Roof renovation: repair, new covering, or a new truss too?

A roof ages quietly: a few cracked tiles, some moss, an occasional drip in the attic. Then a storm comes and you're dealing with an emergency. It's wiser to assess the condition early and plan renovation at one of three levels.

When a roof is "done"

• covering older than 40–50 years (tiles) or 25–30 years (cheaper metal, sheets),
• repeated leaks and damp stains on the attic ceiling,
• crumbling tiles, wavy metal sheets, rusty flashing,
• no underlay membrane — common on old roofs,
• dark traces of rot or insects on the truss.

Level 1: local repair

Replacing cracked tiles, re-laying the ridge, repairing chimney flashing. Costs thousands to tens of thousands and extends roof life by years — if the covering is healthy overall.

Level 2: new covering

The truss is fine but the covering has served its time. Old covering and battens come down; new membrane, counter-battens, battens and covering plus flashing go up. Prices: metal from ~CZK 1,900/m², tiles from ~CZK 2,300/m². A great opportunity to add roof insulation and turn the loft into living space.

Level 3: new truss

With rot, wood-boring insects or a change of roof shape, a new truss is needed too — count + ~CZK 1,200/m². It sounds dramatic, but modern trusses square up the roof geometry and prepare it for 50+ years.

How the renovation proceeds

1. Roof and truss inspection (free with us), measurement, itemised budget.
2. Scaffolding, removing the old covering, truss repairs or replacement if needed.
3. Membrane, battens, laying the covering, flashing, gutters.
4. Clean-up and disposal of the old covering, lightning-rod inspection.

A typical family house takes us 2–4 weeks depending on scope and weather.

Our tip

Don't endlessly patch a roof that has served its time — three small repairs a year cost more than an instalment on a new covering, and the owner always bears the flood-damage risk. Calculate your roof area and the indicative price of a new covering (with or without truss) in our online calculator.