Who will actually be working on my roof?

When you hire C.L. Baker, you get me, Chris Baker. I have been roofing around Sittingbourne and across North Kent for over thirty years. Unlike many bigger firms or agencies, I do not use subcontractors or sales reps. I personally survey your property, provide a straightforward quote, and carry out the work myself. I was born and bred in Kent and went to school here at Ethelbert Road, so my reputation in the local community is something I stand by on every job.

Do I need to notify the council if I am getting a tiled roof strip and retile in Sittingbourne?

Yes, if you are replacing more than 25% of your roof surface, it falls under Building Regulations. In the Swale area, this is usually managed by the STG Building Control Partnership. The rules are there to make sure your home insulation is upgraded to modern standards, known as Part L. I can explain how this works during my visit and help make sure your new roof meets all the legal requirements for thermal efficiency.

Why is GRP fibreglass often better than felt for a flat roof in Sheerness or Whitstable?

Properties on the Isle of Sheppey or the Whitstable coast face heavy salt air and very high winds. Traditional felt roofs have seams that can eventually lift or crack under pressure. GRP, which is glass reinforced plastic, is a seamless resin system. Because there are no joins, there is nowhere for the wind or rain to get a foothold. It is a very tough material that handles coastal weather and foot traffic much better than older bitumen systems.

My chimney stack looks weathered. Can you help with chimney repairs in Medway or Rochester?

The older housing stock in the Medway towns often has high, exposed chimney stacks that suffer from perished mortar or cracked cement haunching. I provide full chimney remediation, which includes repointing with the correct mortar mixes and replacing worn lead flashings. If you have an unused chimney causing damp issues in a Rochester terrace, I can also talk you through the process of removing the stack to below the roofline and tiling over it.

What is the benefit of using lead for my roof flashings and valleys?

Leadwork is one of the most reliable ways to keep your home watertight. I use Code 4 and Code 5 milled lead, which is thick and durable enough to last for decades without splitting. Whether it is a stepped flashing on a chimney or a lead valley trough between two roof pitches, properly dressed lead is far superior to modern "flash-band" tapes. It handles the expansion and contraction of the seasons and is the only right choice for the period properties we have in Faversham and Canterbury.

How do I know if I need a full strip and retile or just a localized repair?

A leak does not always mean you need a brand-new roof. If a single tile has slipped or a piece of lead has moved, a simple repair is usually the best way forward. However, if I find that the underlying timber battens have rotted or the old internal felt has crumbled away, a strip and retile becomes necessary to protect your ceilings. I will always give you an honest diagnosis after a physical inspection and show you exactly what is happening under the tiles.

Do you handle uPVC fascia and guttering replacement in Gillingham and Rainham?

Yes, I replace old, rotting timber fascias and leaking gutters with high-quality uPVC systems. Modern deep-flow guttering is particularly useful for the larger roof pitches found in Gillingham and Rainham, as it handles heavy rainfall much more effectively. Replacing these alongside your roof repairs is often a practical way to keep your maintenance costs down in the long run.

Do I need a scaffolding permit for work on a street-facing house in Rochester?

If the scaffolding needs to stand on a public pavement or a road, a highways licence is required from Medway Council or Kent County Council. This is something that needs to be arranged before the work begins. I can help coordinate this with the scaffolders to make sure everything is legal and that the project runs smoothly without any delays from the local authority.

Independent Kent roofer with over 30 years experience · Direct personal service across Sittingbourne and North Kent

Call Chris: 01795 904566Checkatrade & Three Best Rated® verified

Speak directly to Us01795 904566 Request Survey

01795 904566

30+ Years Local Kent Trade • Checkatrade Verified & Three Best Rated®

Customer Reviews for C.L. Baker in Sittingbourne & Kent

I have been working on roofs around Sittingbourne, Swale, and North Kent for more than thirty years. When you hire C.L. Baker, you deal directly with me—Chris Baker—from the first roof inspection to the final tidy-up. Every review reflects genuine work completed by my own hands, with zero subcontractors or sales reps.

Call Chris Directly: 01795 904566 View Google Maps Profile

Why Homeowners Recommend Us

✓ No Subcontractors: Every survey, repair, and full re-roof is carried out and overseen personally by Chris Baker.
✓ Recognised Local Track Record: Vetted on Checkatrade and listed among the Three Best Rated® roofers in Sittingbourne.
✓ Plain-Speaking Diagnosis: Honest advice on whether your property needs a straightforward tile repair or a full strip and retile.
✓ Built for Kent Weather: Proper specification of Code 4 and Code 5 lead, breathable membranes, and mechanical dry-fix systems.

Verified Customer Feedback

Recent Google Reviews from Across North & Mid Kent

Below is recent feedback left by property owners we have helped across Sittingbourne, Swale, Medway, and surrounding Kent towns. You can click any review card to verify it directly on Google.

★★★★★ 5/5

Google Verified

"The work was carried out efficiently and well and I am very pleased with the result."

Carolyn Read on Google →

★★★★★ 5/5

Google Verified

"The work force went above and beyond to do the job, Very polite, great communication and happy with the work completed. Would definitely recommend these men""

Emma Woodcock Read on Google →

★★★★★ 5/5

Google Verified

"Roof repair on my tiled roof. Good communication and a fair price! Would highly recommend 5🌟"

chloe Read on Google →

Want to read more feedback or leave a review of your own?

View our complete history of customer reviews on our official Google Maps listing, or call us directly if you would like to discuss a roofing job in your area.

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Personal Accountability

Why Having the Business Owner on Your Roof Matters

A lot of roofing complaints in the trade come down to the same problem: a salesperson quotes the job, and then an unfamiliar crew of subcontractors turns up on the day with little understanding of what was agreed. That never happens with C.L. Baker.

Born and educated locally in Sittingbourne at Ethelbert Road School (now The Abbey School), I have spent over three decades working on Kent’s specific mix of housing stock. When you ring me to look at water ingress, slipped tiles, or a failing flat roof, I inspect the rafters, battens, and flashings myself, explain the exact point of entry, and carry out the work personally.

Clear Inspection & Photos

For homeowners, landlords, and commercial clients, I explain clearly what has failed at roof level so you know exactly what you are paying for.

Full Building Regs Compliance

When a pitched roof strip and retile Sittingbourne project covers over 25% of the thermal envelope, we ensure full Part L insulation compliance.

Chris Baker on a pitched roof with fresh battens and breathable underlay installed

Direct On-Site Supervision: Chris Baker installing breathable underlay membrane and new treated timber battens during a pitched roof renewal.

Proven Across Every Discipline

The Roofing Work Behind Our Reputation in Kent

Based in Bapchild, Sittingbourne, C.L. Baker provides direct, owner-operated roofing services across North and Mid Kent within a 20-mile radius. Different parts of our catchment put very different demands on a roof, and our reputation is built on specifying the right materials for each property type.

Handmade Kent peg tiles and new timber roofing battens on a pitched roof renewal in Kent

Pitched Roofs, Slate & Kent Peg Tiles

From concrete interlocking tile renewals in Sittingbourne to Kent peg tile repairs Faversham conservation properties require, and slate roof repairs Canterbury homeowners rely on, we match traditional and modern materials accurately.

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Seamless grey GRP fibreglass flat roof installation on a residential garage in Kent

GRP Fibreglass & Felt Flat Roofing

Whether you need a flat roof replacement Bapchild ME9 or experienced GRP fibreglass flat roofers Sheerness property owners trust against salt air and estuary gales, we lay heavy-duty joint-free resin and torch-on felt systems.

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Chimney stack repointing and brick repair on scaffolding by C.L. Baker

Chimney Remediation & Leadwork

Perished mortar and split flashings cause persistent damp. We handle chimney stack repointing Medway wide, structural chimney removal terraced house Rochester projects, and lead valley and flashing repair Chatham homes require.

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Urgent Leak & Storm Response

From an emergency roof leak repair Swale call-out to a storm damage roof inspection Whitstable and Herne Bay homeowners need after high coastal winds, we trace leaks quickly and make roofs watertight.

uPVC Roofline & Guttering

Rotten timber eaves and leaking rainwater goods are replaced cleanly, including complete uPVC fascia and guttering replacement Gillingham, Rainham, Snodland, and Ashford Kent properties require.

Commercial & Industrial

We carry out dependable commercial roofing repairs Sittingbourne Eurolink businesses and Maidstone industrial units rely on to prevent operational disruption.

Common Questions

Questions About How We Work & Quote

Do you use subcontractors or agency labour on site?

No. I personally survey, manage, and work on your roof from start to finish. We never pass work out to third-party subcontractors or casual agency teams, which is why our standard of finish stays consistent across every review.

What is the difference between repairing a leak and doing a full strip and retile?

A localized repair fixes an isolated failure—such as a cracked tile, slipped slate, or lifted Code 4 lead flashing—where the surrounding roof remains sound. A full strip and retile is only recommended when the underlying timber battens are rotten and the old bituminous 1F felt underlay has perished across the roof pitch.

Do I need Building Regulations approval to replace my roof in Sittingbourne?

Yes. If you are replacing more than 25% of a roof’s surface area, it requires notification through STG Building Control Partnership (covering Swale, Medway, and Canterbury) or your local council to verify that thermal insulation meets Building Regulations Part L. We guide you through this clearly during the survey.

Do I need a scaffolding permit for work on a street-facing terrace in Rochester or Strood?

If scaffolding has to stand on a public pavement or highway—which is common on tight Victorian streets in Rochester, Strood, Chatham, and Sittingbourne—a highways licence from Medway Council or Kent County Council (KCC) Highways must be arranged prior to erection. Also, if we are removing a shared chimney or working on a party parapet wall, we will remind you of your obligations under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.

Speak Directly to Chris Baker About Your Roof

Whether you have water coming through a ceiling right now or you want a straightforward, honest appraisal for a planned roof replacement anywhere within 20 miles of our base at Lomas Road, Bapchild, Sittingbourne, ME9 9BD, give me a call. If I am on a roof when you ring, leave a message and I will get straight back to you.

Call 01795 904566 Or request a callback via our contact page →

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