Well – we actually do. There are plenty of new build properties out there, built with traditional methods and materials. Shakespeare’s Globe is just one western example. And elsewhere, ancient building methods using mud and wood are still used to this day.

But the question is mostly aimed at houses, specifically the ones we’re used to seeing in suburbs and cities. There’s a stark contrast between the old, established Victorian and Georgian homes, the brutal yet functional homes of the mid 1900s, and the “uncanny valleys” of seemingly copied and pasted new build estates.

To some of us, older means better. To others, it means damp, and built without fire regulations considered. The truth is, all kinds of homes are perfectly fine – and we can choose for ourselves what we love. It’s okay to like new builds, and to live in them without having to do much maintenance. It’s okay to like older houses, and to enjoy fixing them up.

Nobody’s wrong. But.. yes, there’s a but – historical preservation matters. And design matters. 

And design extends beyond the way something looks, into how it works.

So, this brings us to the reasons why modern buildings often win out over old fashioned ones. Number one – cost.

Old methods are expensive

Before World War II, the cost to build a home could be broken down into something like 80% spent on materials and 20% labour (not exactly; this is just a rough idea to illustrate a point).

That figure has now all but flipped on its head. Rising labour costs brought better living standards – but to make buildings affordable, engineers, architects and builders looked for cheaper, faster ways to make homes.

Modern materials and techniques are far cheaper, and sometimes far better than the old ways of building. However, there seems to have been a runaway effect of mass-produced boxes masquerading as homes, which have cheapened the craft in more ways than one – and left property developers and builders with a less than stellar reputation…

This is because, no matter what materials and techniques are used, it is design that matters the most.

Design still matters

We’ve seen some beautiful modern new builds, built in a sympathetic style to their surroundings. We’ve even seen whole estates that look like old streets – with meandering lanes and cobblestones, open green spaces, and materials that match the local area.

Some developers really do try.

The issue is the ones that have clearly put profit above all else, converting a tiny bit of land into as many homes as is possible within the limits of the law. Near-windowless properties, gardens that back onto each other – not a hint of privacy, nor the freedom to make a sound for fear of it travelling through the paper-thin walls.

This isn’t simply a materials problem. It’s design. It’s planning.

It’s shameful.

But the principles of old design can live with new materials. They can live with old materials, too..

Can period roofing really be integrated into new builds or modern extensions?

Yes! Integrating the best of modern buildings with the best of old is probably one of the clearest ways forward when it comes to solving the “cookie cutter housing” issue.

There’s no doubt that modern homes are faster to build, cheaper, more energy efficient – and even safer – than older homes. But they can lack heart and charm, and can destroy the whole look and feel of the area they’re built in.

Merging the two is a Goldilocks situation. We’ve had the privilege of extending old homes with old period roofing – built upon a structure that superficially matches the old home, but has all the benefits of modern wiring, plumbing and insulation.

And on the flip side, it’s posse to start from scratch, with a period roof built upon modern materials and designs – for the best of both.

It’s all about balancing tradition, heritage, longevity, economics, safety and privacy. But when it comes to period roofing, it can be a major win for an area facing development.

Period roofing on modern builds

Period roofing on modern properties can help preserve the surrounding area’s history and charm. It pays homage to the historical aesthetics that make an area attractive – but also serves as a bridge between the past and the future.

And the future is unstoppable. We face a growing population, and a seemingly never ending shortage of homes for us all.

Finding a balance between the charm of the old days and the practicality of modern building practices might just be the key to creating better homes and shared spaces, as we push ahead into the decades to come.

Period Roofing Specialist since 1984

Hire an experienced period roofing specialist with the necessary tools, techniques and training to get an exceptional result. To get a quote, contact us at [email protected]. 

Kent peg tiles are beautiful, hardwearing and good for the environment. But like any other roofing material, Kent peg tiles are not totally indestructible or free of problems. Things can (and do) go wrong with Kent peg roofs – even with proper care and maintenance.

Let’s go over the common reasons we’re called in for Kent peg tile roof repairs, problems you might encounter, and why maintaining your Kent peg tiled roof is so important.

Common Kent Peg tiled roof failures

Storm damage

All roofing, Ket peg or otherwise, is susceptible to storm damage. High winds are the main culprit, and storms that are strong enough to blow down fences are likely to pick off some roof tiles on your street, too.

The fact that Kent peg tiles overlap and are nailed down means that they have a fair amount of resilience in the wind – but they’re not indestructible. A powerful storm can dislodge tiles, leaving your roof vulnerable to leaks and water damage. Inspecting your roof after a storm is so important, and can save you a lot of hassle and damage down the line.

Insurers do cover storm damage, but only if a roof is well maintained. If your insurance company can prove that the root cause of failure is lack of maintenance or wear and tear (basically, that the roof was essentially done for in the event of a storm, and no attempt was made to secure it) – then cover may be declined.

Frost damage

Old England is no stranger to the cold. And frost can pose a significant threat to Kent peg tiled roofing.

Although the natural clay that Kent peg tiles are made from is a brilliant waterproofing material, it is slightly porous – so it does absorb a small amount of water, particularly on the weather-facing side.

When the water absorbed by the clay freezes, it expands. Over the course of a winter, repeated freezing and thawing can stress the material, weakening it, and causing the outer layers of the tile to crack off. Over time, this can compromise the roof’s ability to shed water effectively.

Regular inspections in the colder months can help you identify any potential frost damage, so you can repair the roof in good time.

Rusted nails

Rusty nails are super tricky to identify, because they’re hidden away. But a failed nail can lead to a domino effect of issues – literally! One falling tile can take others with it, damaging the roof on the way down. Inspecting and replacing rusted nails is a part of routine maintenance that should not be overlooked, but it takes a professional to get up there and check things out.

Treated nails can be used, as well as aluminium nails – and while not traditional, remember that these tiles used to be secured with wooden pegs (hence the name), which were far less sturdy than nails!

It’s not all exclusive to Kent peg tiled roofs…

It’s important to note that many of the problems discussed here are not unique to Kent peg tiles. Storm damage, frost damage, and rusted nails can affect plenty of other roofing materials. This just highlights how important it is to get your roof checked over by someone who knows period and heritage roofing well – and to have maintenance carried out by a properly trained professional.

The power of maintenance

How do you stop your roof failing? Well, you can’t stop the forces of nature… But the answer to this question is always regular maintenance. Powerful storms might still do a number on your property – but to even stand a chance of getting your buildings insurance to cover it, the roof has to be in good shape, assessed by a professional, with a receipt to prove it.

Choosing a Kent peg roofer who specialises in the maintenance of these unique tiles is your best bet.

So there you have it; prevention is better than the cure!

Specialist Kent Peg roof tile repairs

Tenterden Roofing is a heritage-grade Kent peg roofer, providing Kent peg roof tile repairs. Contact us for a quote at [email protected]. 

Working in or living in a historic building is a special kind of privilege. Being so closely tied to
history, and the feeling you get just from being inside such an important place – you really
don’t get that in a new build.

But Grade I and Grade II listed buildings don’t come without baggage. And when it comes to
roofing work on a listed building, things can get tricky. Finding the right roofer for the job can
be hard, especially with so many old-fashioned skills and trades becoming extinct.
So – can any roofer work on a listed building?

Technically, yes. But…

Some listed building roofing repairs or maintenance jobs could require Listed Building
Consent – which is granted by the council that governs the building’s area.

Your council might ask that archaeological contractors or heritage roofing specialists
be used, depending on the building’s status and historical significance, or the scope and
method of works. Listed buildings in the UK are protected by law – and this includes roofing
repair and replacement.

Listed Building Consent (LBC) is required if you want to;
● Alter or extend a listed building in a way that affects its character or appearance
● Demolish the building
● Make structural changes, including to the roof
LBC may be required if you want to;
● Carry out essential repairs and maintenance, depending on the method, scale and
intensity of works

This document from Historic England explaining LBC contains useful information about when
and why you would need to get Listed Building Consent.

Be aware – carrying out unauthorised works to a listed building is a criminal offence.
Individuals can be prosecuted, and your planning authority can insist that all work carried out
without consent is reversed.

So, the first thing you should do before anything else is to speak to your local council’s
planning authority (unless it’s an emergency and remedial works are immediately required –
that’s an insurance call!).

While LBC is a legal requirement, using a specialist roofer on a listed building is not. Your
council can ask that you hire a period roofer, but you won’t be required to by law, as long as
the other criteria are met.

Still, it makes perfect sense to choose a roofer who knows about working on listed buildings,
and has experience in heritage roofing.

The benefits of hiring a heritage roofing specialist

You’d be wise to use a heritage roofing specialist for maintaining and repairing like-for-like
– not just because it’ll fly better with your planning application, but it’ll likely help you save
money and preserve the building.

A specialist roofer with experience working on heritage buildings will have specific
knowledge of the unique challenges that may arise with these types of structures. They’ll
have access to traditional materials, and well-honed techniques that will have been passed
down from generation to generation. They’ll also know how to comply with LBC, as well as
modern regulations – which gives you the best of both worlds.

A local roofer without access to the same traditional knowledge, materials and skills will
either sub-contract the work to someone who does have experience (at a marked up cost),
or learn on the fly – which is costly and risky.

By going straight to an expert, you get around all of that.

Listed Building Roofers since 1984

Tenterden Roofing is a heritage roofing specialist, based in Kent. Check out our latest work on Instagram and contact us for a quote at [email protected].

Kent peg tiling is a traditionally English affair – like fish and chips, red phone boxes, or complaining about the weather. And like all these things, a quaint, charming facade hides a much more complex and deeply integrated system beneath.

Fish and chips seems simple. But all those complex flavours (fatty, vinegary) and textures (crunchy, tender) are what make it work so well. You don’t see a lot of phone boxes these days – but those simple red beacons once connected us to the whole world.

And we all like to moan about the weather, without ever trying to understand the complex global systems that govern it.

Kent peg roofing is just another example of this simple yet not-so-simple trope of Englishness. Clay tiles with holes in them, held up with pegs. Simple enough to grasp – very hard to do properly.

And while the tile size and colour depends on the region, the techniques and craft involved are always similar. No matter the style, Kent peg roofing creates a distinctive and charming appearance – with natural hues from locally sourced material, and an “imperfectly perfect” undulating surface. That look is as much art as it is science.

So, when it comes to maintaining and repairing historic roofing, it’s important to hire a specialist Kent peg roofer. Here’s why:

Why hire a specialist Kent peg roofer?

Expertise

Kent Peg roofers have extensive knowledge and experience working with this specific type of roofing. Tenterden Roofing has been doing it since 1984, with the skills passed down to us generationally.

Authenticity

A generalist roofer would probably still be able to source authentic tiles – actually, anybody could with a bit of Googling! But the historical authenticity of your building comes down to technique just as much as material. A specialist Kent peg roofer will understand, from experience, what methods work, as well as the best workflow to get the job done. This doesn’t just mean faster results – but more structurally sound and architecturally accurate ones.

Built to last

As a specialist Kent peg roofer, we know what it takes to make a heritage roof last – and why it’s important to preserve historic buildings. We’ve been around enough of them to know the warning signs of imminent failure, and the construction methods that have lasted for generations. This knowledge all adds up to extending the life of your roofing.

Why can’t any roofer do it?

Generic roofers may not be the right fit for repairing or replacing Kent peg tiling, because it’s a very rare craft, with a specific set of skills and techniques that aren’t used in modern roofing. These skills are practically handed down orally and learned on the job, from roofer to roofer.

A generalist roofer may be great at working on most types of roofing, and probably all modern types. But it’s highly unlikely that they’ll have the necessary expertise to properly repair or replace Kent peg roofing in a way that maintains its historical authenticity.

And that’s important, because historical preservation allows us to appreciate and understand the history and culture of our shared spaces. Buildings with Kent peg tiling are an important part of our local cultural heritage – and we want to preserve them for future generations.

That starts with keeping the traditions and methods alive, by using specialists. Not only do you get a better, faster, longer-lasting result – but you keep a little part of history alive. And, by supporting roofers like our team at Tenterden Roofing, you help to ensure we’re around long enough to keep that knowledge going, from generation to generation

Specialist Kent Peg Roofers since 1984

Tenterden Roofing is a heritage-grade Kent peg roofer, based in Kent. See our latest work on Instagram – and contact us for a quote at [email protected]. 

There are buildings around here, in Kent and Sussex, that look like they are brick built.

But they’re not. Instead, the structure has been clad in a way that mimics the look of brickwork, without using any bricks. These ‘fake bricks’ can be spotted quite easily by those with a keen eye – but why were they ever needed in the first place?

The answers relate to style, tax, and necessity…

The Brick Tax

In 1784, King George III applied the Brick Tax in Great Britain – to help pay for ongoing war for American independence. Bricks were chosen as a taxable item since their popularity as a building material had exploded in the 1700s.

Bricks were stylish, and everyone wanted them.

But with the arrival of the brick tax, the already costly process of sculpting decorative brickwork now had an added expense. To try to combat this, some brickmakers began producing oversize bricks – gargantuan blocks of clay that would potentially cut applicable tax in half.

The government clamped down on oversize bricks, and introduced a minimum brick size.

Construction costs increased. Rents went up. Building quality began to suffer. The tax even applied to pipes and tiles. Some areas turned to timber lap siding to clad and weatherproof exterior walls – but this solution couldn’t stand up to the salty sea air for long.

So, to lower costs while still achieving excellent weatherproofing, mathematical tiling was developed. Its added protection from weathering is part of the reason why mathematical tiling is so prominent around Kent and Sussex – and the fact that it closely resembles brickwork made it a very popular alternative in the area.

The genius of the design

Mathematical tiles are moulded with a lip on the back, which is fastened to a batten – just like a roofing tile. The next course of tiles would overlap the lip, masking it, and creating the illusion of brickwork. Sometimes, mortar or some other form of grouting was applied to complete the trick.

Even though tiles were initially taxed, cladding in this manner was still a cheaper and faster way to build, resulting in beautiful, well-made buildings. Once the tax was lifted from tiles and pipework in the 1830s, it began to proliferate further – and became established as a style all of its own.

Plus, mathematica tiles come with some advantages: tighter curves than bricks could ever allow meant that some bay windows of the era had a dramatic sweeping look, and the corners of buildings could be rounded in a pleasing and beautiful way.

This can be seen in surviving 18th century buildings around Hastings, and along the narrow, winding streets of Canterbury – where the tight curves of mathematical tiling allows traffic to snake through the densely-packed structures.

The proliferation through Kent and Sussex

Brighton is probably the UK’s biggest mathematical tiling ambassador, with a huge variety of styles and colours on display. In Kent, the majority mathematical tiling applications – with some notable exceptions – closely resemble brick.

But in East Sussex, and particularly in Brighton, the variety of colour and styling is far richer. Black glazed tiles are a hallmark of 18th century Brightonian architecture, still visible on Royal Crescent and parts of Grand Parade.

Cream and honey coloured mathematical tiling can be found, in addition to flint and brick effect tiles. White and terracotta tiles, maroon – even blue tiles and patterns – Brighton has a lot of variety when it comes to mathematical tiling.

The legacy of mathematical tiling

Out of necessity, a distinct and beautiful style emerged – and today, mathematical tiling is one of the most striking and memorable features of the architecture in Kent and Sussex.

Preserving these buildings is one of our great passions, and the work we undertake in conservation is among our favourite. We can’t overemphasise the importance of these buildings to our shared heritage and our history, and the collective knowledge they hold. The legacy of mathematical tiling is one of overcoming odds, defying conventions, and inventing our way out of problems: and these are the traits we hope future generations will acknowledge whenever they see these buildings.

Mathematical tiling specialists since 1984

Tenterden Roofing is a passionate team of heritage roofing specialists and mathematical tiling experts. Contact us for a quote at [email protected].