When people ask about a new pitched roof around Ely, they often mean concrete tiles or natural slate. Those still have their place. For a lot of homes, extensions and outbuildings we see, Britmet Lite is the smarter shout.
Britmet are a UK manufacturer of lightweight metal roof tiles and synthetic slate systems. On our site you’ll already see Britmet Lite listed alongside slate and tile on our pitched roofs page. Here’s why we recommend it, in plain English.
It is much lighter on the building
Traditional concrete tiles are heavy. On older timber, conservatories, garage conversions and some extensions, that weight is exactly what you do not want.
Britmet profiles are around a seventh of the weight of traditional tiles (they talk about up to 7x lighter). That means less strain on the rafters and deck, safer handling on the scaffold, and less risk of overloading a timber frame that was never designed for a full concrete roof.
If the structure is light or tired, lightweight metal is often the difference between a sensible re-cover and a much bigger timber job.
It works on low pitches
A lot of Ely and Cambridgeshire extensions sit at a shallow pitch. Concrete and clay struggle once you get low. Felt or fibre-cement sheets can look flat and temporary.
Britmet’s range is built for low pitches. Depending on the profile, some systems go down to around 5 degrees. That means you can still get a proper tile look on a conservatory, lean-to or low extension instead of settling for a covering that looks like a patch.
It looks like a traditional roof
Homeowners worry lightweight means “plastic shed roof”. Done properly, it does not.
Britmet profiles are designed to look like clay, concrete or slate. From the street you get the lines and shadow of a proper roof. On the tools we still set underlay, battens and fixings the right way. The photo with this post is that stage on one of our jobs: breathable membrane down, battens spaced, ready for the covering.
Faster, cleaner installs (and less ongoing hassle)
Because each sheet covers the equivalent of several traditional tiles, install is quicker once the deck is ready. Less time on the roof usually means less disruption for you.
Britmet also market the systems as low maintenance for decades, with a long manufacturer guarantee on their products (they advertise a 50 year guarantee on the range). We will always set out exactly what guarantee sits with the manufacturer and what we cover on our workmanship when we quote.
They are also harder to chip and crack the way brittle concrete can, which matters on exposed Cambridgeshire weather.
Where we use it most
Around Ely, Littleport, Soham, Sutton, Stretham and the villages, Britmet Lite is a strong option when:
- the existing timber will not take a heavy concrete re-roof
- the pitch is too low for standard tiles
- you want a slate or tile look without the weight
- you need a tidy finish on an extension, garage or outbuilding
It is not the answer for every roof. Natural slate and traditional tile still win on some period properties and where planning or conservation rules push that way. We will tell you straight which route suits the building.
What a free quote looks like
We come out, look at the pitch, the structure and the covering you have now. Photos help. Then you get a clear free quote for Britmet Lite (or slate / tile / flat roof if that is better), with no hard sell.
Family-run. Over 35 years on the tools. Flat or pitched. Repair or full replacement across Ely and Cambridgeshire. See our roof repairs service if you only need a patch.
Get a free quote
Office: 01353 861590
Mobile: 07970 753613
Email: elyroofingcompany@gmail.com
Web: https://www.ely-roofing-company.co.uk/
Serving Ely, Littleport, Soham, Sutton, Stretham and wider Cambridgeshire.