-value of 0.16 W/m²K or better. Breathable membrane goes over the insulation. Both approaches are TGD Part F 2019 compliant for ventilation. SEAI grants are available for energy efficiency upgrades on primary residences — we advise on eligibility at survey stage.

Victorian, Georgian, Edwardian and late 19th-century properties across Cork city, Limerick city, Dublin and the historic towns of Munster and Leinster require a heritage-specific approach to roof renovation. The primary material differences are: natural slate (not fibre-cement or concrete tile), hydraulic lime mortar (not OPC or polymer-modified), Code 5 lead flashings (not aluminium) and where sarking boards are present, like-for-like replacement with treated hardwood. Non-heritage contractors regularly substitute modern materials for traditional ones — sometimes for cost reasons, sometimes from ignorance — and the results are incompatible with planning requirements and visually damaging to historic properties.

On ACA properties and protected structures in Cork, Limerick and Dublin, we carry out all ridge and verge work in NHL 3.5 or NHL 5 hydraulic lime mortar — flexible enough to move with the masonry, vapour-open, and with a service life that matches the slate above it. OPC mortar on heritage buildings cracks within 5–10 years. We source reclaimed natural slate to match the existing covering where partial re-roofing is required. Full planning compliance documentation, photographic records and material certification are provided on completion. We work alongside conservation architects and local authority heritage officers as required.

Flat roof renovation is one of the most common projects we carry out on residential extensions, garages and dormers across Cork, Limerick, Galway and Dublin. The most frequent scenario is an existing modified bitumen felt system that is 15–25 years old, showing blistering, split seams and evidence of ponding. The renovation options are: EPDM overlay over a sound existing deck, GRP overlay where a trafficable surface is needed, or full strip and relay where the deck has been saturated or is structurally compromised. Thermal imaging carried out at survey stage determines which applies.

Where an EPDM or GRP overlay is specified, the existing membrane is cleaned and any blistered sections are cut back and patch-repaired before the new membrane is applied. Drainage falls are corrected where they are inadequate — falls below 1:80 cause water to pond, which accelerates membrane failure on any system. Upstands at all abutments and drip edge perimeter trims are included as standard. Where the existing deck is saturated or rotten — which thermal imaging will identify clearly — a full strip, deck replacement and new membrane installation is the correct answer, and we recommend it without reservation. All flat roof renovation work carries a 10-year guarantee from Recommended Roofing and a 20-year material warranty on Firestone EPDM systems.

Coastal property roofing in Ireland operates under different conditions than inland work. Properties within 1km of the Atlantic coast in Cork, Galway and the Dublin Bay area are subject to wind exposure categories SE3 and SE4 under BS 5534 — the highest residential wind exposure ratings in Ireland. Salt-laden air accelerates the corrosion of galvanised fixings (the cause of most slate slippage on coastal properties), degrades mortar-bedded ridges faster, and requires a different material specification than an identical house five kilometres inland. We know the coastal exposure map well; every renovation quote on a coastal property starts with a wind exposure assessment.

Coastal renovation specifications include: stainless steel or A4-grade nails and fixings (not galvanised), T2-S rated fibre-cement slates or PVDF-coated aluminium where slate is not appropriate, mechanical dry-fix ridge and dry-verge systems, and marine-grade sealants at all penetrations. Chimney stacks on coastal properties are a particular vulnerability — lime mortar repointing and lead cap replacement are included in the condition assessment. We carry out coastal renovation work across west Cork, the Galway coast from Salthill to Clifden, and Dublin Bay properties from Skerries to Dalkey. The 10-year written workmanship guarantee applies across all coastal zones.