Independent Kent roofer with over 30 years experience · Direct personal service across Sittingbourne and North Kent
Call Chris: 01795 904566Checkatrade & Three Best Rated® verified
Roofing Services in Sittingbourne, Swale & Medway
I’ve been roofing around Sittingbourne and across North Kent for more than thirty years, and when you hire C.L. Baker, you get me on your roof—not a team of subcontractors or a desk-based sales rep. From urgent leak diagnostics to complete pitched and flat roof renewals, every job is surveyed, managed, and completed directly by me, Chris Baker.
If I’m halfway up a roof when you ring, leave a message and I will return your call promptly.
Pitched Roof Strip and Retile in Sittingbourne & North Kent
Many post-war semi-detached houses and Victorian terraces across Swale and Medway still rely on their original bituminous 1F underfelt and untreated timber laths. Once that old felt perishes and sags into the eaves, water pools against the battens and rots the fixings from underneath. We carry out complete pitched roof renewals tailored to your property's age, pitch, and local planning requirements.
Strip and Retile
When conducting a pitched roof strip and retile in Sittingbourne, we strip the roof back to the bare rafters, inspect the timber structure, and install high-tensile breathable underlay with graded treated battens. Because replacing over 25% of a roof triggers Building Regulations Part L, we also handle the thermal insulation upgrades required by STG Building Control.
Kent Peg, Clay & Concrete Tiling
Period cottages in conservation areas cannot simply be covered in modern off-the-shelf concrete profiles. We carry out sympathetic Kent peg tile repairs in Faversham and clay tile repairs using reclaimed or handmade plain tiles, alongside durable concrete tile roofing (such as Marley Modern and Redland Renown) for suburban homes.
Slate Roofing & Dry Ridge Systems
From natural Welsh slate pitches on naval-era terraces in Chatham to slate roof repairs in Canterbury, we replace corroded nails and slipped slates properly without unsightly mastic patches. For exposed ridges and hips, we install mechanically fixed dry ridge systems that resist wind uplift off the estuary.
Urgent Roof Repairs, Leak Sealing & Storm Damage
If you have water coming through a ceiling, I’ll inspect the rafters, flashings, and tiles, explain the exact point of entry, and tell you plainly what it takes to make it watertight. Whether you need an emergency roof leak repair in Swale or a storm damage roof inspection in Whitstable after North Sea gales, you speak directly to the tradesman climbing the ladder.
Targeted Roof Repairs vs Full Renewal
I will never push for a full replacement if a localised repair will solve the problem. If the surrounding battens and underlay remain sound, replacing cracked valley tiles, securing wind-lifted verges, or re-dressing a failed chimney apron will restore your roof at a sensible cost.
Roof Cleaning & Moss Removal
Heavy moss growth holds damp against clay and concrete tiles, causing frost spalling in winter and blocking rainwater gutters. Our roof cleaning service removes thick moss build-up carefully without blasting holes through your underfelt.
Flat Roofing: GRP Fibreglass & High-Performance Felt
Old mineral felt roofs on garages, dormers, and kitchen extensions eventually blister and crack under UV exposure and standing puddles. Whether you require a local flat roof replacement in Bapchild ME9 or experienced GRP fibreglass flat roofers in Sheerness, we build flat roofs on solid OSB3 tongue-and-groove decking with correct drainage falls.
Note: We never lay GRP resin or torch-on membranes in freezing conditions or rain—proper substrate preparation and dry curing conditions are essential for a permanent bond.
GRP Fibreglass Roofing
Cold-applied chopped strand mat laminated with polyester resin and UV-stable topcoat. Completely joint-free with preformed perimeter trims—ideal for coastal exposure on the Isle of Sheppey and Whitstable.
Torch-On Felt Systems
Multi-layer high-performance elastomeric bituminous membranes with heavy-duty polyester cap sheets. Ideal for complex Parapet bay roofs, domestic extensions, and linked garages.
Chimney Repairs, Stack Removal & Lead Flashings
Failing chimney stacks and split valley gutters are among the most common sources of damp in Victorian and Edwardian homes across Kent. Because chimneys sit exposed above the ridgeline, frost and driving wind erode the mortar joints, loosen the flaunching around the pots, and lift old lead flashings.
Chimney Repairs & Repointing
We carry out dust-extracted chimney stack repointing across Medway, Swale, and Canterbury using appropriate hydraulic lime or gauged sand-and-cement mortars, replacing spalled brickwork and re-bedding chimney pots in fresh mortar haunching.
Chimney Stack Removal
If a redundant stack is leaning or persistently leaking, we handle chimney removal on a terraced house in Rochester, Chatham, or Sittingbourne. We dismantle the stack to below the roofline, timber-frame the opening, felt, batten, and tile over seamlessly (advising on Party Wall etc. Act 1996 considerations for shared stacks).
Leadwork & Valley Troughs
Using rolled Code 4 and Code 5 milled sheet lead, we fabricate and dress step flashings, secret back gutters, lead soakers, and dormer aprons. We are frequently called out for lead valley and flashing repair in Chatham and Maidstone where aged zinc or split lead troughs have begun letting rain into the loft.
uPVC Fascias, Soffits & Guttering
Rotting timber fascia boards and sagging cast-iron or brittle plastic gutters leave your rafter feet and exterior brickwork saturated. Rather than simply cladding thin plastic over rotten wood, we strip away decayed timber and fit full-replacement uPVC fascia boards, ventilated hollow soffits, eaves protection trays, and high-capacity deep-flow guttering. We handle everything from minor downpipe unblocking in Rainham to complete uPVC fascia and guttering replacement in Gillingham and Sittingbourne.
Commercial Roofing & Cladding Repairs
For business owners, landlords, and facilities managers, roof leaks disrupt daily operations and damage stock. We provide responsive commercial roofing repairs in Sittingbourne Eurolink, Medway City Estate, and across Maidstone. Work includes profiled metal sheet over-cladding, translucent rooflight replacement, industrial valley gutter lining, and heavy-duty commercial flat roofing renewals scheduled to minimise disruption to your staff and customers.
Working Within 20 Miles of Bapchild, Sittingbourne
Based in Bapchild, Sittingbourne, C.L. Baker provides direct, owner-operated roofing services across North and Mid Kent within a 20-mile radius. Because I have worked on Kent roofs since the 1990s, I understand how local housing stock and micro-climates differ—from wind-lift resistance on the Sheerness and Whitstable coast to strict conservation tile matching in Faversham, Rochester, and Canterbury, or arranging KCC and Medway Council highway scaffolding licences on tight Victorian streets in Chatham and Strood.
Direct Personal Accountability: Every quote is prepared by me after a proper rooftop or loft inspection, with photographic evidence available for homeowners and landlords.
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Roofing Services
Do I need Building Regulations approval to replace my roof in Sittingbourne?
Yes. If you are stripping and replacing more than 25% of a roof's surface area, Building Regulations Part L applies. This requires upgrading your loft or rafter thermal insulation to meet current energy efficiency standards, which is inspected and signed off via STG Building Control Partnership (covering Swale, Medway, and Canterbury) or your local council.
Do you use subcontractors or agency labour on site?
No. I personally survey, quote, manage, and work on every roof myself. You will never be passed on to third-party subcontractors or casual agency gangs.
Can you source authentic Kent peg tiles for period properties around Faversham and Canterbury?
Yes. For heritage and conservation properties, we carefully salvage existing sound peg tiles and source matched reclaimed or handmade clay Kent peg tiles, pairing them with breathable membranes, treated timber battens, and traditional lime mortar detailing.
Why does coastal wind cause recurring leaks on the Isle of Sheppey and Whitstable?
Strong winds and driving salt-laden rain off the Thames and Swale estuaries crack brittle sand-and-cement mortar on ridge tiles and lift unclipped verges. Converting to a mechanically fixed dry ridge system and using seamless GRP fibreglass on flat roofs prevents wind uplift and water ingress.
What is the difference between repairing a leak and doing a full strip and retile?
A repair addresses a localised failure—such as a couple of cracked tiles, a slipped slate, or split lead flashing—where the surrounding roof remains sound. A strip and retile is necessary when the underlying bituminous 1F felt has perished across the whole roof and the timber battens are rotting, causing nails and tiles to slip repeatedly.
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 rather than within your front garden boundary, a highways licence is required from Medway Council or Kent County Council (KCC) Highways. We arrange this with our scaffolders before any work begins.
Need Honest Advice or an Urgent Roof Inspection?
Speak directly to Chris Baker to arrange a site visit in Sittingbourne, Swale, Medway, Canterbury, or Maidstone. If I'm on a roof when you call, leave a message and I will get straight back to you.