A homeowner in Greystones contacted our team after noticing recurrent dampness and draftiness in their attic space. The property’s roof had reached that critical stage common in mature Wicklow residential estates: while the exterior concrete profile tiles remained structurally intact and durable, the underlying traditional bitumen felt had degraded, cracked, and rotted away beneath them over decades of coastal weather exposure.
Rather than advising an unnecessarily expensive complete tile replacement, we designed a cost-effective, trade-certified solution. By carefully stripping and salvaging the original tiles, stripping away the decayed underlay, and rebuilding the roof’s weatherproofing sub-structure with modern high-performance materials, we restored the roof to a fully watertight condition with decades of extended life at a fraction of the cost of a full re-tile.
During our initial free visual inspection, our crew identified several points where moisture and drafts were compromising the building envelope:
We erected an aluminum scaffold tower at the front elevation to provide secure, stable platform access directly to the eaves. Ground protection sheets were laid over the driveway and lawn to safely catch debris and protect the property.
Our crew carefully stripped the existing interlocking concrete tiles course by course, stacking them systematically on designated roof jacks and battens to distribute weight evenly across the load-bearing rafters. Damaged or cracked tiles were culled out, and sound tiles were set aside for reinstallation.
All rotted original timber battens and decayed bitumen felt were stripped down to the bare timber rafters and bagged for disposal. The structural rafters were inspected for rot, confirmed sound, and vacuumed clean of debris.
We laid rolls of heavy-duty RoofTX Maxi vapor-permeable membrane taut across the rafters with standard horizontal overlaps. This breathable membrane acts as a high-performance second defensive barrier against rain while allowing internal moisture from the living space to escape safely, eliminating attic condensation issues.
Vertical counter-battens were fixed directly over the rafters to maintain an unobstructed drainage and ventilation path beneath the tile layer. New pressure-treated horizontal tile battens were then measured, aligned, and nailed securely into place to precise gauge spacing.
We carefully detailed the breathable membrane around the two existing rooflights and the main chimney stack. Fresh Code 4 lead step flashings and weathering aprons were dressed into position to ensure completely watertight transitions where roof slopes intersect vertical surfaces.
The original concrete tiles were reinstated onto the new batten matrix, aligning every interlock to ensure straight courses and proper lap depth. Finally, we installed a modern dry ridge system along the apex. Mechanically fastening each ridge cap eliminates the need for maintenance-prone mortar, allowing the roof to flex naturally with temperature changes while providing permanent ventilation.
The completed roof in Greystones delivers the best of both worlds: a modern, BBA-approved, high-efficiency weatherproofing system underneath, combined with the original character and curb appeal of the home’s tiled exterior.
DJ Roofing Wicklow — honest, reliable roofing across County Wicklow. Call Sean directly for a free quote.
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