Serious winter rain
It rains a good deal more here than in Vilamoura or Faro. A roof that just about copes on the coast will leak in São Brás at the first storm. This is where we push hardest to get the roof done before October.
Roofing in São Brás
It rains considerably more in São Brás than on the coast, and that makes the roof the number one priority for houses in this area. A roof that would still hold on for a few years in Vilamoura leaks here at the first October storm. Add to that the lacework chimneys and traditional roof terraces, which break easily and cannot be bought ready-made.
We get there in about 30 minutes · Free site visit and quote
São Brás, as seen by the people who work there
São Brás is the gateway to the hills: higher, cooler and wetter than the coast — and it is that difference in climate that defines the kind of work we do there.
Ground rising towards the Serra do Caldeirão, with cork oaks, whitewashed houses from the cork-trade tradition, and a winter dampness far more pronounced than by the sea. Traditional Algarve houses with roof terraces and lacework chimneys, limewashed walls and barrel-tile roofs, many being slowly restored by people who moved in from elsewhere.
In São Brás the most common request is restoring a traditional house: roof, damp and exterior paintwork, almost always together.
What we find in São Brás
Chimneys and roof terraces that need a careful hand
The lacework chimneys and traditional parapets break easily and cannot be bought ready-made. Repairing them means recreating the existing pattern, not swapping in a catalogue part.
Limewash rather than plastic paint
On traditional walls, sealing the surface with impermeable plastic paint traps the moisture inside and blows the render off. These houses need products that let the wall breathe.
Roofing: what we do
- Moss and lichen removal — Low-pressure washing, which cleans without cracking tiles or forcing water underneath them, unlike a pressure washer.
- Replacing cracked tiles — Lifting the affected areas tile by tile and replacing with pieces compatible with the existing ones.
- Anti-fungal treatment — A biocide that holds the moss off for several years.
- Flashings, eaves and ridges — Redoing the ridge mortar and the junctions that are the most common source of leaks.
- Gutters and downpipes — Clearing, repair and replacement, including checking the fall.
- Terrace waterproofing — Bituminous membranes or liquid systems, with treatment of details and drains.
How the work goes
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1
Roof inspection
We go up and see the real condition: tiles, structure, junctions and gutters. We photograph everything to show you.
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2
Diagnosing the leak
Water gets in at one point and appears at another. Finding the source is half the job.
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3
Proposal by priority
We separate what is urgent from what can wait, so you can decide with the facts.
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4
Working safely
Scaffolding or a safety line as appropriate, and protection of what is below.
Frequently asked questions about roofing in São Brás
Do you actually work in São Brás, or do you travel in from elsewhere?
We work in São Brás regularly. We set out from Loulé and get there in about 30 minutes, which means we can come and look at the job without charging for the trip.
What usually goes wrong with this kind of work in São Brás?
It rains a good deal more here than in Vilamoura or Faro. A roof that just about copes on the coast will leak in São Brás at the first storm. This is where we push hardest to get the roof done before October. It is the situation we come across most often in São Brás, and it is why we look at the job before quoting.
Is it worth repairing or better to replace?
If the timber structure is sound and it is a matter of tiles and junctions, repair. Once the timber has given way in several places, patching costs more in the long run — and we say so when that is the case.
How much does it cost to clean a roof?
It depends mainly on the area, the pitch and the access. A roof you can work on safely from a platform costs less than one that needs scaffolding. The inspection and the quote are free.
How do I know the roof is leaking before a stain appears?
You do not, from below — and that is the problem. Signs inside appear late. The way to know is to go up and look: cracked or slipped tiles, crumbling ridge mortar, accumulated moss and blocked gutters. We do that inspection with photographs and with no obligation.
Roofing in São Brás
Tell us what you need and we will come and look. We get there in about 30 minutes and the visit is free.