A practical guide to looking after your roof in Horsham, from MB Roofing, Mike Bishop’s roofing business based in Hove. Understand what you have, what might need attention, and what a proper quote should tell you before you commit.
Most people only think about their roof when something goes wrong: a stain on the ceiling, a tile on the lawn, a gutter pouring over the front door. By then the useful question is not just “who can fix this?” but “what is actually happening up there, and what is the sensible amount of work?” That is what this page is for. MB Roofing takes on work in Horsham and across West Sussex, and every one of our eight services is available here.
Mike Bishop founded the business around 30 years ago and still prices about 99% of jobs himself. That matters because the person standing in front of your house deciding what the roof needs is an experienced roofer, not a salesperson. If a repair will do, we say so. If repairs have stopped being good value, we explain why a re-roof might be the better long-term decision, and put the reasoning in writing.
The guidance below explains what to look for on your roof, so you can recognise problems early and ask the right questions. The right solution depends on its materials, age, exposure and condition. We assess your own property in person before quoting, rather than recommending work from a postcode alone.
Honest, property-led advice. Use it to judge your own roof before you call.
Homes around Horsham, like most of Sussex, can carry anything from natural slate and handmade clay peg tiles to concrete interlocking tiles and modern flat-roofed extensions. If your home has an older covering, matching size, colour and fixing method matters as much as keeping water out. If it has a mix, such as a pitched main roof and a flat rear extension, each part usually needs its own assessment.
Sussex roofs take wind-driven rain off the Channel and over the Downs. For exposed properties on open ground, hillsides or near the coast, ridges, verges, hips and chimney flashings are often where trouble starts. For sheltered or tree-lined plots, the bigger issue tends to be moss, leaf litter and gutters that stay damp on north-facing slopes.
Most expensive roof jobs begin as small ones: a slipped tile, a cracked mortar ridge, a blocked outlet on a flat roof. Check whether gutters overflow in heavy rain, whether there are damp patches on upper ceilings or chimney breasts, and whether moss is lifting tile edges. A survey and written report lets you decide what genuinely needs doing now and what can be monitored.
Many routine repairs need no permission, but changing materials, adding roof windows or altering a chimney can. Check whether your property is listed, in a conservation area or within the South Downs National Park before changing how the roof looks, and confirm with the relevant planning authority. We will flag anything we think needs checking during the survey.
A full strip and re-roof when repairs no longer make sense: old coverings removed, timbers checked, breathable membrane and new battens laid, then slate or tile fixed with new leadwork, ridges and valleys.
New Roofs in HorshamExtensions, garages, dormers and bays re-covered in GRP fibreglass, EPDM rubber or felt, with warm-roof insulation options. Mike is GRP trained, and we will explain which system suits your roof and budget.
Flat Roofs in HorshamLeaks traced to their source rather than patched blindly: broken or slipped tiles and slates, storm damage, failed valleys and flashings. Drone inspections help us see hard-to-reach areas before anyone climbs.
Roof Repairs in HorshamNatural and man-made slate repaired or replaced, from refixing individual slates to full re-slating, with the leadwork, ridges and detailing that period roofs depend on.
Slate Roofs in HorshamClay and concrete tiles, plain and interlocking, replaced or re-laid. Advice on matching tile type and size, plus ridge and hip re-bedding or dry-fix systems.
Tiled Roofs in HorshamStacks repointed, rebuilt, capped or removed, with new lead flashing where water is getting in around the base. Chimneys are out of sight, so they are often the first thing we check.
Chimney Repairs in HorshamGutters, downpipes, fascias and soffits cleared, repaired or replaced in low-maintenance uPVC, so rainwater leaves the roof without soaking the walls below.
Guttering in HorshamMoss removed by hand without high-pressure washing, gutters cleared afterwards, and the roof looked over while we are up there so you know about any loose tiles.
Moss Removal in HorshamChoosing a roofer is mostly about trust: will they turn up, tell you the truth about your roof, and do the work properly where you cannot see it? These are the facts about how MB Roofing works. You can verify the memberships yourself.
Read what customers across our wider Sussex work have said, and look through photos of past MB Roofing jobs. These are from the business as a whole, not specific to this area.
A site visit first, then a detailed written quote covering scope, materials, timescales and pricing. No obligation.
A site visit is arranged to assess the project at your Horsham property, discuss requirements, and take measurements. We then provide a detailed written quote outlining the scope of work, materials, timescales, and pricing.
Once the quote is accepted, the team schedules the work, orders materials, arranges scaffolding if needed, and ensures all necessary permissions or safety measures are in place.
The roofing or building work is carried out by our skilled tradesmen. Progress is monitored closely, with attention to quality, safety, and minimal disruption to the client.
After finishing, the site is cleared and cleaned. A final inspection is done with the customer to ensure satisfaction. Any guarantees or documentation are handed over at this stage.
Quotes are free. We visit, look at the roof properly, and send a written quote setting out the scope of work, materials, timescales and price, so you can compare like for like.
It depends on the age and condition of the covering, the battens and membrane underneath, and how widespread the problems are. If damage is isolated, repair is usually right. If tiles or slates are failing across the roof, or the underlay has perished, a re-roof is often better value over time. We will tell you which we think applies and why.
Like-for-like repairs usually do not. Changing materials, adding roof windows, altering chimneys or working on a listed building or in a conservation area may need consent. Check with your planning authority before work starts; we will point out anything that looks likely to need checking.
Guarantees depend on the job and materials used. Any guarantee that applies is set out for your specific job and the paperwork is handed over on completion, so you know exactly what is covered.
Often, yes. A visual inspection from the ground, from windows or loft, and where useful a drone inspection, can show a lot. Scaffolding is arranged when the work itself needs safe access.
Your address, what you have noticed (a leak, slipped tiles, overflowing gutters), roughly where on the roof, and any photos you have. That helps us prepare for the visit.
Free site visit and written quote. Call 01273 819808, mobile 07956 998 965, or email mbroofing@hotmail.co.uk.
