From Lancashire Village to Liverpool Overspill
Halewood was a farming township for centuries. Its old village centre lies around Church Road, where St Nicholas’ Church was built in 1839. That changed after Liverpool Corporation bought land here in 1930. From the mid-1950s onwards, large housing estates were built to rehouse families from the city, and by the 1970s the population had grown many times over. The Ford factory, which opened in 1963 and is now home to Jaguar Land Rover, brought further growth.
The result is a town where much of the housing dates from the 1950s to the 1970s, alongside a handful of older buildings in the village and a substantial new-build area on the eastern side.
Re-Roofing Homes Built From the 1950s to the 1970s
Many of these houses were built with concrete tiles over a bitumen felt underlay, with mortar-bedded ridges and verges. After decades of weather, the tiles may still look acceptable from the street while the felt underneath has become brittle or torn, the battens have softened and the mortar has cracked. Our guide to roof felt failure under tiles explains the signs.
Where a replacement is the better option, the new roof goes on over breathable membrane and new battens, with ridge tiles mechanically fixed as BS 5534 requires. Replacing more than a quarter of the roof covering also brings insulation requirements under Building Regulations. Our roof replacement page explains what is involved.
Garages, Porches and Flat-Roof Extensions
Flat roofs are common in Halewood: on garages, porch canopies, kitchen extensions and some dormers. Older felt coverings tend to blister, split at the edges and hold water. Depending on the structure underneath, we may recommend a repair, a new felt system, or a replacement in GRP fibreglass or EPDM rubber. See our flat roof services for the options.
Some buildings put up before 2000 used asbestos cement in garage roofs, soffits or flues. If there is any doubt about a material, it should be tested by a specialist before anyone disturbs it.
New Homes in East Halewood
New homes like those on the estates to the east of Halewood usually have dry ridge and verge systems, uPVC fascias and soffits, and ventilation built into the roof. If your home is still covered by a new-build warranty, contact the developer or warranty provider first about any defect. For later problems, storm damage or improvements such as roof windows, we can inspect and quote in the usual way.
Emergency Help in Halewood
For active leaks, missing tiles or storm damage, ring our 24/7 emergency line. Flat roofs on garages and extensions often start leaking during long spells of heavy rain rather than in high wind. A temporary covering can protect the room below until the roof can be properly repaired, which for coverings such as GRP needs dry weather and suitable temperatures. Where it is safe to do so, we make the roof safe first and then return for the permanent work.
Covering Halewood from our base at Maghull Business Centre.
