When most homeowners in Exeter start thinking about a new roof, the conversation usually begins and ends with practicality: will it keep the rain out, and how much will it cost. It rarely occurs to people that a roof replacement can also be a chance to genuinely improve the look and shape of their home. But a recent industry awards ceremony has put that idea firmly back on the table.
The Trussed Rafter Association has just announced the winners of its 2026 Roofscape Design Awards, celebrating the most inventive roofing projects of the year. This year’s entries were the most varied yet, ranging from a striking arrowhead-shaped cricket pavilion in Winchester to the sympathetic conversion of a derelict Scottish croft into a beautiful family home with a curved, vaulted ceiling.
What stood out to the judges wasn’t just clever engineering, it was how much these projects were shaped around the people using them. The croft conversion, for example, kept the character of the original building while solving a genuinely tricky design brief, all through thoughtful truss work rather than expensive structural gymnastics. It’s a reminder that a roof isn’t just a lid on a building, it’s one of the biggest opportunities to add real character.
The same principles apply just as much to an ordinary semi in Exeter as they do to an award-winning cricket pavilion. Features like vaulted ceilings, exposed beams, or a more interesting roofline are often more achievable, and more affordable, than homeowners assume, particularly if they’re discussed with a roofer at the planning stage rather than tacked on as an afterthought.
If you’re weighing up new roofing in Exeter and want to talk through what’s actually possible for your home, not just the standard replacement, Bailey and Sons Roofing are happy to have that conversation. You can find out more about their work at rooferexeter.co.uk/.