RE ROOFING A FRENCH LONGHOUSE - HELP

[Janebailey]

Has anyone any idea the possible costs involved for re-roofing an ancient long house - slate tiles - area approx 15m long with each side of roof approx 9m high, i would like 4 fenetre de toit or Velux included,  dept 53.  Also are own brand eg Castorama velux windows as good as Velux themselves?

Many thanks

[Jeremy]

For the size you say, approx costs, Charpente, around 10.000 euros and tiling, assuming new, around 15,000.

Good luck.

[Val_2]

Don't forget you will need permission to install Velux windows if they do not already exist or if you wish to put larger sizes in existing openings.

[Punch]

I would be wary of depending on a price direct from a forum as each job is different and the cost depends on several factors;

The condition of the existing chevrons (rafters) and charpente (main support A frames and purlins). If they are oak, and in reasonable condition, a roof can be stripped of all it's slates and voliges, then the existing oak rafters levelled off, re-battened, (and counter- battened if using a membrane), followed by slates or false slates 'fibro cement' held on with stainless steel crochets (slate hooks). The fibro ciments are cheaper but have a limited life and can tend to "blanche" after 15 years or so. There are also several different grades of natural slate available.  The cheaper grades of slate have a lot of iron pyrites in them and will rust and look awful with stains after a  year or so.

If the rafters are too out of line and are in a bad condition then it is often more cost effective to replace them with new treated pine ones.

I do quite a lot of roofing in the Dept 53 Mayenne, as I employ a French roofer.. I always use choix A slates (Samaca C47) which denotes the Spanish quarry. Some roofers will do the front of a house in good slate and the rear in cheaper to keep costs down.

Regarding Velux type windows, I would always plump for the Velux brand. We install on average around 10 a month. There are a fantastic range of external and internal blinds and  accessories available, together with a 20 year guarantee and an excellent after sales service for spare parts and glass. ( I have just replaced the glass in a 20 year old velux in Domfront). The Other brands I have never used but doubt if the after sales service will still be there in a few years.

If you want any further advice or info please PM me,

 

Paul

[Sbesley]

Paul,

Can you give an indication of the price differential between 'fake' and real slates per square metre? Assuming 'medium' grade in the both cases. Are the fitting costs roughly similar?

Stephen.

[Punch]

No probs. There are two mains types of "fake" slates. The cheaper Ordinary Fibro ciments look a bit too clean cut and are too regular and squared off at the edges and so do not look like slates, but are the cheapest. I do not use these so do not have a price to hand.

If we use fibro ciments, we use a type that has a structured edge, that to the untrained eye look quite like real slate. These are 40cm x 24cm in size. Real Spanish quality slate size 32 x 22 cm, work out at about 12 euros extra per m2 of roof coverage, as opposed to fibro.

There is not that much difference in installation cost although fibros are a bit quicker due to the increased size.

Paul