Roofing specialists across Letham and the north-west Perth estates. The 1950s and 1960s housing on Letham Drive, Burghmuir Road, and the surrounding streets is now in the active nail sickness window — we know exactly what to look for.
Letham is the post-war housing district that defines the north-west of Perth, built primarily between 1952 and 1970 as part of the city's major council house expansion programme. The estate carries one of the highest concentrations of nail-sick concrete interlocking tile roofing in Perthshire. Properties on Letham Drive, Burghmuir Road, Letham Road, and the internal estate streets were built in tight construction programmes that used the materials standard at the time — concrete interlocking tiles, bitumen felt, sawn timber battens, and iron cut nails. That iron is now 55–70 years old, and the corrosion pattern is advanced on most pre-1965 properties in the estate.
The Letham estate is not architecturally complex — predominantly two-storey semi-detached and terraced properties with relatively uniform pitch angles and simple roof geometry. This uniformity means our repair and replacement process is highly efficient on Letham properties: we know the materials, the details, and the failure modes in advance of the survey, which makes the assessment and quoting process faster and the results more reliable.
The 1952–1965 construction phase produced the highest-risk Letham properties. The combination of iron nails (not the galvanised steel introduced from the mid-1960s), the minimal gauge bitumen felt underlay, and the specific concrete tile profiles used in this period creates a three-way deterioration pattern: the nails corrode and lose grip, the felt cracks and lifts in the loft space, and the tile profiles admit wind-driven water more readily as the fixings loosen. This is not a problem unique to Letham — it is characteristic of this generation of Scottish post-war housing — but the density of the Letham estate means it is more concentrated here than almost anywhere in Perth.
The streets we work in most regularly include Letham Drive, Burghmuir Road, Letham Road, Craigend Road, Muirton Drive, Viewlands Road, and the internal estate streets. Properties on the western fringes of the estate, where the ground rises slightly towards the open Perthshire countryside, face greater wind exposure than the more sheltered internal streets. This creates noticeably faster ridge mortar deterioration on west-facing properties at the estate edge.
Letham has a significant number of flat-roofed properties — both purpose-built bungalows and houses with flat roof garages and extensions added in the 1970s. These flat roofs, now 50–55 years old, are at or beyond end of life on felt membrane systems. We carry out flat roof replacements in GRP fibreglass or EPDM rubber across the estate regularly. The scale of work in Letham means we maintain material stocks and access to local scaffold contractors that allows a faster turnaround here than in more remote locations.
Most Perth repairs run from towers or roof ladders; scaffold is quoted only where the job needs safe standing time. Scaffold is specified for: chimney-side repairs, full valley rebuilds, and anything beyond a day at height - always itemised in your written quote, never a hidden extra, and we arrange it.
Letham is a 1950s–60s local-authority-built estate of semis and terraces with open access — straightforward for scaffold, and the heartland of Perth's nail-sickness re-roofing market. Pavement scaffold and skip permits go through Perth & Kinross Council; allow a few working days on streets like Rannoch Road, Tweedsmuir Road where space is tight.
Based in Perth, we cover all city districts and a 25-mile radius across Perthshire.
“Loft inspection confirmed nail sickness across the back slope. Perth Roofing gave us an honest assessment — repair not viable at this stage — and re-roofed in modern concrete tile. Four-day job, no mess left behind.”
“Garage flat roof was the original felt from the 1970s. EPDM rubber replacement done in a day. Clean job and the price was exactly what was quoted.”
“Ridge tiles had started to move on the front slope. Repointed and re-secured. Called on a Thursday, they were with us on Tuesday, done the same day.”
Perth Roofing Experts is based in Perth and covers Letham as part of our regular service area. When you call 01738 245 298, you speak directly to our team. We attend Letham for surveys, repairs, and emergency call-outs throughout the year.
Address: Perth, Perthshire
Phone: 01738 245 298
Hours: Mon–Fri 08:00–18:00 · Sat 08:00–14:00
Emergency: 24/7
Letham is our single busiest area within Perth city. The scale and uniformity of the post-war estate housing, combined with the nail sickness risk profile of the pre-1965 stock, means we are on site somewhere in Letham virtually every working week of the year. That frequency translates to accumulated knowledge that is specific and practical: we know the tile profiles, the construction variants on different street sections, and the failure patterns that distinguish the pre-1960 stock from the post-1965 properties.
Letham has a higher-than-average density of flat-roofed garages and rear extensions, reflecting the 1970s building boom that added these structures across the estate. Many are now 50+ years old on original felt membrane. GRP fibreglass replacement on a single-skin Letham garage typically takes one day and costs £900–£1,800 depending on size. We carry GRP materials in stock for Letham work given the volume, which reduces lead times compared to more remote locations.
Call 01738 245 298 for a free survey visit. We attend Letham routinely and can usually accommodate visits more quickly than our standard 3–7 day window for this area. Describe what you can see and we will advise whether a same-week visit is available.
The difference between a good roofing job and a bad one is usually apparent at the quotation stage, not after the work is done. Here are the questions every Perthshire homeowner should ask before committing to any roofing contractor.
NFRC registration requires contractors to demonstrate technical competence, carry adequate insurance, and adhere to a code of practice with a dispute resolution route. Check membership at nfrc.co.uk — a contractor who claims membership that does not appear on the register should be questioned. We are NFRC registered and happy to confirm membership before any survey.
£5 million public liability insurance is the minimum for domestic roofing work. Ask for a current certificate — not just a verbal assurance — before any work begins. A legitimate contractor will provide it immediately. Hesitation or delay on this request is a warning sign.
A written quote that lists scaffold, materials by product name, disposal, and labour separately is the minimum standard. A single-line total makes comparison with other quotes impossible and leaves the scope undefined. Any contractor who will not provide an itemised quote is either not confident in their pricing or is leaving room to add costs once work starts. Both are reasons to walk away.
Some contractors quote and then subcontract to whoever is cheapest and available. You want the team who understood the quote to be the team on the roof. At Perth Roofing Experts, the surveyor who quotes a job is responsible for its delivery. Call 01738 245 298 for a free no-obligation survey and honest quote.
Yes. Letham's post-war housing stock — built primarily 1952–1970 — is in the highest-risk bracket for nail sickness in Perth. Iron nail fixings from this era are now 55–70 years old. A loft inspection will confirm whether your property is affected.
A standard Letham semi-detached re-roof in concrete or clay tile costs £4,500–£8,000. Free survey and itemised quote across all PH1 Letham streets.
Yes. We treat Letham as part of our core Perth area. Emergency call-outs are attended the same day where possible. Call 01738 245 298 24/7.
If the felt membrane is original or over 20 years old, replacement with GRP fibreglass or EPDM rubber is usually more cost-effective than repair. We assess and advise honestly at the free survey stage.
For partial re-roofs we source the closest available match to the existing tile profile. An exact match is not always possible as many 1950s and 1960s profiles are no longer manufactured, but we identify the closest current equivalent and discuss options at the survey stage.
Yes — Letham Drive, Burghmuir Road, Letham Road, Craigend Road, Muirton Drive, Viewlands Road, and all internal estate streets. Call 01738 245 298 for a free no-obligation quote.
For free quote visits we aim to attend within 3–7 working days. Written quotes arrive by email within 24 hours of the visit. Urgent or structural issues are attended sooner — call and describe what you can see.
Letham was built in two main phases: the immediate post-war development of the late 1940s and early 1950s, and the 1960s expansion. The oldest Letham properties are now 70–75 years old — among the oldest post-war estate housing in Perth city. These properties carry concrete tile roofing that is comprehensively in the replacement window. Fixings on the oldest stock have been in the ground for 70+ years; concrete tile surfaces show significant carbonation and erosion. The 1960s development is 55–65 years old — nail sickness is widespread. Letham sits on relatively flat ground without significant natural shelter, and wind loading on exposed ridges is above the sheltered Perth average. We carry out more nail sickness inspections per street in Letham than in almost any other Perth suburb. The decision between continued repair and full replacement is live on most original-tile properties in the area.
No call-out fees. No obligation. An honest quote from a local Perth roofer who turns up when they say they will.
01738 245 298