Roofing Work in Western Switzerland

A roof protects the house from rain, snow and wind, and its defects often show up late, once water has already reached the insulation or the woodwork. This trade covers the laying and repair of the roof covering, the waterproofing of flat roofs, insulation from above and tinsmithing. This page explains how to find your way around in Western Switzerland before requesting a quote.

Roof covering, flat roofs and tinsmithing: what the trade covers

The roofer’s trade first concerns the covering of pitched roofs: tiles, slates or fibre cement sheets. On flat roofs, we speak rather of waterproofing: a membrane laid on the slab or on the insulation, with careful upstands at sensitive points. Alongside this, tinsmithing makes the gutters, rainwater downpipes, flashings and metal cladding that guide water away from the façades.

The most frequent jobs:

• replacing tiles or slates that are broken, displaced or porous;
• finding and repairing a leak;
• maintenance: moss removal, checking the ridges, cleaning the gutters;
• complete renovation of the covering, with a check of the roof boarding and the timber frame;
• roof insulation, over the rafters (sarking) or between them;
• fitting or replacing roof windows;
• redoing the waterproofing of a flat roof or a terrace;
• replacing worn tinsmithing elements.

Leak, slipping tiles, moss: when to call a roofer

Some signs cannot be dealt with using a ladder and good will. A damp patch on the ceiling, a tile that comes loose after a storm, a gutter that overflows for no apparent reason, barge boards turning black: all show that water is getting in somewhere. The longer the cause stays in place, the further the damage spreads towards the insulation, the beams and the living areas.

There is also a safety reason. Work at height requires fall protection, defined in the guidelines of Suva (the Swiss accident insurance fund): scaffolding, guardrails, nets or restraint equipment. Climbing onto a steep roof yourself to “just replace a tile” is one of the riskiest jobs in building. A professional arrives with the protective equipment and knows how to read the real condition of the covering.

CFC training and standard SIA 261: the Swiss framework for roofs

In Switzerland, roofing and tinsmithing are trades with their own vocational training: a CFC (federal certificate of proficiency) exists for the roofer as well as for the tinsmith. When you make your request, you can ask the company who will work on the site and which trades will be involved (roofing, tinsmithing, insulation, scaffolding).

The second reference point is standard SIA 261, which deals with actions on load-bearing structures, including snow load. A roof is calculated for the place where it stands, and this load increases with altitude. In practical terms, changing the covering, adding thick insulation, a green roof or solar panels changes the weight carried by the timber frame. The professional must therefore consider the capacity of the support, especially in mountain or mid-altitude communes.

Geneva, Vaud, Valais, Fribourg, Neuchâtel, Jura, Biel/Bienne: the rules by canton

Permits are not requested in the same way everywhere in Western Switzerland. The information below is general; always confirm the procedure that applies to your project with your municipality or the relevant cantonal department.

• Geneva: building permits are issued by the canton, through the Office des autorisations de construire. On energy, the cantonal energy law (LEn) and the cantonal energy office (OCEN) frame the subsidies of the Buildings Programme. Many rental buildings are managed by property agents, who are then the contact for the roof.
• Vaud: the permit is issued by the municipality, with the file going through the cantonal permit centre (CAMAC) when cantonal departments have to give an opinion. Energy falls under the Vaud energy law and the cantonal energy directorate, with a cantonal subsidy programme.
• Valais: the permit is issued by the commune in the building zone, and by a cantonal commission outside the building zone. The cantonal service for energy and hydropower manages the subsidy programme. For chalets and second homes, the federal law on second homes may apply in the communes concerned.
• Fribourg: applications are submitted on the cantonal platform FRIAC, and the permit is issued by the prefecture or the commune depending on the type of work. The cantonal energy service manages a subsidy programme.
• Neuchâtel: applications go through the cantonal one-stop shop SATAC, with the decision taken by the commune. The cantonal service for energy and the environment runs the subsidy programme.
• Jura: the permit is issued by the commune or by the canton depending on the size of the project; a cantonal energy section manages the subsidies.
• Biel/Bienne and the canton of Bern: the permit is issued by the commune or the prefecture depending on the project, and the cantonal office for the environment and energy manages the subsidy programme. Biel/Bienne is officially bilingual, French and German: a file or correspondence can therefore be in either language.

To find out more about each area, see the pages canton of Geneva, canton of Vaud and their equivalents, listed below.

Old town, protected building, chalet: when the look of the roof is regulated

Changing the look of a roof may require a permit, especially in an old town or on a protected building. The material, the colour, the shape of dormers, and the fitting of roof windows or solar panels are all points the authority may examine. This is true in the old towns of Fribourg, Delémont, Porrentruy or Saint-Ursanne, in the protected districts of Geneva, in Lavaux, or in the watchmaking heritage of La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle.

Even when the project seems harmless, a preliminary question to the commune avoids discovering, after the work is done, that everything has to be redone. State in your request whether the building is in a protected zone or listed: the company will then know that a file has to be prepared.

Roof insulation and solar panels: coordinating the work

A roof covering renovation is a good opportunity to deal with insulation, because the roof is already open. Insulation from above, laid over or between the rafters, improves comfort in winter and in summer and may fall within the scope of cantonal energy subsidies. Conditions vary from one canton to another: some applications must be submitted before work begins, hence the value of finding out first.

Solar panels deserve the same reflex. If you are considering installing them in a few years, talk about it now: the covering, the fixings and the waterproofing are easier to coordinate in a single operation, and the capacity of the timber frame must remain compatible with the snow load of the location.

Describing your roof to get a clear roofer’s quote

The more precise your request, the more comparable the quotes will be. State:

• the type of building (house, apartment block, commercial building) and its location, including the approximate altitude;
• the shape of the roof (two slopes, four slopes, flat roof) and the current material, if known;
• the symptoms observed: leak, displaced tiles, moss, damaged gutters;
• any wish to insulate, fit roof windows or install solar panels;
• the situation of the building: protected zone, co-ownership, rental;
• photos taken from the ground, without climbing onto the roof.

If you are a tenant, attach the agreement of the landlord or the managing agent. In co-ownership, the roof is a common part: the decision normally goes through the owners’ meeting.

Roofing quote: what makes the cost vary

A serious quote itemises the items rather than giving a single total: site set-up and scaffolding, removal of the old covering, disposal, restoration of the support, insulation, new covering, tinsmithing, finishes. It specifies the materials, the brands or grades planned, the exclusions and the payment terms.

The cost depends on several factors, without our being able to give an amount here: the area and pitch of the roof, the complexity of the cuts (dormers, valleys, chimneys), the choice of material, the condition of the timber frame, access to the site, the need for scaffolding, the insulation chosen and the season. A site visit remains the only way to establish a reliable price. Compare quotes item by item, not just by their total.

Art. 371 CO and SIA 118: guarantees after roofing work

A roof is part of a building: it is an immovable structure. Under art. 371 of the Code of Obligations, defects can be invoked for five years, compared with two years for movable work. If your contract refers to standard SIA 118, it applies in addition; check this point before signing.

To assert your rights in the event of a defect, report it in writing as soon as you notice it, with photos and the date. Keep the signed quote, the invoice and the acceptance report.

Request a roofing quote with no obligation

Describe your work online: your request is passed to craftspeople and companies in the region, who will contact you to prepare a free, no-obligation quote. The site is a neutral matching service: it does not employ craftspeople and does not choose for you. To get started, go to the request a quote page.

Roofing near you: the pages by town

Find the local details of roofing in your commune: roofing in Geneva, roofing in Lausanne, roofing in Fribourg, roofing in Neuchâtel, roofing in Sion, roofing in La Chaux-de-Fonds, roofing in Biel/Bienne, roofing in Nyon, roofing in Vevey, roofing in Montreux, roofing in Yverdon-les-Bains, roofing in Martigny, roofing in Monthey, roofing in Bulle, roofing in Delémont, roofing in Carouge, roofing in Lancy, roofing in Vernier, roofing in Morges and roofing in Sierre.