Expert Heritage Roofing in Liskeard, Cornwall

In this part of Cornwall, slate isn't just a building material—it's part of our identity. Many of the older properties in Liskeard and surrounding villages like St Cleer or Menheniot feature traditional scantle roofing. This involves using random-sized slates, often bedded in lime mortar (or 'wet-laid'), which allows the building to breathe. If you're lucky enough to have an original Delabole slate roof, you'll know that a standard 'strip and re-tile' job just won't cut it. We take pride in sourcing like-for-like materials to ensure any restoration is sympathetic to the original aesthetic. We understand the nuances of heritage roofing, from the specific overlap required for weather-proofing to the way the sun hits the stone. It's about making sure your home looks exactly as it should, while keeping you bone-dry through the winter months.

The 'secret sauce' of a long-lasting heritage roof often lies in the details you can't see from the ground. Traditional leadwork, including bespoke lead bossing and welding around chimneys and valleys, is a craft we've spent years perfecting. In older Liskeard properties, using modern cement for pointing is often a recipe for disaster; it's too rigid and traps moisture, which eventually leads to stone decay. That's why we stick to traditional lime mortar. It's flexible, breathable, and essential for the structural integrity of historic masonry. Imagine your roof as a living thing that needs to move and shed water naturally. By using time-honoured techniques, we ensure that your lead flashings and chimney stacks aren't just watertight, but are also historically accurate for your property's era.

Does your property fall within a Liskeard conservation area, or is it a Grade II listed building? If so, you'll know that any work you do needs to meet very specific standards set by Cornwall Council. It can be a bit of a minefield, but you don't have to face it alone. We've spent plenty of time liaising with conservation officers to ensure our work meets their strict criteria for 'sympathetic restoration.' We can help you understand what's required, from the type of nail used to the specific thickness of the lead. Our goal is to take the stress out of the process for you. Most homeowners we speak to are worried about falling foul of the rules, so we make it our job to ensure every repair or replacement is fully compliant and protects the value of your heritage investment.

One of the biggest headaches with heritage roofing is simply getting a good look at the problem. Scaffolding is expensive and, on older buildings, you want to avoid unnecessary foot traffic on fragile slates. That's where our drone roof surveys come in. It's a non-invasive way for us to get high-definition footage of your chimney stacks, gables, and hard-to-reach valleys without ever touching the structure. We can sit down with you and show you exactly where a leak is starting or where the lime mortar is beginning to erode. It's a transparent, modern solution that saves you money and gives us a clear roadmap for the restoration. Why guess what's happening up there when we can show you the reality in 4K detail?