How Netherton Was Built
Netherton changed from a small village into a large residential area after the Second World War. With so much of Bootle’s housing destroyed by bombing, Bootle Borough Council built a large estate centred on Marian Square in the mid-1950s, and Lancashire County Council followed with the Sefton Estate in the mid-1960s. Netherton Village keeps its older core of private homes around the old village green, and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal runs through the middle of the area.
The result is a fairly consistent housing stock of two-storey semi-detached and terraced houses, with later private homes alongside, mostly under simple pitched roofs covered in tiles. Many have since gained porches, garages and single-storey extensions, often with flat roofs.
Typical Roof Problems on Post-War Homes
Ageing underlay and battens
Roofs of this age often have bitumen felt underlay that has become brittle or torn, especially near the eaves. Water that gets past a tile is then no longer carried safely into the gutter. Our article on roof felt failure under tiles explains the signs.
Mortar ridges and verges
Ridge tiles and verges bedded only in mortar crack and loosen over time, and are a frequent source of leaks and fallen tiles. See our ridge tile repairs.
Porch, garage and extension roofs
Older felt roofs on these additions tend to fail at the edges and around outlets, and standing water speeds that up.
Rooflines
Original timber fascias and soffits can rot, sag or come loose, while blocked gutters spill water down the walls. Our fascias, soffits and gutters service covers both.
Repair or Re-Roof?
On a roof that has been up for sixty or seventy years, the honest answer is not always a new roof. If the tiles are sound and the problems are limited to a ridge, a few slipped tiles or a failed flashing, a targeted repair is usually better value. If the underlay has failed across the roof and the battens are rotten, re-roofing becomes more sensible, and it gives you the chance to improve loft insulation and ventilation at the same time.
Bear in mind that replacing more than 25% of a roof’s covering counts as renovating a thermal element under the Building Regulations. Insulation usually has to be brought up to current standards where technically and economically feasible, and the work must be notified to Building Control. Our guide on whether you need Building Regulations to replace your roof explains more.
Businesses and Landlords in Netherton
Alongside its homes, Netherton has commercial and industrial premises along the Dunnings Bridge Road corridor. We carry out commercial roofing as well as domestic work, including flat roof repairs and re-covering on units and shops, and we work with landlords who need dependable repairs on rental properties.
Emergency Roof Help in Netherton
Call 0151 739 0669 at any time, day or night, if tiles have come off, a flat roof has started leaking or a chimney looks unsafe. We make the roof safe first where that can be done safely, then carry out a permanent repair. If a storm caused the damage, take photos and speak to your insurer; we can back up your claim with a written report, photos and a quote. Read more about our emergency roofing.
Covering Netherton from our base at Maghull Business Centre.
