Crane houses are Nottingham's distinctive 1920s prefabricated homes, found primarily on the Wollaton Park estate, Stockhill in Basford, and parts of Bestwood. They were built using...
Crane houses are Nottingham's distinctive 1920s prefabricated homes, found primarily on the Wollaton Park estate, Stockhill in Basford, and parts of Bestwood. They were built using a steel and concrete frame system designed by the Conservative housing chairman William Crane, with distinctive pan tiles in a profile unique to these properties. The construction method was innovative for its time but creates specific roofing challenges that standard roofers are not equipped to handle.
The original pan tiles on Crane houses have not been manufactured since the 1950s. When they fail — through cracking, delamination, or storm damage — they cannot be replaced like-for-like. Patch repairs using modern profiles do not fit because the gauge, lap and profile are different. This means any significant roof failure on a Crane house requires complete re-specification with a modern tile that matches the roof pitch and provides adequate coverage at the existing batten gauge.
We have developed a standard specification for Crane house re-roofs based on dozens of completed projects across Wollaton and Stockhill. The process: strip all original pan tiles and felt, inspect the steel and concrete frame for corrosion or movement, install breathable membrane, fit new treated battens at a gauge calculated for the replacement tile, tile with a modern interlocking profile selected for compatibility with the roof pitch. The frame inspection is critical — Crane house frames have been in place for 100 years and some show corrosion at the joints.
A Crane house re-roof typically costs £5,000-£9,000 depending on the size and frame condition. This is higher than a standard semi re-roof because the frame inspection adds time, the batten gauge calculation is non-standard, and the tile selection must account for the specific roof geometry. However, the result is a new roof that will last 50-60 years with minimal maintenance.
Until re-roofing is needed, Crane house owners should focus on: annual inspection for cracked or slipped pan tiles, gutter clearance twice yearly (the pan tile profile collects more debris than modern tiles), chimney maintenance (most Crane houses have original chimneys needing lime mortar care), and monitoring the frame condition from inside the loft. Catching a cracked tile early prevents water reaching the frame where corrosion damage is expensive to repair.
Most Nottingham roofers have never worked on a Crane house. If a roofer quotes you for a standard re-roof without mentioning the frame inspection, the non-standard batten gauge, or the tile compatibility requirement, they do not understand the construction. We have re-roofed Crane houses across Wollaton, Stockhill and Bestwood and have a proven specification that accounts for every aspect of the construction.
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Call 0115 670 1242 for a free quote on any roofing work in Nottingham and surrounding areas.
Yes. Nottingham city plus a 15-mile radius including all surrounding towns and villages.
Yes. NFRC registered, £5m public liability, 10-year guarantee on all work.
Yes. 24/7 emergency call-outs. Call 0115 670 1242 any time.
Since 2005 — over 20 years across every housing type in the area.
Absolutely. Call 0115 670 1242 and reference this guide. Free advice, no obligation.
Yes. From £150/year including inspection, minor repairs, gutter clearance and written report.
Yes. Updated regularly based on current costs, regulations and our ongoing experience across Nottingham.
Yes. Every inspection produces a detailed written report with photographs, suitable for insurance claims and property transactions.
10-year written workmanship guarantee on all work. Materials carry separate manufacturer warranties.
We answer the phone personally. Tell us what you have noticed and we give you an honest assessment. If it needs a site visit, we arrange one within 48 hours. The survey is free and thorough. You receive a written quote with clear pricing, material specifications and a realistic timeline. No pressure, no charge for the survey. Call 0115 670 1242 to get started.
Every job comes with a written 10-year workmanship guarantee. We carry £5 million public liability insurance and are NFRC registered. Materials carry separate manufacturer warranties. If any issue arises within the guarantee period, we return and fix it at no charge.
No more than 20 percent deposit. Balance on completion. We accept bank transfer, cheque and card. For projects over £5,000, staged payments tied to milestones. After completion, we do a final walkthrough, photograph the finished work, and issue your guarantee documentation. Call 0115 670 1242 for any questions during the guarantee period.
The difference between work that lasts 5 years and work that lasts 25 comes down to specification. Stainless steel fixings where iron would corrode. Code 5 lead where code 3 would fatigue. Flexible adhesive where cement mortar would crack. Breathable membrane where felt would trap condensation. These choices add marginally to cost but dramatically extend the interval between repairs.
Annual maintenance from £150/year covers a full inspection, minor repairs, gutter clearance and a written report. Maintenance customers get priority scheduling, priority emergency response, and 10 percent off all additional work. An annual check catches £200 problems before they become £2,000 emergencies. Call 0115 670 1242 to set up your maintenance programme.
Nottingham has one of the most diverse housing stocks of any English city. Victorian slate terraces in Sherwood sit streets away from 1920s Crane prefab houses in Wollaton. Post-war Wimpey no-fines estates in Clifton use completely different construction to the 1960s concrete tile estates in Arnold. Georgian cottages in Ruddington need handmade clay tiles that cost three times as much as the machine-made equivalents used on modern estates. A roofer who does not know this housing stock will misdiagnose, misspecify and underperform on every job.
We have worked on every type of Nottingham housing since 2005. We know the materials, the failure patterns, the planning restrictions and the supplier networks for every era of construction across the city and surrounding towns. This knowledge means faster diagnosis, correct specification first time, and work that lasts because it was designed for local conditions. Call 0115 670 1242 and talk to roofers who know Nottingham.
We offer a free initial roof assessment for homeowners across Nottingham and all surrounding towns. This is a genuine inspection by an experienced roofer who knows the local housing stock — not a sales pitch. We check tiles, flashings, valleys, ridge lines, chimneys, gutters, fascias, soffits and the roof space timbers. You receive honest findings and a written report. Many roofs we inspect need nothing at all and we are happy to tell you that. Where work is needed, you get a clear quote with no obligation. Call 0115 670 1242 to book your free health check.
This guide draws on hands-on experience from thousands of roofing jobs across every postcode in Nottingham since 2005. Victorian terraces, Crane houses, Wimpey no-fines estates, modern developments — we have worked on every type. The prices and specifications reflect what we actually charge and specify, not national averages. If anything raises a question about your own roof, call 0115 670 1242 for free, honest advice with no obligation.
Whether you need an emergency repair, a planned replacement, or just want to know the condition of your roof, the first step is a conversation. Call 0115 670 1242 and speak to a roofer who knows your area. We will listen to what you have noticed, give you honest advice over the phone, and arrange a free inspection if one is needed. There is no call centre, no sales team and no pressure. Just experienced local roofers who have been serving Nottingham and surrounding areas since 2005.
Every quote is free, written, and comes with no obligation. We explain the problem, the solution, the materials and the price in plain language before any work begins. Payment terms are fair — no more than 20 percent deposit, balance on completion and your satisfaction. All work is covered by our 10-year workmanship guarantee and £5 million public liability insurance. We are NFRC registered, fully qualified, and we stand behind every job we complete.
Every property is different and every roofing situation has its own requirements. The information on this page gives you a solid foundation, but there is no substitute for a professional inspection of your specific roof. We offer free, no-obligation inspections across the entire Nottingham area — call 0115 670 1242 and we will arrange a visit at a time that suits you. We check the full roof system, provide a written report with photographs, and give you honest recommendations. Many inspections confirm that no work is needed — and we are happy to tell you that. Where work is required, you receive a detailed quote that explains the problem, the solution, the materials and the price. No surprises, no pressure, no obligation.
No call-out fees. No obligation. Honest quote from a local Nottingham roofer.
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