Gordon Cutter
"I would highly recommend them, excellent work carried out on my roof, came and saw the problem, went and bought the materials and did a very good job... Marks out of Ten == 10."
Weather Protection on Our Own Jobs
Temporary Roofing
in Chelmsford
Roofers' temporary protection: keeping an open roof dry while we work on it, and making a storm-damaged roof watertight until it is properly repaired. If you need a scaffold-built temporary roof, this page explains who to ask.
Get Your Free Quote
Free home visit for the permanent repair.
Two Kinds of Temporary Roof
People searching for a temporary roof are usually after one of two quite different things, and they come from different trades.
A scaffold-built temporary roof. One Essex scaffolding firm describes it as a scaffold frame spanning the area that needs cover, with the gaps between the poles boarded or sheeted, used on new builds, conversions, extensions, refurbishments and roof replacements. It is sometimes called a tin hat.
A roofer's temporary cover. This goes on the roof itself while it is open or damaged. Checkatrade's guidance on emergency roofing describes roofers installing temporary protection, such as tarpaulin or shrink wrap, to prevent water getting in until a full fix can be arranged.
We do the second kind, and only as part of our own roofing and carpentry work.
When We Put Temporary Weather Protection On
While a roof is stripped. A re-roof or a flat roof replacement means the roof is open for part of the job. Keeping the house dry in that gap is part of doing the job properly, whether we are re-roofing in slate or tile or stripping and recovering a flat roof.
After storm damage. Where a storm has opened the roof up and the full repair needs ordering, we make the roof watertight as part of the job and return to finish the permanent repair once the materials are in. Stopping water getting in comes first.
While the timbers are open. When rafters, joists or decking are being repaired, the structure is protected from the weather until the new timber is in and the covering is back on.
Scaffolder or Roofer: Which Do You Need?
Here is the plain comparison. Both have their place, and a big job can need both.
| Scaffolder's temporary roof | Roofer's temporary cover (us) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A scaffold frame over the whole area, boarded or sheeted | Weather protection on the roof itself while it is open or damaged |
| Typical use | New builds, conversions, extensions, refurbishments and roof replacements | Storm damage, a roof stripped mid-job, protection during our roofing or carpentry work |
| Who puts it up | A scaffolding contractor | Us, as part of our own job |
| Offered on its own? | Yes, it is the scaffolder's product | No, only as part of a roofing or carpentry job we are doing |
Rule of thumb. If you need a covered working space over a big open project for weeks, that is a scaffolder's temporary roof. If your roof is letting water in, or you need it kept dry while it is repaired or replaced, that is us.
Building guides also point out that scaffolding on a public pavement or road usually needs a council licence, which is one more reason a scaffold roof is arranged as its own job. If your roof replacement needs both a scaffold and a roofer, we will say so on the visit.
A Temporary Cover Is Not the Repair
Temporary protection buys time. It does not fix whatever let the water in, and the sooner the permanent job is done, the sooner the cover comes off.
The next step is a free home visit and a written quote for the permanent roof repair. If the cause is not obvious, finding the source of a leak comes first, because covering the wrong spot helps nobody.
Storm Damage in Chelmsford and Essex
A storm that has left the roof open is the usual reason we put a temporary cover on. If that has happened to you, ring or WhatsApp us. We put roofs that are letting water in first, and we will not promise an arrival time we cannot keep. For what to do while you wait for an emergency roofer, see our emergency page.
Carpentry and Roof Structure Work
Because we have carpenters and roofers in one firm, a job that opens up the roof structure does not stall while a second trade is booked. The timber gets put right and the roof is kept covered in the meantime. Read more about roof carpentry on our carpentry page.
Areas We Cover
We are based in Chelmsford and work within a 50-mile radius, across Essex and into London. See everything else we do in Chelmsford on our main roofing page.
What Customers Say
Two of our five-star reviews, in the customers' own words.
Chris Lambert
"Reliable local roofing company. Highly recommend Liam and his guys."
Temporary Roofing FAQs
What is temporary roofing?
It means two different things. Scaffolders build temporary roofs: a scaffold frame over a building project, boarded or sheeted to keep the weather off. Roofers fit temporary weather protection on a roof that is open or damaged. We do the second, as part of our own roofing and carpentry work.
Do you hire out temporary roofs?
No. We put temporary weather protection on as part of a roofing or carpentry job we are carrying out. For a scaffold-built temporary roof over an extension or a new build, you need a scaffolding contractor.
My roof was damaged in a storm. Can you cover it?
Ring or WhatsApp 07540 235332. Where a storm has opened a roof up and the full repair needs ordering, we make it watertight as part of the job, then come back and finish it properly. We will not promise an arrival time we cannot keep.
Is the home visit free?
Yes. The home visit and the quote for the permanent work are both free.
Do you cover Chelmsford and Essex?
Yes. We are based in Chelmsford and work within a 50-mile radius, across Essex and into London.