Rope access roof repairs
Rope Access Roof Repairs in Edinburgh
Many roof defects on Edinburgh buildings are small and high up: a handful of slipped slates, a split flashing, a blocked valley. Putting up scaffolding for that kind of job can cost more than the repair itself. Rope access technicians reach the defect, repair it and photograph the result, usually in a single visit.
- No scaffold hire
- No scaffold permit
- Tenements & tall buildings
- Fully insured
When rope access is the right choice, and when it is not
Rope access works well for:
- localised defects on otherwise sound roofs
- tall tenements, rear elevations and roofs over back greens
- buildings where scaffolding would block a pavement, shop or close
- leak investigation before committing to a larger repair
It is not suitable for:
- full roof replacement or large-scale re-slating
- major chimney rebuilds
- long programmes where materials must be stored at height
- buildings without safe anchor points or where the public cannot be protected
If your job needs scaffolding we will tell you and quote for it. For repairs by any access method see roof repairs.
Roof repairs we carry out by rope access
Slate repairs and refixing
Replacing broken slates and refixing slipped ones with copper nails or slate hooks, matched to the existing slate.
Lead flashings, soakers and valleys
Repairing or replacing split and lifted lead at chimneys, abutments and valleys.
Ridges, hips and verges
Rebedding or mechanically fixing loose ridge and hip tiles, and repairing verges.
Valleys and gutters
Clearing debris from valleys, gutters, outlets and hopper heads, and repairing local defects. See gutter repairs.
Chimney make-safe and minor masonry
Repairing flashings and flaunching, and making safe loose stone. Larger chimney work is covered under stonemasonry.
Leak tracing
Close inspection to find where water is getting in before we price the repair.
Who we work for
Property factors and managing agents use us for reactive repairs across their buildings because we can attend without scaffolding and send a photo report they can pass to owners.
Tenement owners use rope access for shared roofs and rear elevations where scaffolding would mean a large shared cost for a small repair.
Homeowners use it for repairs on tall houses and steep roofs.
Commercial clients use it to avoid scaffolding in front of shops, offices and schools.
Safety and competence
Rope access technicians on our jobs are IRATA trained, and all rope access work is supervised by IRATA Level 3 technicians and carried out to the IRATA International Code of Practice. We hold £5 million public liability and £5 million employer’s liability insurance, and certificates are available on request.
Where we work above a public pavement we set up an exclusion zone and, where needed, a ground person to manage it.
What you receive
- before and after photos of every defect repaired
- a short written summary of the work and any further defects found
- a price for any additional work, which we only carry out once you approve it
What affects the price
- building height and roof shape
- available anchor points
- public protection needed at street level
- type and number of repairs
- materials, such as matching slate or new lead
- weather
To price a job quickly we need the address, the type of building, a description of the problem, any photos, and when the leak appears (all the time, or only in heavy rain or wind).
Urgent repairs
If water is coming in, call 0131 235 1019. We will tell you straight away when we can attend and make it safe. Rope access cannot be used in high winds or lightning, so some make-safe work has to wait for the weather.
Written quoteThe work, materials and access method explained
PhotosBefore and after photos of the work
GuaranteedWorkmanship guarantee confirmed in writing on your quote
£5 millionPublic liability and employer’s liability insurance
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Is a rope access repair a proper fix or a temporary patch?
A proper fix, when the roof is otherwise serviceable. If the roof is at the end of its life we will tell you that repairs will only buy time.
Will there be disruption?
Usually much less than scaffolding. We may need a short exclusion zone on the pavement below while we work.
Do you provide evidence of the repair?
Yes. Before and after photos and a written summary.
Do you cover all of Edinburgh?
Yes, and the surrounding areas, including Leith, the Old and New Towns, Marchmont, Bruntsfield, Morningside, Stockbridge, Portobello, Musselburgh and Midlothian.
Related services
Get a quote
Tell us about the job and send a photo if you can. We cover Edinburgh and the surrounding areas.