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Metal Roof Repair Market Harborough
Metal roofs cover barns, workshops, garages and modern extensions right across Market Harborough. When the coating wears thin or a fixing lets go, rust and leaks follow fast. Tate & Sons Roofing handles metal roof repair in Market Harborough and the wider Harborough District. We work on everything from a single corroded lap to a full roof coating.
This page explains what goes wrong on a metal roof, what each fault costs to put right, and when a repair beats a full re-sheet. You will see real 2025 and 2026 pricing, a fault-by-fault table, and how a repair day runs. Start with a free drone survey and a written quote before any work begins — no charge either way. Metal roof repair is one part of the wider service we offer as a roofing contractor across Market Harborough.
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Spot the Early Signs of a Failing Metal Roof
A metal roof gives plenty of warning before it lets water in. Catch the rust early and a treatment often does the job, before the sheet perforates and the deck below gets wet.
Watch for these:
- Red-brown rust creeping along the sheet edges and overlaps
- Streaks of rust running down from screw heads and fixings
- Chalky, faded paint that rubs off on your hand
- Bubbling or flaking coating on the exposed face
- Damp patches or drips near the laps after heavy rain
- Loose, spinning or missing fixings along a sheet run
- Pinholes of daylight showing through from inside the building
Rust rarely stays put. It starts at a cut edge or a worn washer, then creeps under the coating and eats into sound metal. Left alone for a couple of seasons, a thin line of surface rust turns into a hole you can push a screwdriver through. The sooner it gets treated, the smaller and cheaper the job stays. A drone survey shows you exactly how far it has gone, right down to the fixings and laps a ground-level look always misses.
Repair or Re-Sheet? You Get a Straight Answer, Not the Biggest Invoice
Surface rust and a few tired fixings rarely mean the whole roof is finished. Sound metal with a worn coating is a repair job, not a strip-and-reclad. Widespread perforation, sheets rusted through at the laps, or a roof already patched three times points the other way. Our Metal Roofing page covers full replacement if that is where yours has got to.
We check the whole roof before we recommend either route. A free drone survey shows the full picture — the cut edges, fixings, ridges and valleys where rust always starts. You get the footage, not just our word for it. A treated roof with sound metal underneath can gain another fifteen years, so replacing metal that still has life in it wastes your money.
Here is the rule of thumb we work to. Once yearly call-outs and patches start costing more than roughly a tenth of a full re-roof, the roof is usually cheaper to coat or replace outright. We see this on older farm buildings around Lubenham and Foxton, where a leak gets bodged with mastic year after year while the real corrosion spreads underneath. Paying for the same patch twice costs more than one proper fix.
The Common Metal Roof Faults and What They Cost to Fix
Four faults account for most of the metal roof repairs we carry out across the Harborough District. Each has a different cause, a different fix and a different price. In short: cut-edge corrosion is treated at the laps and edges; failed fixings are swapped for larger sealed screws; leaking seams are cleaned and re-sealed; a worn coating is stripped back and re-sprayed. The table below sets out real figures so you know roughly where your roof sits before we survey it.
Ryan Tate, our project manager, handles metal and modern roof systems day in, day out. He will tell you which of these faults your roof has, and which fix actually suits it — in plain English, not sales talk.
| :-: | :-: | :-: | :-: |
| Fault | Cause | Typical repair cost | Repair or replace? |
| Cut-edge corrosion | Bare metal at cut sheet edges rusts once the factory coating wears back | £40–£70 per linear metre, or £28–£42 per m² coated | Repair while the metal is still sound |
| Failed fixings and washers | Rubber washers dry out and crack, so water tracks past the screw | £150–£1,000 depending on the number replaced | Repair — swap for larger sealed fixings |
| Leaking seams and laps | Old lap sealant hardens and splits as the sheets expand and contract | £250–£1,100 across the affected runs | Repair — clean out and re-seal |
| Coating breakdown | The factory paint chalks and flakes after 20–30 years of weather | £28–£42 per m² for a full overcoat | Repair by re-coating; replace only if holed |
- **Cut-edge corrosion*starts where sheets were trimmed on site, leaving bare steel at every overlap. We grind it back to bright metal, prime with a rust-inhibiting epoxy, then seal with a silicone topcoat rated for years of UK weather.
- **Failed fixings*let water past a cracked washer and rust the hole around each screw. We replace them with larger-diameter sealed fixings that bite into fresh metal and shut the leak for good.
- **Leaking seams and laps*come from sealant that has gone hard and split. We rake out the old line, clean the joint, and re-seal it so the lap moves with the roof instead of cracking again.
- **Coating breakdown*is the factory paint reaching the end of its life. A full clean-down and re-spray brings the whole roof back, and our Industrial Roof Repair page covers larger commercial jobs.
What Metal Roof Repair Really Costs in Market Harborough
Cost comes down to three things: the fault, the roof size and access.
As a general guide for 2025 and 2026, cut-edge corrosion treatment runs roughly £40–£70 per linear metre, or £28–£42 per square metre once coated with a warranty. A full roof overcoat lands around £28–£38 per m² with a 15-year warranty, and £34–£42 per m² for a 20-year one. Swapping failed fixings costs £150–£1,000 by quantity, and re-sealing leaking seams £250–£1,100. A full strip-and-reclad, by contrast, sits at £85–£140 per m², which is why repair usually wins.
What pushes a price up or down:
- **How far the rust has spread*— a few laps cost far less than a whole roof of creeping corrosion
- **Access*— a low workshop roof reached by ladder costs less than a two-storey unit needing scaffold or a platform
- **Roof detail*— more ridges, valleys, rooflights and pipe penetrations mean more hand-work per metre
- **Metal condition*— sound steel takes a coating straight away, while holed sheets need plate repairs first
- **Warranty tier*— a longer guarantee means more coats and a higher spec
These are general market ranges, not a quote for your roof. Two roofs the same size can price very differently once rust spread, access and detail are factored in. The only way to a firm figure is a proper survey — which is exactly what our free drone survey gives you, followed by a clear written price with nothing added later. A fixed price needs a survey.
From Survey to Sign-Off: What Happens on Repair Day
A metal roof repair follows the same order on almost every job:
- Rusted edges, laps and fixings cleaned back to sound, bright metal
- Any holed or perforated sheet cut out and plated over
- Failed fixings replaced with larger sealed screws
- A rust-inhibiting primer worked into every cut edge and joint
- Seams, laps and the wider surface sealed or coated as specified
- Site cleared and the finished roof checked before we leave
Most localised corrosion and fixing jobs take one to two days, weather allowing. A full roof overcoat on a workshop or unit takes longer, since the metal has to be dry and clean before any coating goes down. We give you a realistic timeframe before work starts, not an optimistic one to win the job. You will know who is turning up and roughly how long they will be there.
Coating a Metal Roof — The Repair That Buys You Fifteen Years
Once a factory coating chalks and flakes, the whole roof looks finished — but the steel underneath is often still sound. A full overcoat is a repair, not a replacement. We clean the roof down, treat the cut edges and fixings, then re-spray the surface with a coating built for the job. The metal keeps working, and you skip the cost and disruption of a strip-and-reclad.
A properly applied coating lasts fifteen to twenty-five years before it needs redoing, and most come with a manufacturer-backed warranty. For a building in daily use around Kibworth Beauchamp or Great Glen, that means no tear-off, no exposed deck and far less downtime. The catch is preparation. A coating only lasts if the rust is beaten back first, which is why we never spray over live corrosion or a wet roof.
A Yearly Look Keeps a Metal Roof Working for Decades
A metal roof lasts longest when small faults get caught before they spread. None of this needs a specialist — just a look, once or twice a year.
- Scan the sheet edges and laps for the first red streaks of rust
- Check fixings for rust runs, loose heads or cracked washers
- Clear leaves and debris out of valleys and gutters each autumn
- Book a free drone survey the moment you spot any sign above
Edge-bared coatings on steel sheets are best resealed every ten to fifteen years to stop creep rust in its tracks. For an independent reference on metal roofing standards and workmanship, the FTMRC guide to good practice is a sound place to read up before you commit to any work.
Why Market Harborough Owners Call Tate & Sons First
You are not just buying a coating — you are buying whoever applies it. Ryan Tate, our project manager, joined the trade full-time after his NVQ Level 3 in Roofing, and specialises in metal and modern roof systems and the site work behind them. He is out on the roof with the crew that repairs yours, not just the man who quoted it.
Founder Michael Tate started his apprenticeship at sixteen and built Tate & Sons on one belief: fix the cause, not just the symptom. He surveys every job himself and never signs off a patch that will look right for a season and fail the next. Between us we carry over 45 years of combined experience, hold NVQ Level 2 and 3 qualifications in Roofing Occupations, and keep CSCS cards and NFRC trade-body membership. Read more about the people behind the work on our About Tate & Sons Roofing page.
Areas We Serve Across Market Harborough and the Harborough District
We repair and coat metal roofs across Market Harborough and the surrounding Welland Valley villages. If your area is not on the list below, call us anyway — if you are nearby, there is a strong chance we cover you.
- Market Harborough (LE16)
- Great Bowden (LE16 7)
- Little Bowden (LE16 8)
- Lubenham (LE16 9)
- Foxton (LE16 7)
- Medbourne (LE16 8)
- Kibworth Beauchamp (LE8)
- Great Glen (LE8 9)
- Fleckney (LE8 8)
- Husbands Bosworth (LE17 6)
- Desborough (NN14 2)
Got Questions?
Your Metal Roof Repair Questions, Answered Properly
Can a rusty metal roof be repaired, or does it need replacing?
In most cases it can be repaired, as long as the steel still has structural strength left. Surface rust and moderate corrosion are cleaned back to sound metal, primed, then sealed or coated to stop them spreading. Only where sheets are holed or rusted right through does that section need cutting out and plating first. We survey the roof before advising, so you never pay to replace metal that still has years left.
What is cut-edge corrosion and how do you treat it?
Cut-edge corrosion is rust that starts where sheets were trimmed on site, leaving bare steel at the overlaps. Over ten to twenty years, moisture attacks those unprotected edges and eats into the metal at every lap. We grind the corrosion back to bright metal, apply a rust-inhibiting epoxy primer, then seal it with a silicone topcoat. Treated early, it stops the rust and adds years to the roof.
Why is my metal roof leaking around the screws?
The rubber washers under the fixings dry out and crack with age, so water tracks straight past the screw and rusts the hole around it. Once that starts, tightening the screw only makes it worse. We replace failed fixings with larger-diameter sealed screws that bite into fresh metal and close the leak. Swapping fixings across a roof usually costs between £150 and £1,000 by quantity.
How much life is left in a coated metal roof?
A galvanised or plastisol-coated steel roof usually lasts between 25 and 45 years, with the factory coating giving out at around 20 to 30. Coastal, industrial or damp settings shorten that. Most profiled metal roofs start showing rust and paint failure around year 20, which is the point to act. A drone survey tells you exactly how much life is left rather than guessing from the ground.
How much does metal roof repair cost in Market Harborough?
As a general guide, cut-edge corrosion treatment runs around £40 to £70 per linear metre, seam re-sealing £250 to £1,100, and a full roof overcoat £28 to £42 per square metre. The final figure depends on how far the rust has spread, access and roof detail. A free drone survey gives you an exact written price rather than a rough estimate over the phone. A fixed price always needs a survey first.
Can you repair leaking seams and laps without re-sheeting the roof?
Yes, in most cases. A leaking lap is usually old sealant that has gone hard and split as the sheets expand and contract. We rake out the old line, clean the joint back, and re-seal it so it flexes with the roof instead of cracking again. Only where the metal at the lap has rusted through does that run need more than a re-seal.
Is it worth coating a metal roof instead of replacing it?
Where the steel is still sound, coating is usually the better value by a wide margin. A full overcoat costs around £28 to £42 per square metre against £85 to £140 for a strip-and-reclad. A good coating lasts fifteen to twenty-five years and often carries a manufacturer warranty. It also means no tear-off and far less downtime for a building still in daily use.
What happens if the metal is holed or perforated?
Where a sheet is rusted right through, no coating will bridge the gap, so that section is repaired first. We cut out the failed area and plate it over with sound metal before any primer or coating goes on. On a badly perforated roof, we will tell you honestly if a re-sheet is the smarter spend. We always show you the damage and agree the work before we proceed, never adding it to the bill after.
Book Your Free Drone Roof Survey Today
See exactly what your metal roof needs before any work starts. No ladders, no pressure — just a clear picture from a local Market Harborough team.
Every season a rusting roof waits, corrosion creeps further under the coating and closer to the steel. A quick, free survey today tells you exactly where you stand — and often the fix is smaller and cheaper than you feared. Book now, get an honest quote, and stop the rust before the next downpour finds its way inside.
ð 5 Hood Close, Market Harborough, LE16 9XS
ð 01858 457600
Call the Market Harborough team today on 01858 457600, or request your free drone survey online. We're already working across your area.
Book Your Free Drone Roof Survey
See exactly where your roof stands, with no obligation and no pressure. Call our Market Harborough team or request your free drone survey today.
Get in Touch
Tate & Sons Roofing — Market Harborough Office
5 Hood Close, Market Harborough, LE16 9XS
📞 01858 457600
✉️ [email protected]