The dovecote
A stone dovecote with a pyramid roof in old flat tiles. We stripped it tile by tile, put on new battens, then laid back, one by one, every tile that could go back on. With its finial back in place, it's got its old outline back.
Roof frames & roofing · Dordogne
Roofs, my first love.
I'm Tibs, a carpenter-roofer for more than 25 years in the Pays de Belvès. I put up new roof frames, restore old ones and redo roofs, in new tiles or by relaying the old ones, around Belvès and Monpazier, within about 40 km.
- Work
- New roof frames, restoration, re-roofing, breathable membranes, insulation
- Buildings
- Stone houses, barns, open barns, dovecotes, porches, pool houses
- Area
- Belvès, Monpazier, Siorac, Le Buisson, Sarlat, Villefranche… 40 km around
What I do
From the truss to the last tile.
New or old, big open barn or little dovecote: one tradesman for both the frame and the roof, so there's nobody to pass the buck to.
- 01
New roof frames
Trusses, purlins, rafters: cut, jointed, then lifted into place, by crane when it's needed. For a house, an extension, a pool house or an open barn.
- 02
Roof frame restoration
On old stone houses, I replace what has to go and keep what can stay. Sound old oak still has plenty of good years left in it.
- 03
Re-roofing
Strip, breathable membrane, new battens, then the roof covering: new tiles, or the old ones sorted and laid back one by one.
- 04
Dovecotes, barns & open barns
Pyramid roofs, big open-barn slopes, barn porches: I know the roofs round here like the back of my hand.
- 05
Exposed roof frames
Rafters and boarding left on show, under a canopy, a pergola or a pool house. That's where the finish matters as much as the strength.
- 06
Roof insulation
Once the roof is open, it's the time to insulate. Sloping ceilings, lofts, under or over the rafters: we choose what suits the house.
All about insulation
Up on the roofs lately
Three jobs, three roofs.
The open barn roof
A big open barn, tired mossy tiles, and cars to keep dry underneath. Old covering off, new battens, new tiles: good for another fifty years, and the cars stay dry.
Trusses up by crane
On a stone house, trusses made up on the ground then craned into place one at a time. Then the rafters and boarding, outlined against the sky before the roof covering closes everything in.
A re-roof, step by step
What you won't see once the roof is done.
A good roof is mostly about what's underneath. Here's how I redo one, with photos from the job.
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Strip and sort
The tiles come down one by one. The sound ones are set aside to go back on, the rest go.
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Breathable membrane
A breathable membrane held down by counter-battens: wind-driven rain can't get in, and the frame stays ventilated.
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New battens
The battens are spaced to suit the chosen tile, dead straight: that's what makes a roof sit right.
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The tiles go on
New tiles or the old ones relaid, ridge, verges, finishing touches. And I leave the site clean.
Common questions
Roofs and frames, people often ask…
Does the whole frame need replacing when the roof is redone?
Rarely. Once the tiles are off, I check it piece by piece: sound timbers stay, damaged ones (rot, woodworm, sagging) get replaced or strengthened. You know exactly what's changing, and why.
Can you put my old tiles back on?
Yes, if they're sound. I sort them as they come off, put the good ones back and make up the shortfall with tiles that match as closely as possible. On an old house or a dovecote, it keeps all the roof's character.
Do I need permission to redo a roof?
Re-roofing like for like doesn't usually need any. If the look changes (material, colour, shape), you need a déclaration préalable from the mairie. And near a listed monument, which happens quickly in Belvès or Monpazier, the Architecte des Bâtiments de France has a say, so it's always worth checking with the mairie. I'll tell you what to plan for when I come round.
How long does a re-roof take?
It depends on the size, the access and the state of the frame: a few days for a small slope, several weeks for a barn. I'll give you a proper timescale with the quote.
Can we insulate at the same time?
It's the best time to do it: with the roof open, we can insulate over the rafters without touching the inside, or get the sloping ceilings ready. All about insulation.
What else I do
From the ridge to the bottom of the garden.
Timber decks
Extensions, pool houses & shelters
Insulation
Tiny houses
Our workContact
Got a project? Let's talk.
Send me a couple of lines and a few photos, by phone, WhatsApp or email. I come round to have a look, then you get a detailed quote. In English or French, whichever suits you.
06 49 75 18 73