County Clare sits on the western edge of Munster with a coastline that takes the full force of Atlantic weather rolling in across the Shannon estuary and the open ocean beyond Kilkee. It is a county of scattered rural townlands, exposed hillfarm properties on the Burren plateau, and smaller market towns strung along roads that can see sustained gale-force winds several times each winter. That exposure means roofs here age differently — and fail differently — than in more sheltered inland counties. If you are dealing with a leak, lifted slates, or deteriorating flashings anywhere in Clare, our roof repairs service has been covering the county since 2010 and we understand what Atlantic salt air and limestone country do to a roof over time.
We are council-approved, carry €6.5 million in public liability insurance, and back our work with guarantees ranging from three years on standard repairs up to ten years on major structural work. We offer free, no-obligation quotes across the county — from the riverside properties in Ennis to the industrial estates and housing developments around Shannon, and out to the exposed coastal villages further west.
Roof Repair Types We Cover Across County Clare
Roof Leak Repair
A leak in Clare rarely has a single obvious cause. The wind direction here shifts constantly, driving rain sideways into joints and details that a roof in a calmer county might never stress. We carry out a methodical inspection — checking the felt, battens, tile or slate condition, valleys, and all penetrations — before we touch anything. Properties in Ennistymon and the surrounding north Clare catchment are particularly prone to persistent low-level leaks that track along rafters before appearing on a ceiling well away from the actual entry point. We find the source, not just the symptom.
Slipped or Missing Slates
Natural slate remains common on older Clare properties, particularly on farmhouses and vernacular buildings across the Burren and mid-Clare. Nibs rot, nails corrode in the salt-laden air, and individual slates slip or disappear without the owner knowing until water follows. We match replacement slates carefully — using reclaimed or compatible new material — and we check the surrounding slates for nail fatigue at the same time. A single slipped slate in the right location can let in enough water to cause significant timber damage through a wet Clare winter.
Ridge Repointing
The ridge is the highest and most exposed element of any roof, and in Clare it takes punishment year-round. Mortar between ridge tiles cracks, shrinks, and eventually falls away, leaving the ridge tiles loose or rocking. Once movement starts, wind can lift them entirely during a storm. We rake out failed mortar, prepare the surface properly, and apply a weather-resistant mix suited to exposed western conditions. For properties in elevated rural positions — common across the mid-Clare hinterland — we pay particular attention to bedding depth and pointing finish to resist driving rain rather than just static water.
Chimney Flashing Repair
Step flashings and back gutters around chimneys are one of the most common failure points on Clare roofs. The freeze-thaw cycle is less extreme here than in colder inland counties, but the constant moisture and wind movement work the lead or mortar joints loose over years. We re-dress existing lead where it is salvageable and replace it where it is not, cutting proper stepped chases into the masonry rather than relying on surface-applied sealant. A properly flashed chimney on a Clare farmhouse should give you ten or more years without attention.
Flat Roof Repair
Flat roofs on extensions, porches, and commercial buildings across Clare suffer from the same Atlantic exposure as pitched roofs but with less tolerance for standing water. Felt systems split at laps and around upstands; older asphalt surfaces crack and pond. We repair felt flat roofs and, where the existing surface is beyond economic repair, we can upgrade to a fully bonded fibreglass (GRP) system that carries its own long-term guarantee. Properties around Sixmilebridge and the broader east Clare area — where substantial extensions are common on 1990s and 2000s housing — account for a notable share of the flat roof calls we receive.
Cracked or Broken Tiles
Concrete and clay interlocking tiles are widespread on Clare's housing estates and rural bungalows. Impact damage from debris, frost cycling, and simple age fatigue can crack tiles that then allow water ingress at the lap. We replace individual broken tiles, source matching profiles where stock allows, and inspect the surrounding tile field for hairline cracks that are easy to miss from ground level. Left unaddressed, even a small crack can admit enough water to rot the felt and battens beneath over a single wet season.
Roof Felt Replacement
The underlay felt beneath tiles or slates is a secondary defence, not a primary waterproof layer, but when it fails the consequences are significant. Older bitumen felt becomes brittle and tears; the moisture that gets through a tile course then has no secondary barrier before it reaches the timber structure. Felt replacement is a more involved job — tiles come off in sections, failed felt is stripped back, new breathable membrane goes on — but it extends the life of the roof covering and the structure beneath it substantially. We carry out this work regularly on Clare properties built in the 1970s and 1980s where original felt has reached the end of its service life.
Valley Repair
Lead and mortar valleys on Clare roofs take a concentrated flow of water from two pitches simultaneously and are under constant stress. Lead valleys crack at folds or lift at edges; mortar-bedded tile valleys erode and allow water to track under the tile course at the sides. We strip and relay lead valleys to the correct fall and width, or re-mortar tile valleys with an appropriate mix. This is detail work that has a significant impact on roof longevity — a failed valley left for a season in a typical Clare winter can direct a large volume of water into the eaves and wall structure.
Storm Damage Repair
Named Atlantic storms make landfall regularly on the Clare coast, and the Shannon estuary funnels wind deep into the county even when coastal areas bear the worst of it. After any significant storm event, we are typically receiving calls from Kilkee to Killaloe within twenty-four hours. We prioritise emergency assessments, provide photographic evidence reports suitable for insurance claims, and carry out both temporary weatherproofing and permanent repairs. Our insurance backing and council-approved status mean insurers are familiar with our documentation.
Moss and Algae Removal
The damp Atlantic air of County Clare creates near-ideal conditions for moss and algae growth on north-facing roof slopes in particular. Moss holds moisture against the tile or slate surface, accelerates freeze-thaw degradation, and blocks the lap joints that allow water to shed correctly. We treat and remove moss using low-pressure biocide application rather than high-pressure washing, which can damage slates and tiles and force water into the structure. A follow-up inhibitor treatment significantly slows regrowth. This is a maintenance repair that pays for itself many times over in extended roof life.
Why Clare Homeowners Choose Munster Gutters
- Established since 2010 — over a decade of work on Clare roofs across the full range of property types, from Burren farmhouses to Shannon town commercial premises.
- Council-approved and fully insured — €6.5 million public liability cover and local authority approval provide genuine reassurance for homeowners and commercial clients alike.
- Guarantees that mean something — a minimum three-year guarantee on all repair work, extending to ten years on major roof replacements and structural work.
- Free written quotes — no call-out charge, no obligation, and a clear written breakdown before any work begins.
- West of Ireland experience — we understand the specific demands of Atlantic-exposed roofing in a way that contractors based further east simply do not.
Roof Repairs Clare — FAQs
How quickly can you get to a Clare property after storm damage?
We aim to carry out an initial assessment within 24 to 48 hours of a storm event for Clare properties. We understand that the county's Atlantic exposure means damage can be widespread after a named storm, and we manage our scheduling to prioritise active water ingress situations. Emergency temporary weatherproofing — heavy-duty sheeting and temporary batten fixings — can be put in place on the same visit while permanent repairs are scheduled.
Is Clare's coastal air really that different for roofing materials?
Yes, in practical terms it is. Properties within a few kilometres of the Shannon estuary or the Atlantic coast — areas around Kilkee and further up the west Clare coast — are exposed to elevated airborne salt levels that accelerate the corrosion of ferrous fixings, break down mortar jointing faster, and degrade lead flashings more quickly than inland sites. We account for this when specifying repair materials and tend to recommend stainless steel fixings and more weather-resistant mortar mixes as standard on coastal Clare work.
Do you work on traditional Burren-area farmhouses with unusual stone construction?
We do. Older vernacular farmhouses in the Burren and north Clare often have low-pitched roofs, irregular stonework at eaves and gable, and original natural slates that are no longer in production. We have experience working sensitively on these properties — sourcing reclaimed slates that match in profile and colour, working around lime-mortared stonework rather than disturbing it unnecessarily, and understanding that the priority is sympathetic repair rather than wholesale replacement.
My house is in a rural part of Clare — do you charge extra for travel?
We do not add a call-out or travel surcharge for County Clare properties, including those in more remote rural locations. The free quote we provide covers the visit and the written estimate regardless of where in the county you are based. Killaloe in the east and Kilkee on the Atlantic coast are both within our standard service area with no additional charge.