Commercial

When was the last time you gave your roof a second thought? It’s easy to overlook that unassuming barrier perched atop your commercial property, but if you’re a building owner or landlord in the UK, your roof deserves far more attention than you might realise. Let’s chat about why caring for your roof isn’t just about keeping the rain out—it’s about protecting your entire business.

The Unsung Hero Above Your Head

Think of your roof as the unsung hero of your commercial property. It shields your assets, supports your operations, and even plays a part in your energy efficiency. A well-maintained roof can stave off weather-related woes, whether it’s the damp autumn drizzle or the occasional harsh winter storm. Conversely, a neglected roof can lead to leaks, water damage, and a host of other headaches that might cost you dearly down the line.

You know what? A roof isn’t just a cost centre—it’s a vital investment. When you’re paying those insurance premiums, wouldn’t it be comforting to know that you’re less likely to face an unexpected claim because of preventable issues? It’s all about keeping that overhead secure so that your business can operate smoothly, no matter what Mother Nature has in store.

The Hidden Costs of a Neglected Roof

At first glance, roof maintenance might seem like another line on your expense report. However, the true costs of neglect can be astronomical. Imagine a scenario where a minor leak goes unnoticed. Before long, that seemingly insignificant drip turns into a full-blown water damage nightmare. Structural elements could rot, electrical systems might short-circuit, and your tenants or clients could find themselves in quite an uncomfortable situation.

It’s not just about the immediate repair costs either. There’s also the risk of increased insurance premiums and the possibility of costly legal claims if a failing roof results in injury. When you factor in the potential loss of business during downtime and the damage to your reputation, it quickly becomes clear: ignoring your roof’s health is a gamble you can’t afford to take.

Maintenance: An Investment, Not an Expense

Here’s the thing—spending a bit on regular roof inspections and maintenance is a smart investment in the longevity of your building. Preventative measures, such as cleaning gutters, replacing damaged tiles, and fixing small leaks promptly, can save you a great deal of trouble (and money) in the long run. It’s akin to giving your property a regular health check-up; a stitch in time really does save nine.

Regular maintenance can also extend the life of your roof. Commercial properties, especially older ones, can benefit immensely from a planned maintenance schedule. Not only does this approach help in avoiding sudden repair costs, but it also boosts the overall value of your building. Tenants and potential buyers alike appreciate a well-looked-after property—after all, no one wants to move into a building with a shoddy roof overhead.

Spotting the Signs: What to Look Out For

Have you ever wondered what those subtle hints of roof trouble look like? Sometimes, you might notice a few water stains on the ceiling or a slight dampness that seems to appear out of nowhere. In some cases, you might even hear a persistent dripping sound during a rainstorm. These are the early warning signs that your roof might be calling for a bit of TLC.

Another tip? Pay attention to your building’s overall energy consumption. A sudden spike in heating or cooling costs could indicate that your roof’s insulation has been compromised. In the UK’s ever-changing climate, ensuring that your roof is in top condition isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s a crucial factor in keeping your energy bills in check.

Bringing in the Experts

While a keen eye and regular checks are important, nothing beats the expertise of a professional. Roof specialists can offer a more comprehensive inspection, spotting issues that might elude even the most attentive building owner. These professionals use advanced tools and techniques to assess the health of your roof, ensuring that even the hidden problems are uncovered before they escalate.

It might be tempting to handle minor fixes on your own, but a professional can provide peace of mind. When you invest in expert maintenance, you’re not just fixing a leak or replacing a tile; you’re safeguarding your building’s future. After all, a well-maintained roof is the first line of defence against unforeseen disasters.

Thinking Beyond the Roof: The Bigger Picture

When you step back and view your roof as part of the overall health of your building, it’s clear that its condition affects much more than just the ceiling. It’s intertwined with your building’s energy efficiency, structural integrity, and even its market value. Commercial landlords know that keeping maintenance up-to-date isn’t merely a tick-box exercise—it’s an integral part of ensuring tenant satisfaction and protecting long-term revenue.

Plus, let’s not forget the environmental aspect. In a time when energy efficiency is more critical than ever, a well-insulated, well-maintained roof can reduce your carbon footprint. It’s a small step that not only cuts down on operational costs but also contributes positively to the broader community and environment.

In Conclusion: Look Up for a Brighter Future

At the end of the day, your roof is far more than just an overhead covering—it’s a cornerstone of your business’s security and success. By maintaining it diligently, you’re investing in the resilience of your building and the well-being of your tenants. So next time you walk past that unassuming structure above your head, remember: a little care now can prevent a lot of headaches later.

You might not think about your roof every day, but that’s precisely why it deserves your attention. As a commercial building owner or landlord in the UK, ensuring that your roof is in tip-top shape is one of the smartest moves you can make. It’s not just about avoiding damage—it’s about building a secure, efficient, and sustainable future for your business. After all, isn’t that something we can all get behind?

By giving your roof the care it needs, you’re ensuring that your property remains a safe haven for your business operations, regardless of what the weather throws at you. So, why wait? Look up, give it a thought, and let your roof help carry your business forward, one well-maintained tile at a time.

Commercial

When it comes to your roof, how long it will last is one of the most important questions to ask. After all, it’s your home’s first line of defence against the elements, & its durability can impact everything from energy efficiency to resale value. But did you know that the lifespan of a roof depends on several factors, including the materials used, the quality of installation, & even the weather? Let’s have a closer look at what you can expect from different types of roofs in the UK & what affects their longevity.

What Determines a Roof’s Lifespan?

The lifespan of your roof isn’t set in stone—it’s influenced by several factors:

● Roofing Material: Some materials naturally last longer than others (we’ll break this down in a moment).
● Installation Quality: Poor installation can lead to early wear & tear, so always work with skilled professionals.
● Maintenance: Regular cleaning, inspections, & minor repairs can significantly extend your roof’s life.
● Weather Conditions: In the UK, where rain & wind are common, materials must be durable & weather-resistant.
● 6 monthly or yearly maintenance i.e gutter clearing.

Roofing Materials & Their Average Lifespan

Here at Keay Roofing Services, we know that choosing the right material is key to ensuring your
roof stands the test of time. Here’s how long you can expect some of the most common roofing
materials in the UK to last:

1. Asphalt Shingles

● Lifespan: 15–25 years

2. Clay & Concrete Tiles

● Lifespan:

○ Clay: 50–100 years
○ Concrete: 40–75 years

● Overview: These tiles are heavy-duty & long-lasting, making them ideal for
withstanding the UK’s unpredictable weather.

3. Slate Roofing

● Lifespan: 50–100+ years
● Overview: Known for its timeless appeal & durability, natural slate is a premium choice that requires minimal maintenance.

4. Flat Roofs (Felt, EPDM, PVC, & TPO)

● Lifespan:
○ Felt: 25 years
○ EPDM: 10–25 years
● Overview: While flat roofs are cost-effective, they generally don’t last as long as pitched
alternatives & may require more frequent maintenance.

What Can Shorten Your Roof’s Lifespan?

Even the sturdiest roofs can face challenges that reduce their longevity. Here are some
common culprits:

● Poor Ventilation: Without proper airflow, moisture can build up, leading to rot & mould.
● Weather Damage: Harsh winds, heavy rain, or snow can weaken your roof over time.
● Lack of Maintenance: Ignoring minor issues like missing tiles or small leaks can lead to bigger problems.
● Improper Installation: A poorly installed roof can fail prematurely, no matter how good the materials are.

How to Prolong Your Roof’s Life

The good news? A little care can go a long way. Here’s how you can get the most out of your
roof:

● Schedule regular inspections—at least twice a year or after severe weather.
● Replace damaged or missing tiles immediately.
● Keep gutters clean to avoid water build up.
● Invest in professional installation & repair services to ensure quality workmanship.

Time for a Replacement?

If your roof is nearing the end of its expected lifespan or showing signs of wear—like sagging,
leaks, or daylight visible through the boards—it might be time for a replacement. A new roof is
an investment, but it ensures your home stays safe, energy-efficient, & weatherproof.

Let’s Keep Your Roof in Top Shape

Here at Keay Roofing Services, we’re dedicated to helping UK homeowners protect their properties with reliable roofing solutions. From routine inspections to complete replacements, we offer expert advice & high-quality craftsmanship. Need a professional opinion? Contact us today for a quote & let’s ensure your roof stands strong for years to come!

Commercial

When it comes to environmentally friendly roofing options, one question often arises: can tin roofs and other metal roofs be recycled? The answer is a resounding yes! Here in the UK, recycling metal roofing materials is not only possible but also highly beneficial for reducing waste and conserving resources. Let’s dive into the details of metal roof recycling and why it’s a great choice for UK homeowners.

Why Recycle Metal Roofs?

Metal roofs, including tin, steel, and aluminium varieties, are made from durable materials that can be recycled multiple times without losing quality. Recycling metal roofing materials helps:

  • Reduce waste: Diverts roofing materials from landfills, lowering environmental impact.
  • Save energy: Recycling metal uses significantly less energy than producing new metal from raw materials.
  • Support sustainability: Recycled materials can be turned into new metal roofing products or other building materials.

In the UK, metal recycling is a vital part of our efforts to meet environmental targets, including reducing carbon emissions.

The Recycling Process for Metal Roofs

The recycling process for metal roofing materials is straightforward:

  1. Collection: Old roofing materials are removed during roof replacement or demolition.
  2. Sorting: Scrap metal is sorted into different types, such as tin, steel, or aluminium.
  3. Processing: Metals are cleaned, shredded, and melted down to create recycled materials.
  4. Reforming: The recycled metal is used to create new metal products, including roofing materials and other building materials.

Did you know? Recycling a metal roof can save up to 90% of the energy required to produce new metal from scratch.

Comparing Metal Roofs and Asphalt Shingles

While metal roofs are gaining popularity in the UK, asphalt shingles are still widely used in some areas. However, when it comes to sustainability, metal roofs have the upper hand:

  • Longevity: Metal roofs can last 40-70 years, whereas asphalt shingles typically need replacement after 15-30 years.
  • Recallability: Metal roofs are fully recyclable, while asphalt shingles are more challenging to recycle and often end up in landfills.
  • Environmental impact: Choosing metal roofing reduces waste and lowers the carbon footprint compared to asphalt shingles.

If you’re considering a roofing upgrade, metal roofing is a smart, eco-friendly choice.

Benefits of Metal Roof Recycling for UK Homes

Here in the UK, recycling metal roofs offers several advantages:

  • Lower waste disposal costs: Scrap metal is valuable, meaning you may even earn money from recycling your old roof.
  • Reduced environmental impact: Contributes to the UK’s Net Zero goals by cutting down on landfill waste and energy consumption.
  • New roofing products: Recycled metal is often used to create new metal roofing materials, ensuring a sustainable lifecycle for your roof.

What’s more, metal roofs are ideal for the UK’s unpredictable weather, offering excellent durability and resistance to corrosion.

How to Recycle Your Metal Roof in the UK

Recycling your old metal roof is easier than you might think. Here’s how to get started:

  1. Find a trusted roofing service: Many UK roofing companies offer metal roof recycling as part of their services. Be sure to ask for a free quote.
  2. Locate a metal recycling facility: Search for local scrap metal dealers or recycling centres that accept roofing materials.
  3. Work with professionals: Roofing services in the UK can handle the removal and recycling process, ensuring compliance with building regulations and safety standards.

Not sure where to start? Contact us today for expert advice and services tailored to your needs.

To Wrap Up

Metal roof recycling is not only possible but also highly beneficial for UK homeowners. By choosing to recycle your old roof, you’re reducing waste, saving energy, and contributing to a more sustainable future. Whether you’re replacing an old tin roof or upgrading to a new metal roofing system, remember that recycling is a smart and eco-friendly option.

Ready to explore your roofing options? Get in touch for a free quote and let us help you make the most of your roof recycling project.

Commercial

Gutters & fascia’s are often overlooked when it comes to home maintenance, but they are actually an important aspect of keeping your home in good shape. It’s important to keep them clean, but this task can be time-consuming & difficult. That’s why investing in professional gutter & fascia cleaning services is a great idea. Here are the benefits you can expect from doing so.

Prevent Damages to Your Home
Your gutters & fascia’s play an important role in protecting your home from water damage caused by rain or snow run off. When they become clogged or damaged, it can cause water to overflow which can lead to serious issues like roof leaks, foundation cracks, landscaping erosion, & more. Regularly cleaning your gutters will help ensure that these problems don’t occur. Professional gutter & fascia cleaning services provide a thorough inspection of your system & clear out any debris that might be causing blockages or other issues.

Prevent Unwanted Visitors
When gutters are not cleaned regularly, they become the perfect breeding ground for pests like mosquitoes, cockroaches, rats, birds, wasps, etc. These unwanted visitors can easily find their way into your home if you don’t keep up with regular gutter cleaning services. Not only are these pests irritating but they can also carry diseases like West Nile Virus which is dangerous for both humans & animals alike. Investing in professional gutter cleaning services will help ensure that these pests stay away from your home while also providing peace of mind that everything is functioning properly.

Save Time & Energy
Cleaning out your own gutters is a time-consuming process – not only do you have to climb up on a ladder but you also have to manually remove any debris that has built up over time. Hiring professionals eliminates this hassle as they have the right tools & techniques for the job – meaning less time spent on ladders & more time doing other things! Plus, you won’t have to worry about accidentally damaging any parts of your house since the professionals have experience working with all types of systems.

Gutters & fascia’s may not seem like something that needs regular maintenance but it’s actually essential for keeping your home in good condition – both inside & out! Investing in professional gutter cleaning services will help prevent damages such as roof leaks or foundation cracks while also keeping unwanted pests at bay. Plus, it saves you time & energy since the professionals have all the right tools & techniques needed for the job! All in all, investing in professional gutter & fascia cleaning services is well worth it if you want to keep your home safe & sound!

If you want peace of mind knowing that your home is taken care of properly then get in touch with Keay Roofing Services Ltd –Your trusted local roofer for expert roof repairs, maintenance & replacement–to find out more about how we can help you with all things related to roof maintenance!  ​​​​​

Commercial

Why small developers hold the key to the failing housing target?

In 2004, the UK was set a target of building 270,000 new homes each year. Nearly 15 years later, this is a figure developers are still failing to hit.

The actual total has averaged less than 150,000 new build homes since 2007 – leaving the UK’s housing deficit standing at a whopping 1.2 million.

In another blow to the sector, in June of this year, it was revealed that a third of local authorities in England are forecast to miss two or more government housing targets. The targets include:

  • Adopting a local plan
  • Identifying a five-year land supply for housing
  • Passing the newly created housing delivery test

According to Savills’ planning performance index which has looked into projected housing delivery by 2019, 110 of a total of 326 councils will fail on two or more of these counts. These local authorities account for 37% of the national housing need and if Savills’ predictions do transpire, they risk losing control of where housing development will take place.

Why the industry needs more small house developers

As the UK continues to struggle to hit its housing target, questions are being asked about why this is. Although there is of course plenty of dispute regarding the topic, the industry is largely in agreement that the over-dominance of big house builders is creating a huge problem.

Last year, MPs even called for an end to the big eight house builders’ dominance in a bid to fix the housing market.

Committee chair from the Commons Communities and Local Government Committee, Clive Betts warned:

“The housing market is broken; we are simply not building enough homes. The sector is over-reliant on an alarmingly small number of high-volume developers who are driven by commercial self-interest and have little incentive to build any quicker. If we are to build the homes that the country so desperately needs, for sale and for rent, then this dominance must end.”

A target of 270,000 new homes each year is a huge milestone to reach. Unless there is a huge increase in public sector building (which is unlikely), it’s the private sector that will have to deliver and it hasn’t consistently built this many homes in a year since the 1930s when interestingly, the market was dominated by small building developers.

There are plenty more reasons why the industry needs more small house developers including:

  • They ensure the market stays competitive.
  • The business model of big house builders results in homes that are often badly located and poorly designed.
  • The big builders bank land and sit on their supply for as long as possible so that prices stay as high as possible.
  • Unsurprisingly, the houses they build are intended to turn a profit rather than meet social needs or high environmental and design standards.
  • Standards do of course vary among house builders, whatever their size. There are some great schemes run by the big firms and some bad houses built by SMEs. Evidence does however suggest that smaller firms tend to build better homes with more energy efficiency and designs that take the local vernacular into account.
  • Towns across the UK are experiencing an influx of almost identical houses to that of their neighbours. While this is understandable as economies of scale helps developers to offer customers more affordable homes, many communities are frustrated that they’re losing character. Small housing developers on the other hand tend to be more passionate, entrepreneurial, creative and flexible when it comes to providing new, bespoke homes.
  • They employ local tradesmen – as well as providing more jobs locally, it means that they can keep to their timescales without compromising on the quality of work

Keay Roofing is delighted to announce that we are just about to start a project with a small to medium-sized housing developer. You can follow us on Twitter to stay up-to-date with the project or alternatively, feel free to get in touch to find out more.

Published: September, 2018

Commercial

Industrial roofs can be built using composite panels, pre-cast galvanised roofs, fibre cement sheets and industrial cladding.

The supporting structure of an industrial roof usually comprises beams that are long and of strong, fairly rigid material such as timber, and since the mid 19th century, cast iron or steel. In countries that use bamboo extensively, the flexibility of the material causes a distinctive curving line to the roof, characteristic of Oriental architecture.

Timber lends itself to a great variety of roof shapes. The timber structure can fulfil an aesthetic as well as practical function, when left exposed to view.

Stone lintels have been used to support roofs since prehistoric times, but cannot bridge large distances. The stone arch came into extensive use in the ancient Roman period and in variant forms could be used to span spaces up to 140 feet (43m) across. The stone arch or vault, with or without ribs, dominated the roof structures of major architectural works for about 2,000 years, only giving way to iron beams with the Industrial Revolution and the designing of such buildings as Paxton’s Crystal Palace, completed 1851.

With continual improvements in steel girders, these became the major structural support for large roofs, and eventually for ordinary houses as well.

Another form of girder is the reinforced concrete beam, in which metal rods are encased in concrete, giving it greater strength under tension.

We provide all type of Industrial roof installation from composite panels to pre-cast galvanised roofs, repairs, and maintenance.