Roofing & Chimney Specialists Covering Ivybridge
Working straight out of our Plymouth yard, we are only 15 to 20 minutes down the A38 from Ivybridge. With 30 years of hands-on trade experience across South Devon, we handle everything from urgent storm leak repairs and chimney repointing to complete pitched and flat roof replacements.
Built for South Moorland Weather: Natural slate work, stepped Code 4 lead chimney flashing, and mechanical ridge systems designed to handle heavy rain off Southern Dartmoor.
Why Roofs in Ivybridge Take a Heavy Beating
Sitting right at the southern foot of Dartmoor where the River Erme drops down from the high ground, Ivybridge gets noticeably higher rainfall than the coast. Weather systems rolling in from the Atlantic hit the moorland edge and dump heavy, driving rain straight onto local roofs.
Because the town spans older stone cottages near the river valley through to large 1970s and 1990s brick estates on the eastern and western edges, we see two distinct sets of roofing problems when we are called out here:
1. Moss Build-Up and Capillary Draw on Concrete Tiles
Damp valley air and overhanging trees around the established estates encourage thick moss growth in the interlocking channels of concrete tiles. When those channels clog, rainwater cannot drain down the slope fast enough. Instead, it backs up and tracks sideways over the nail holes and onto the timber battens underneath, rotting the wood long before a damp patch finally shows on your bedroom ceiling.
2. Washed-Out Chimney Mortar & Fatigued Lead Aprons
Exposed chimney stacks take the brunt of the moorland gusts and winter frosts. Once old sand-and-cement mortar cracks, water sits inside the brickwork joints, freezes, and blows the faces off the bricks. We regularly rake out failed chimney joints to a proper 20mm depth, repoint them neatly, and replace split lead step flashings with fresh Code 4 and Code 5 milled lead wedged and pointed into the stack.
3. Nail Rot on Older Natural Slate Roofs
Around the older streets and converted mill workers' cottages, original natural slates are often still sound, but the iron nails holding them to the battens have rusted through. If a few slates have slipped into the gutter, we get up on the ladder to check whether it is an isolated wind lift or widespread nail sickness before advising whether a repair or a full re-roof makes better financial sense.
What a Site Visit Looks Like
Roofing Services Available in Ivybridge
We do not use subcontractors or salespeople. Every job from a single slipped slate to a complete timber re-roof is priced and carried out by our own time-served roofers. Follow the links below to see the exact materials and methods we use on each job:
Roof Repairs & Leak Tracing
Tracing active leaks, replacing broken tiles and slates, renewing rotten valley linings, and 24/7 emergency storm weatherproofing.
Chimney Repointing
Mechanical raking out of perished mortar joints, full stack repointing, flaunching repairs around chimney pots, and back gutter renewals.
Tiled Roof Installations
Full concrete and clay tile re-roofs laid over vapour-permeable membranes and treated 25x50mm battens, including structural rafter repairs.
Natural Slate Roofing
Complete natural slate replacements and spot repairs using copper or stainless steel fixings built for wet South Devon winters.
Flat Roofing Systems
Garage, dormer, and extension roofs upgraded with GRP fibreglass, single-ply EPDM rubber, or multi-layer torch-on felt on 18mm OSB3 decking.
Leadwork & Valleys
Code 4 and Code 5 milled lead step flashings, chimney aprons, dormer cheeks, and pitched lead valley renewals.
Dry Ridge & Dry Verge
Converting cracked mortar-bedded ridge tiles and gable verges to mechanically screwed systems that will not blow off in high winds.
Fascias, Soffits & Guttering
Rotten timber stripped right back, rafter feet inspected and spliced if needed, new eaves trays fitted, and full uPVC roofline installed.
Why What Goes Under Your Tiles Matters Most
A roof is only as watertight as the detailing you cannot see from the pavement. When we strip a roof slope or repair a leaking valley in Ivybridge, we never cut corners on the secondary weatherproofing.
Old bitumen felt rots away at the eaves where it drapes into the gutter, dumping rainwater straight behind the fascia board and rotting the ends of your rafters. We cut back decayed timber, fit rigid eaves support trays, lay high-tensile vapour-permeable membrane, and fix new treated battens before a single slate or tile goes back on.
If you are buying a house locally and want to know the true condition of the roof before exchanging contracts, we also carry out high-definition drone roof inspections to spot cracked valleys, spalled brickwork, or sagging timbers without the cost of erecting scaffolding first.
Milled Lead Valleys & Breathable Underlay
Freshly laid Code 4 lead valley lining, vapour-permeable membrane, and treated battens alongside brick chimney stacks.
Interlocking Tiles & Mechanical Dry Ridge
Clean courses of interlocking concrete tiles finished with a ventilated, mechanically fixed dry ridge system that never needs repointing.
Working Across Ivybridge & Neighbouring Areas
Alongside Ivybridge, our vans cover the surrounding South Hams villages, Plymouth, and the A38 corridor every week.
Need a Roofer in Ivybridge? Talk Straight to the Trade
Whether you have water dripping into the loft after heavy rain, a chimney stack that needs repointing, or an older roof ready for replacement, give us a call for an honest inspection and a clear, written quote.
Tile Top Roofing Specialists Ltd • Company Reg No. 16264372 • Fully Insured • 24/7 Emergency Leak Response