Roofing & Building Services in Saltdean

Saltdean is unusual in that a significant proportion of its housing stock dates from a relatively narrow window — the late 1930s through to the 1950s. The interwar semi-detached houses and bungalows that line its streets were built quickly and to similar specifications, which means that roofing components across large sections of the village are now ageing at a similar rate. Tiles, battens, underlay and flashings installed together in the 1930s and 1940s are now well beyond their nominal designed service life.

The Art Deco character of much of Saltdean's architecture — flat-roofed sections, curved bay windows and rendered facades — creates a higher than average proportion of flat roofing per property. We regularly replace flat roof sections on Saltdean properties using EPDM rubber and GRP fibreglass systems, which offer better resistance to the UV exposure and thermal cycling that affect this elevated coastal location. The original bitumen felt systems found on many properties here have frequently failed, and we often uncover multiple layers of patch repairs when stripping back for replacement.

Wind is the dominant weathering factor in Saltdean. Properties on the upper slopes above the Lido face unrestricted south-westerly exposure, and we have seen consistent patterns of ridge and verge displacement, lifted flashings and dislodged hip tiles on these streets. We always recommend mechanically fixed dry-ridge and dry-verge systems rather than mortar bedding for properties in the upper part of the village.

Saltdean is within our regular East Sussex coastal working area and we respond promptly to enquiries. The drive from our Brighton base takes under 15 minutes, and we do not apply additional charges for the area.