Replace Eaves Felt Cost

Last updated 9th September 2022 - Reading time: 14 mins

Are you looking for some information about replacing eaves felt?

In this article, we will go over the cost of replacing eaves felt - the supply costs, the labour costs, and any additional costs that may come up with this type of work.

replacing eaves felt

Average Cost of Replacing Eaves Felt:

Depending on the complexity of the job, it usually takes: 4-8 hours

£400

How Much Does It Cost to Replace Eaves Felt?

We will also go over some further information about replacing eaves felt, such as the timescales that you can expect with this type of work, the process of replacing eaves felt, and some tips on finding the right contractors for the job.

The term ‘eaves’ refers to the part of the roof that hangs the lowest and usually projects out over the wall. The purpose of the roof’s eaves is to direct water away from the house so that it doesn’t touch the walls.

Eaves felt is a type of roofing felt that is designed specifically for this part of the roof. It is a waterproof material that aims to protect the roof from rainwater. The roof felt sits just under the roof tiles and overhangs the guttering. This stops water from splashing onto the timbers and leaking into the loft.

Since eaves felt is located on the exposed area of the roof, it tends to deteriorate over time. Once deteriorated, it may start to rot and fail to work correctly.

If that is the case, the eaves felt may need to be replaced with new materials. In modern times, plastic eaves felt pieces are used instead of traditional eaves felt. These newer materials tend to last for several decades and will very rarely need to be replaced.

In most cases, the average cost of replacing eaves felt is around £300-£500. This price will depend on the size of your roof, the ease of access, and your location in the UK.

Most professional roofers will charge around £150-£200 per day for this type of work. Typically, your contractor can usually complete this type of work within a day.

Eaves Felt Replacement Prices

The table below shows the average eaves felt replacement cost for several different property types.

ROOF TYPE AVERAGE COST DURATION
Gable roof £300-£400 4-6 hours
A hip roof on a terraced home £300-£400 4-6 hours
A hip roof on a semi-detached home £350-£450 5-7 hours
A hip roof on a detached home £400-£600 6-8 hours
Want a custom price?
Post your job

Supply Only Costs

In most cases, your roofing contractor will provide the materials for you when it comes to replacing your eaves felt. Your contractor will usually reflect this cost in the job's overall cost.

However, in some cases, you may prefer to source the products for yourself if you are planning on completing the work as a DIY project or if you simply want to buy the materials before hiring someone to complete the work for you.

In these cases, you may be curious about the cost of buying eaves felt alone without the cost of labour involved.

Usually, when replacing eaves felt, your contractor will now replace it with a roof felt support tray rather than the old traditional roofing felt. The average cost to buy eaves felt support trays is around £2-£5 per metre of materials.

As well as the supplies of the materials, you may also need to erect scaffolding to complete the job safely. Again, this is usually included in the job's overall cost if needed.

However, if you want to get the scaffolding yourself, you can expect to pay around £150-£350 to hire scaffolding.

Find Tradespeople, compare up to 3 quotes!
It's FREE and there are no obligations

Additional Costs

When it comes to replacing your eaves felt, there are several other things that you may need to budget for. Below is a list of the additional costs that may come up with this type of work:

Gutter Replacement

While your contractor is working on your roof to replace your eaves felt, this may also be a good idea to get some new guttering. Updating your guttering can help them to work better and can also improve the kerb appeal of your home.

gutter replacement

If you are interested in new guttering, you can expect to pay around £400-£700 for PVC guttering, depending on the size of your home.

This is the most common material used for guttering in the UK, and it comes at the lowest price compared to other materials. If you are interested in other types of guttering, such as cast iron, copper, or aluminium, you can expect prices to increase significantly.

Chimney Repairs

While working on the roof, your contractor may also notice some issues with your chimney. If so, you might need to budget for chimney repairs. The average costs for this type of work can vary depending on the type of work that is needed.

A full chimney installation costs around £1900-£3500, chimney repointing costs around £200-£1100, chimney lining costs around £700-£900, and chimney sweeping costs around £10-£50.

If you do think you have problems with your chimney, but you aren’t sure, you might want to get a chimney inspection. You can expect to pay around £18-£25 per hour for a chimney inspection.

New Windows

One of the best things you can do to improve the appearance of your home is to invest in new windows. If you have scaffolding erected, this is a great time to think about getting some new windows installed.

The average cost of replacing the windows in your home is around £200-£3000 per window. This price will depend mostly on the type of windows you want to have replaced and the size of these windows.

The more windows you want to replace, the more you can expect to pay. If you are looking to replace all of the windows in your home, you can expect this to cost around £2000-£8000.

Labour Costs and Timescales

If you are planning on purchasing the materials for replacing your roof eaves separately and then paying somebody later to complete the work for you, then you may be interested in learning the cost of labour alone. You may also be curious about the timescales you can expect with this type of work.

In most cases, the average cost of replacing eaves felt is around £300-£500. This price will depend on the size of your roof, the ease of access, and your location in the UK. Most professional roofers will charge around £150-£200 per day for this type of work.

Typically, this type of work can usually be completed within a day. The average timescales for this type of work are around 4-8 hours. The length of time that it takes to complete the job will depend on the size of the eaves and the type of roof that you have. The ease of access may also affect the time it takes to complete this job.

Ask a Trade
Got a question that only a tradesperson can answer? We have thousands of trades ready to answer any question you may have.
Ask your question

Cost Factors of Replacing Eaves Felt

There are several things that may affect the overall cost of replacing eaves felt. Below is a list of the things that may affect the cost of your job.

Location of Property

The location of your property can affect the overall cost of this job. Those based around the London area can expect to pay more in labour costs than those based around the North or other parts of the UK. Labour costs in this area are generally higher across the board.

Roof Type

The type of roof that your eaves are on will also affect the overall cost of the job. Gable roof eaves felt are cheaper to replace than hip roof eaves felt. Gable roof eaves felt are also faster to replace, so the timescale for the job will be quicker.

dark roof

Size of Home

The size of your home will affect the overall cost of having your eaves felt replaced. A larger home will have a larger roof and, therefore, there will be more eaves that need to be worked on.

The more eaves felt that need to be replaced, the longer the job will take, and this will result in higher labour costs. Larger roofs will also require more materials, so this can bump up the costs as well.

Ease of Access

The ease of access to your roof is another cost factor to keep in mind. In many cases, your roof may be difficult to access in some areas, and the contractor will need to erect scaffolding in order to safely complete the job. If the job requires scaffolding, this can increase the costs.

What's Involved in Replacing Eaves Felt?

If you are planning on replacing the eaves felt on your roof, you may be curious about the process involved with this type of work.

Below is a breakdown of the steps involved with replacing eaves felt on a roof:

  • Erect the access equipment to the desired work height so that the job can be completed safely.
  • Remove two courses of roofing tiles and set these aside somewhere safe
  • Cut out and remove the defective eaves felt.
  • Install a new, modern plastic eaves felt tray in its place.
  • Secure the eaves felt tray with nails and ensure it overhangs into the guttering.
  • Re-lay the roofing tiles onto the affected area and nail these into place.
  • Repeat this step across the entire roof if you are replacing all of the roof felt eaves, or just repeat this step for the affected area if you are replacing a defective patch.
  • Lower the access equipment.
  • Remove all of the waste accumulated during the job.

Can I Replace Eaves Felt Myself?

If you are an avid DIY enthusiast, you may consider attempting to replace your eaves felt yourself. This is a project that you may be able to complete yourself. However, you must have the appropriate access equipment to do so, as working at heights can be dangerous.

You must also be physically fit as working on the roof can be very physically demanding.

roofing felt

In most cases, homeowners prefer to leave this type of work to the professionals. A professional roofer will be able to advise on the best type of eaves felt for your roof, and they will have the skills and knowledge needed to complete the job effectively and safely.

It's important to keep in mind that the eaves felt will protect your home from leaks and dampness. With this in mind, it's something that you want to ensure is completed correctly in order to protect your house, yourself, and your family.

Building Regulations & Planning Permission For Eaves Felt Replacement

When it comes to replacing the roofing felt on your eaves, you won’t usually need to worry about planning permission or building regulations. However, in some cases, you may need to consider certain rules.

If your home is a listed building or if you reside in a conservation area, then you may need to apply for planning permission before you can complete any work on your roof.

If you are unsure whether this applies to you, it is always best to check with your local authority before starting the work just to be sure.

Types of Eaves Felt

Eaves felt is the roofing felt that overlaps the roof and into the guttering system. In the past, many homes used traditional roofing felt at the eaves level. However, modern homes use a more rigid protection system.

Modern rigid eaves felt is usually used in conjunction with a new roofline system. This new roofline system is most commonly made from plastic or uPVC. This means that it will never rot, and it is a brilliant replacement for the old, worn-out bitumen-based felts.

There are many advantages of the new modern eaves felt systems, including the following:

  • Higher levels of protection.
  • It will never rot.
  • It lasts for decades.
  • You won’t need to replace it as often.
  • Many brands will outlive the roof itself.
  • Water is directed straight into the guttering system.

Hiring Contractors to Replace Roof Eaves Felt

Once you’ve decided that you need to have some work done on your roof eaves felt, it’s time to find the right contractor for the job. But, how exactly do you find a good contractor?

contractors

Below is a list of questions that you should consider when finding the right roofing specialist for the job.

  • Does the contractor have any qualifications that relate directly to replacing roof eaves felt?
  • What equipment will the contractor be using to complete the job? Will they be using the correct type of equipment? Do you need to provide any equipment?
  • Does the contractor possess any form of insurance for the work? You should look for contractors who have insurance covering property damage, personal injuries, and a work guarantee
  • How much experience does the contractor have in replacing roof eaves felt? Can they provide any testimonials or evidence of previous work? Can they provide photos of previous work?
  • Does the contractor offer any guarantees with their work? How long does the guarantee last? What issues are covered under guarantee? Will the contractor fix any issues that arise?
  • How long will the work take to complete?
  • How many contractors will be working on the job?
  • Is there anything you need to do to prepare for the job?

FAQs

When should you replace eaves felt?

There are several signs that may indicate that your roof eaves felt needs to be replaced. Below is a list of the things to look out for:
  • If you notice water marks on the walls underneath your roof
  • If you have any leaks coming through from the roof
  • If you notice visible rotting to the eaves felt
  • If you notice any dampness in your loft
  • If you notice any dampness coming through the walls near the top of the house

What is roofing felt?

Roofing felt is also sometimes known as roofing underlay. This layer underneath the tiles acts as a protective barrier for your home against rainwater. It keeps the roof watertight and protects your home from leaks.

What are roof eaves?

The eaves on your roof serve as a practical and decorative function on your home. They sit at the edge of the roof and overhand the side to protect your walls from rainwater. Parts of the eave include the fascia, which is the vertical facing board and the soffit, which is the underside of the eaves.

What is an eaves support tray?

An eaves support tray is usually made from uPVC and is a cost-effective and fast solution to help protect the eaves. They may be known as an eaves tray, eaves protection felt, or eaves protector.

Their purpose is to help protect the eaves in cases where there is damage to the original felt or underlay. Many new build homes now feature eaves support trays, and they can also be used when repairing old eaves roof felt.

How long does it take to replace eaves roofing felt with an eaves support tray?

This will depend mostly on the size of your roof. However, you can expect this work to usually take around 4-8 hours on average.

Sources

https://www.roofgiant.com/blog/news/how-to-install-roofing-felt-in-6-simple-steps

Ready to get a price for your home improvement project?
Get started

Over 1 million homeowners and over 50,000 tradespeople
use MyJobQuote nationwide each year