Independent Kent roofer with over 30 years experience · Direct personal service across Sittingbourne and North Kent
Call Chris: 01795 904566Checkatrade & Three Best Rated® verified
Our Workmanship & Roofing Guarantee in Sittingbourne & Kent
I have been working on roofs across Sittingbourne, Swale, and North Kent for more than thirty years. Because I survey, manage, and carry out the work on your roof myself—without passing your project to subcontractors—every guarantee I issue is backed directly by my own name and local reputation.
Owner-Operated Assurance: Chris Baker on site during a pitched roof strip and retile in Sittingbourne. No sales reps and no agency labour.
No Subcontractors
When you hire C.L. Baker, I am the tradesman on your scaffolding from start to sign-off.
Written Guarantees
Clear, plain-English workmanship and material cover stated on your final invoice.
30+ Years in Bapchild
Established local base in Sittingbourne (ME9). You always know where to find me.
Fully Insured & Vetted
Checkatrade verified, Three Best Rated® in Sittingbourne, with full Public Liability cover.
Why a Local Owner-Operator’s Guarantee Carries Real Weight
In the roofing trade, a piece of paper is only as reliable as the person who stands behind it. National brokerages and sales-led roofing companies often advertise lengthy warranties, only to sub-contract the labour out to transient gangs and fold or change trading names a few years later.
I was born and educated right here in Sittingbourne and have spent over three decades working on North and Mid Kent roofs. My business operates from Lomas Road in Bapchild. Because I install every breathable membrane, dress every piece of Code 4 or Code 5 milled lead, and fix every ridge tile myself, I know the exact standard of work underneath your tiles. If a detail I have installed ever needs attention under guarantee, you speak directly to me on the phone, and I come out to sort it.
New Pitched Roofs & Strip and Retile
When we carry out a full pitched roof strip and retile—stripping back to the rafters, fitting new breathable underlay, treated graded timber battens, and fresh clay, slate, or concrete interlocking tiles—the complete installation is backed by our comprehensive workmanship guarantee alongside manufacturer material warranties.
- ✓ Covers batten fixing, underlay integrity & tile security
- ✓ BS 5534 compliant mechanical dry ridge & verge systems
- ✓ Full Building Regulations Part L compliance support
GRP Fibreglass & High-Performance Felt
Every full GRP fibreglass flat roof and multi-layer torch-on felt replacement is laid onto fresh OSB3 structural decking (where required) with preformed edge trims and UV-stable topcoats. We never lay resin or felt in freezing temperatures or damp conditions, ensuring proper curing and a long-term watertight bond.
- ✓ Joint-free cold-applied GRP resin laminate systems
- ✓ Heavy-duty polyester-reinforced torch-on membranes
- ✓ Built to withstand coastal salt air in Sheerness & Whitstable
Leadwork, Chimney Repairs & Leak Sealing
For localised work—such as lead valley and flashing repair, chimney stack repointing, or uPVC fascia and guttering replacement—we guarantee the specific section we have renewed or rebuilt. We will always be honest with you before starting if the surrounding original roof is nearing the end of its life.
- ✓ Code 4 & Code 5 milled lead stepped flashings & valleys
- ✓ Dust-extracted mortar raking & hydraulic lime or sand/cement mixes
- ✓ Clear photographic proof of the completed repair
Materials & Fixings Selected so Your Roof Stays Watertight
A guarantee is only meaningful if the roof is built right the first time. Across our 20-mile working radius from Sittingbourne, housing stock and weather exposure vary sharply—from the driving estuary gales hitting Sheerness and the Isle of Sheppey, to the steep Victorian terraced streets of Rochester, Chatham, and Gillingham, and the conservation zones of Faversham and Canterbury.
To make sure our work stands up to local conditions for decades, we never cut corners on unseen components:
Mechanical Dry-Fix Systems for High-Wind Zones
Traditional sand-and-cement mortar on ridges and verges eventually cracks under thermal movement and coastal wind load. When installing new ridges or verges in exposed spots like Sheerness, Whitstable, or Herne Bay, we use mechanically screwed dry-fix systems that secure each ridge tile individually against wind uplift.
Correct Lead Codes & Traditional Heritage Detailing
Cheap stick-on flashing tape fails quickly in summer heat. We dress proper Code 4 and Code 5 milled sheet lead into chimney steps, back gutters, and valley troughs. On period properties requiring Kent peg tile repairs in Faversham or Canterbury, we match reclaimed or handmade clay tiles and use breathable lime mortars where required.
Building Regulations Part L & STG Building Control
When replacing more than 25% of a pitched or flat roof’s thermal envelope, Building Regulations Part L requires thermal insulation upgrades. We work in line with STG Building Control Partnership (covering Swale, Medway, and Canterbury) and neighbouring council inspectors so your completed roof can be properly signed off.
Mechanically Fixed Dry Ridge
Wind-resistant fixing on concrete interlocking tiles.
Milled Lead Valley & Flashing
Dressed Code 4 & Code 5 leadwork on natural slate.
Seamless GRP Fibreglass
Joint-free resin flat roof with preformed perimeter trims.
Kent Peg Tile Renewal
Breathable membrane and treated battens on period pitches.
Honest Advice: Repair vs. Full Renewal Guarantees
I believe in telling homeowners and landlords the plain truth before any work starts so there is never any confusion about what is covered.
What Is Covered Under Our Guarantee
- Full New Roofs & Re-Covers: Complete watertight integrity across the newly installed roof area, including underlay, battens, tiles/slates, valleys, ridges, and flashings installed by C.L. Baker.
- Specified Localised Repairs: The exact area of repair itemised on your invoice—such as a newly dressed chimney flashing, a rebuilt valley trough, or a removed chimney stack tiled over.
- Manufacturer Material Defects: Tiles, breathable membranes, uPVC roofline boards, and GRP resins carry their respective manufacturer product guarantees against premature material failure.
- Direct Rectification: If any defect arises from our workmanship within the guarantee period, Chris Baker inspects and rectifies it free of charge for both labour and materials.
Sensible Practical Boundaries
- Untouched Ageing Roof Areas: If you ask us to replace three slipped slates or seal a single flashing on an original 80-year-old roof with perished 1F bituminous felt, our guarantee covers our specific repair—not a separate leak two metres away on old untouched tiles.
- Third-Party Foot Traffic: Damage caused after completion by other tradespeople walking on the roof (such as scaffolders for solar panels, satellite dish installers, or window fitters).
- Severe Storm Events & Subsidence: Structural movement of the property walls or extreme named-storm events causing falling trees or airborne debris impact.
- Blocked Gutters & Valleys: Water backing up over flashings due to uncleaned leaves, moss build-up, or blocked downpipes.
How to Call Upon Your Guarantee
Keep your written invoice from C.L. Baker safe. If you ever spot dampness or have a concern about work we have completed, ring me directly on 01795 904566. If I am up a ladder when you call, leave a message and I will get straight back to you to arrange an inspection.
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Guarantees & Working Standards
Do you use subcontractors or agency labour on site?
No. I personally survey, manage, and work on your roof myself from start to finish. You never deal with commission-based sales reps or unknown third-party subcontracted gangs, which is why I can personally stand behind every guarantee I issue.
What is the difference between repairing a leak and doing a full strip and retile?
A leak repair fixes a localised point of water ingress—such as a cracked tile, slipped Welsh slate, or split lead flashing—where the surrounding roof is still sound. A full strip and retile is needed when the underlying bituminous 1F felt has perished and rotted and the timber battens are failing across the whole roof pitch. Only a full renewal carries a whole-roof guarantee.
How long does a GRP fibreglass flat roof last compared to traditional felt?
A properly laid GRP (glass reinforced plastic) fibreglass flat roof forms a continuous, single-ply resin shell with no seams or joints to open up. It resists standing water, UV degradation, and coastal salt air far better than old pour-and-roll felt, regularly lasting 25 to 30+ years when laid onto dry OSB3 decking in proper curing weather.
Do I need Building Regulations approval to replace my roof in Sittingbourne?
Yes, if you are stripping and replacing more than 25% of the roof covering. Under Building Regulations Part L, the roof’s thermal insulation must be brought up to current standards and inspected via STG Building Control Partnership (covering Swale, Medway, and Canterbury) or your local council. Having proper sign-off protects you when you come to sell your property.
Why does coastal wind cause recurring leaks on the Isle of Sheppey and Whitstable?
High winds off the Thames and Swale estuaries drive salt-laden rain horizontally underneath poorly lapped tiles and crack rigid sand-and-cement mortar along ridge lines. Converting to a mechanically fixed dry ridge system and heavy-duty verge clips locks the tiles down securely so we can guarantee them against wind lift.
Can you provide photographic evidence of work for landlords and commercial clients?
Yes. Whether we are carrying out commercial roofing repairs in Sittingbourne Eurolink, a flat roof replacement in Bapchild ME9, or tenanted property repairs in Medway, I take clear before, during, and after photos on the scaffolding so you can see the exact work guaranteed on your invoice.
Speak Directly to Chris Baker About Your Roof
Based in Bapchild, Sittingbourne, C.L. Baker provides direct, owner-operated roofing services across North and Mid Kent within a 20-mile radius—including Sheerness, Faversham, Whitstable, Canterbury, Herne Bay, Maidstone, Ashford Kent, Snodland, and the Medway towns of Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham, Rainham, and Strood.
Whether you need an urgent leak diagnosis or a written quote for a guaranteed pitched or flat roof replacement, give me a call. If I’m halfway up a roof when you ring, leave a message and I will return your call promptly.
Direct Telephone Line
01795 904566 Send an Online EnquiryLomas Road, Bapchild, Sittingbourne, ME9 9BD