New Roof Felt and Lead Valley in Portobello, Dublin 8

New breathable membrane and battens on the slope in Portobello, Dublin 8.

If one slope of your roof needs re-felting, how it joins the rest of the roof matters as much as the slope itself. On this home in Portobello, Dublin 8, the team stripped one slope back, laid a new Fakro breathable membrane and new battens, fitted a new lead valley where it meets the adjoining slate roof, and fitted new lead flashing at the base of the chimney. Here's the work in photos. It's the kind of work the team does alongside roof repairs in Dublin.

What the work involved

• One roof slope stripped of its old covering.
• New Fakro Eurotop N35 breathable membrane laid.
• New timber battens fixed.
• New lead valley between the slope and the adjoining natural slate roof.
• New lead flashing at the base of the brick chimney.

Materials used

• Fakro Eurotop N35 breathable roofing membrane
• New timber battens
• Lead for the valley and the chimney flashing

Stripping and re-felting the slope

The slope was stripped of its old covering, and a Fakro Eurotop N35 breathable membrane went on, with new timber battens fixed over it. A breathable membrane keeps wind-driven rain out of the roof space while letting moisture vapour escape, which helps keep your roof timbers dry.

Re-felting like this is part of our new roofs and re-felting work.

A new lead valley against the slate roof

A valley is the channel where two roof slopes meet, and it carries water from both, so it has to be right. Here, the team fitted a new lead valley between the re-felted slope and the adjoining natural slate roof. Lead can be shaped to fit the junction closely, which is why it's long been used for valleys on Dublin's older roofs.

New lead flashing at the chimney

Where the valley runs up to the brick chimney, the team fitted new lead flashing at the base of the stack, sealing the joint between the chimney and the roof. That leaves the slope with a breathable membrane and new battens underneath, and new lead at the two places water most often finds its way in: the valley and the chimney.

See our chimney repairs and leadwork page for more on this kind of work.

Lead valley questions

What is a roof valley?

It's the internal angle where two roof slopes meet. Rain from both slopes runs into it, so a valley carries more water than any other part of the roof. If the lining is split, worn or poorly lapped, water can get in there, which is why it's worth having valleys checked if you see damp in that corner of a ceiling.

Can one slope be re-felted without redoing the whole roof?

Often, yes. If the problem is confined to one slope, that slope can be stripped, re-felted with a breathable membrane and new battens, and re-covered, with the junctions to the rest of the roof made good. The team will look at the whole roof and tell you honestly whether one slope is enough.

More from Dublin 8

The team works across Portobello and the rest of Dublin 8. See all the areas we cover.

Worried about your roof felt or valleys?

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About Haven Roof Specialists

Haven Roof Specialists is a Dublin roofing company doing quick, efficient roofing jobs for homeowners across Dublin city and county.