Roof renovation in Chambéry.

In Chambéry, nestled between the Bauges and Chartreuse massifs, the roof is your home's first line of defence against a demanding Alpine climate. The valley corridor concentrates damp, snowfall and repeated freeze-thaw cycles: a roof covering is constantly under strain. On the old roofs of the historic Sardinian-era centre as on the houses of neighbouring towns, tiles crack, the underlay ages, fixings loosen — and the first leaks eventually appear.

Several signs of wear should alert you: broken, slipped or porous tiles, traces of damp or stains in the loft, moss and lichen that hold water, a sagging ridge line, or gutters that overflow. In the older apartment buildings and townhouses of the old town, these defects quickly affect the roof structure, the insulation and the load-bearing walls — and the bill rises accordingly. Acting early means you can re-roof quickly before the problem becomes structural.

Beyond weatherproofing, an ageing roof is also a major source of heat loss: up to 30% of the heat in a poorly insulated house escapes through the roof. Using a re-roofing project to redo the insulation means greater comfort in summer and winter and lastingly lower bills. To find out more, see our approach to energy renovation in Chambéry.

Many homeowners put off their works for fear of a never-ending project. That is a misconception: a roof can be redone very quickly as long as the works are well prepared. Everything happens beforehand. We first carry out a precise survey of the covering and roof structure, we cost the works, then we order and have all the materials delivered before work starts. On the day, nothing is missing: the team gets straight to work with no downtime.

Stripping the old covering and laying the new one progress section by section, never the whole roof at once. This method keeps part of the roof protected at all times and makes the house watertight in just a few days on a standard roof. If bad weather is forecast, safety tarpaulins are always planned: your home is never left exposed.

In central Chambéry, where the narrow streets of the old town and shared walls in apartment buildings complicate access, we adapt the scaffolding, the use of aerial platforms and the removal of debris so as not to obstruct the neighbours. For a complete re-roofing of a tiled detached house, allow generally one to two weeks on site, scaffolding included — much less for a localised repair. We plan every job with a clear schedule, keep disruption to a minimum and coordinate the trades (roofing, carpentry, zinc work, insulation) to meet deadlines. This controlled approach to site work is the same one we apply to renovation and construction in Chambéry.

Tiled roofs — the most common roof covering in the Chambéry area. Interlocking tiles, flat tiles or barrel tiles: we strip the old covering, install a high-performance breathable (HPV) roofing underlay, and lay new tiles suited to the Savoie climate. In Chambéry's protected conservation area, we make sure to respect the tile colour and type required to match the old roofs. A tiled roof remains the most durable solution and the one most in keeping with local character.

Slate — for steep roofs, townhouses and the heritage character of the historic Sardinian-era centre, we re-roof in natural slate, following best trade practice and the requirements of the Architecte des Bâtiments de France in protected areas.

Zinc and steel decking — on low-pitched roofs, extensions or the contemporary architecture of newer neighbourhoods, zinc and steel decking offer lightness, watertightness and longevity. We also handle all the associated zinc work: valleys, flashings, cladding.

Flat roofs and waterproofing — garages, extensions, outbuildings: we carry out roof waterproofing on flat roofs using membranes or bituminous systems, redoing upstands and outlets for reliable, lasting watertightness.

Timber roof structure — there is no sound roof covering without a sound roof structure. We inspect and repair damaged roof structures and coverings: timber treatment, replacement of affected rafters or purlins, strengthening of the structure before the roof is re-laid — a common need on the old roof structures of suburban houses.

Re-roofing is the ideal time to deal with insulation. Once the covering is removed, access to the roof structure and loft becomes simple and cost-effective. Rather than working on the roof twice, we combine re-roofing and roof insulation in a single project — reducing the overall cost and maximising the energy gain, a real asset in the cold winters of the Chambéry valley.

Two approaches are possible depending on your house: loft insulation (blown or in panels, ideal for unconverted lofts) and under-roof insulation by sarking, installed from the outside above the rafters, which eliminates thermal bridges without reducing the living space. The latter is particularly suited to the converted lofts of suburban houses and to chalets on the heights.

As soon as re-roofing is combined with insulation, the work becomes eligible for energy renovation grants (MaPrimeRénov', CEE, éco-PTZ). As an RGE-certified company, we prepare the grant applications for you. To understand how to combine roofing, insulation and overall performance, see our page on energy renovation and all our services.