From Canal Town to New-Build Estates
Burscough grew from a farming village after the Leeds and Liverpool Canal arrived in the late eighteenth century, followed by the railways in the mid-nineteenth, with Burscough Bridge developing around the canal and its stations. On the edge of town, the canal cottages around Top Locks, where the Rufford Branch leaves the main line, sit within a conservation area, and the ruins of Burscough Priory lie to the south-west.
Around the older centre are Victorian and Edwardian brick terraces and semis, typically under slate, with chimney stacks and rear extensions. Further out are twentieth-century estates and, more recently, large developments such as those at Yew Tree Farm off Liverpool Road South, whose roofs typically use concrete tiles with dry-fixed ridges and verges and uPVC rooflines. Out on the farmland there are farmhouses, cottages and converted barns.
Wind, Weather and Open Farmland
Burscough sits on the West Lancashire Coastal Plain, flat, open country with little to slow the wind. Roofs on the edge of town and out on the farmland take the brunt of it, and the typical results are loose or missing ridge tiles, slipped slates, lifted verge tiles and gutters pulled away from fascias. Slopes that get little sun can also gather moss, which holds moisture and washes into gutters and valleys.
Most of these problems are straightforward to put right if they are caught early. Our roof repairs cover slipped and broken tiles and slates, ridges and verges, flashings, valleys and gutters.
Older Properties and Conservation
On Victorian terraces and older cottages, the most common jobs are chimney stack repairs, refixing or replacing slipped slates, and renewing lead flashings where stacks and extensions meet the main roof. Where a property is listed or within a conservation area, such as around Top Locks, West Lancashire Borough Council may need to approve changes to materials or appearance, so it is worth checking with them early. We aim to repair like for like and keep original features wherever possible.
Problems With Newer Homes
New-build roofs are not immune to problems. Dry verge caps can come loose, ridge clips can be missing or poorly fitted, and inadequate roof ventilation can lead to condensation in the loft, a problem our article on damp and mould caused by poor roof ventilation looks at in more detail. If your home is still within its new-home warranty period, contact the developer or warranty provider first, as the defect may be their responsibility. After that, or for anything the warranty excludes, we can inspect the roof and quote for a repair.
Commercial Units and Emergency Repairs
We also carry out commercial roofing for businesses in Burscough, from industrial units to town-centre shops, including flat roof repairs and re-covering.
For urgent problems at a home or business, our emergency line on 0151 739 0669 is available 24/7. If conditions allow safe access, we put in a temporary repair to keep the weather out, followed by a permanent fix. Where a storm is to blame, take photos and let your insurer know, as our written report, photographs and quote can be used to back up a claim.
Covering Burscough from our base at Maghull Business Centre.
