Frequently Asked Questions

Where the existing slate remains sound, restoration is often the most appropriate approach. Many ageing slate roofs experience deterioration in the fixings, flashings, ridging or other roof components long before the slate itself reaches the end of its service life.

A full replacement may be recommended where the slate is poor quality and has deteriorated extensively, is delaminating, or where previous repairs and incompatible materials have compromised the integrity of the roof.

Wells Roofing will assess the condition of your roof and provide a clear, practical recommendation based on what is required — whether that is targeted repairs, restoration or replacement.

Wells Roofing is based in Mornington and services the Mornington Peninsula and greater Melbourne, including areas such as Brighton, Toorak, Kew, Camberwell, Eltham, Mount Eliza and Sorrento.

We also undertake selected slate roofing projects throughout greater Melbourne and regional Victoria where the project is well suited to our specialist expertise.

Yes. Wells Roofing works closely with architects, builders and construction professionals on new builds, renovations and heritage projects requiring natural slate roofing.

We can assist with slate selection, samples, technical information and specification support, as well as supply and specialist installation. Our direct relationships with natural slate suppliers also allow us to provide clear advice around product availability and project lead times. A dedicated trade enquiry service is available for architects and builders.

Since 1982. Over four decades of specialist slate and tile work across Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula.

Natural slate costs more upfront than concrete or terracotta tile, but it is the cheapest roof per year of service life. A correctly installed slate roof lasts 100 years or more, so it is typically the last roof the home will ever need. Cost is driven by roof size and complexity, access, slate grade and any structural work required — not by a fixed rate per square metre.

A quality natural slate roof, properly installed, lasts well over 100 years. The slate itself often outlives the fixings and flashings, which is why periodic restoration — rather than full replacement — is usually all an older slate roof needs.

Slate can be walked on, but only by someone who knows where and how to step. Individual slates crack under point loading, and damage is often not visible until it leaks. Any access should be left to a slate specialist using proper roof ladders and load spreading.

Yes, but the mounting must be designed for slate. Standard tile hooks crack slates and create leak paths. We work with installers to specify slate-appropriate fixings and flash them correctly so the roof's integrity and warranty are preserved.

Natural slate pricing varies according to origin, size, thickness and specification. We supply Spanish slate from CUPA PIZARRAS, selected for its provenance, consistency and proven performance across architectural and heritage roofing projects.

Trade supply is available to architects, builders and roofing professionals. Contact us for current pricing, availability and lead times.

Gently, and rarely. Slate does not need chemical cleaning or high-pressure washing — both damage the stone surface and drive water under the laps. Moss and debris are best removed by hand or with low-pressure water by someone who can access the roof safely.

No. Painting or sealing natural slate traps moisture in the stone, causes delamination and voids any material warranty. If a slate roof looks tired, the correct answer is restoration — replacing damaged slates and renewing flashings and ridging — not coating it.

We supply premium natural Spanish slate directly to homeowners, architects, builders and trade across Melbourne and Victoria, including CUPA PIZARRAS. For terracotta and concrete we supply the Bristile range, including La Escandella terracotta. Contact us for samples, specification support and current lead times.

Terracotta can be coated, but we generally advise against it on quality roofs. Coatings sit on the surface, weather unevenly and need redoing every several years. Where tiles are sound, cleaning and re-bedding the ridging usually gives a far better and longer-lasting result.

The tile is lifted clear of the ones interlocking with it, the fixing released, and a matched replacement bedded in. The hard part is matching — profile, colour and age all matter. On slate and premium tile we hold matching stock so repairs disappear rather than stand out.

Most tile leaks are not the tiles at all — they are flashings, valleys, ridge bedding or pointing. We diagnose the actual entry point rather than patching the nearest tile, because a misdiagnosed leak reappears in the next heavy rain.

Low-pressure washing and, where needed, a suitable treatment for moss and lichen. High-pressure cleaning strips the surface off concrete tiles and forces water under the laps, so it should be avoided on any roof you intend to keep.

Yes. We supply premium Spanish slate to architects, builders and trade as a standalone service, with specification support, samples and documented lead times.

Yes. We advise on grade, thickness, size, colour and fixing detail, and provide spec sheets and samples so the material is specified correctly at design stage rather than corrected on site.

Premium natural Spanish slate from the CUPA PIZARRAS quarries in Galicia. We can advise on the appropriate grade for the exposure, pitch and architectural intent of the project.

Lead times depend on grade and quantity. Because we source directly rather than through a third party, we can give a firm date at quotation stage and hold it — which is usually the difference that matters on a programmed build.