Slate & Heritage Roof Restoration
Slate roof restoration for period homes and contemporary houses alike — and a straight answer on whether yours needs restoring or replacing.
Request a quote
Tell us about the roof and we'll come back with a straight, specialist answer.
- Natural Slate
- From Cupa Pizarras
- 100+yr
- Natural Slate lifespan
- Warranty
- Workmanship & Products Guaranteed
The honest answer
Restore, or replace?
The single question that decides the cost of your project. We assess the roof and tell you which one you actually need.
Restoration typically costs a fraction of a full re-roof and buys decades.
Sometimes the answer is "nothing yet", and we will say so.
- Restore when the slate is sound and the fixings, flashings or ridging have deteriorated
- Replace when the slate is delaminating widely across the roof
- Replace when years of mismatched patch repairs have compromised the courses
- For heritage properties, retaining original slate and detailing may be an important consideration and will be assessed alongside the condition of the roof and any applicable heritage requirements
Method
How we restore a slate roof.
Carefully assessed, selectively repaired and detailed to respect the existing roof.
- Full assessment of the slate, fixings, flashings, valleys and overall roof condition
- Careful replacement of damaged or deteriorated slates, matched as closely as practical to the existing roof
- Renewal or repair of leadwork, flashings, valleys, ridges and other detailing where required
- Traditional detailing and finishing appropriate to the age, character and construction of the building
Decision guide
Restoration or re-roofing, side by side.
The two options compared on condition, cost, disruption and how long the result lasts.
Typical cost
RestorationSound slate, worn detailing
Roughly a third of a re-roof
Full re-roofSlate itself has failed
Full project cost
Life it buys
RestorationSound slate, worn detailing
Many more good years depending on the slate age
Full re-roofSlate itself has failed
80–100 years for a new slate roof
Time on site
RestorationSound slate, worn detailing
One to two weeks on a standard home
Full re-roofSlate itself has failed
Three to six weeks
Original material
RestorationSound slate, worn detailing
Retained
Full re-roofSlate itself has failed
Salvaged and reused where possible
What it fixes
RestorationSound slate, worn detailing
Fixings, flashings, valleys, ridging, capping
Full re-roofSlate itself has failed
Everything, including battens, sarking and slate as required
When we recommend it
RestorationSound slate, worn detailing
When inspections confirm the existing roof is sound
Full re-roofSlate itself has failed
When deterioration is widespread and repairs only defer replacement in the short term
Our assessment looks beyond the immediate repair. We consider the overall condition, repair history and remaining serviceability of the roof so you can make an informed decision about whether restoration is worthwhile or whether replacement represents a better investment.
Warning signs
What tells you the roof is asking for attention.
We can tell a great deal about a slate roof without leaving the ground. It shows its age at the edges, the ridging and the flashings first, and those signals appear long before the slate itself gives way.
Read early, they point to a straightforward repair. Read late, they point to a re-roof. The signs below are the ones worth acting on before the next wet winter.
- Slates slipped out of course, or a dark gap where one has gone entirely
- Fragments of slate in the gutters or on the ground after wind
- Rust staining running down from the nail line — the fixings are going before the slate is
- Ridge or hip capping working loose
- Damp patches or staining on upstairs ceilings, particularly near chimneys
- Previous repairs in an obviously different slate, colour or size
Nail sickness
Why sound slate can still end up on the ground.
The most common reason a century-old slate roof fails often has nothing to do with the slate. Natural slate outlives the iron nails that hold it. The original fixings corrode long before the stone does, and as they go the slates begin to release one by one, a condition known in the trade as nail sickness. Where the slate is good stone, it comes down with decades of service still in it. This is why the distinction matters. A roof losing slates to failed fixings is a candidate for restoration, and re-fixing in copper or silicon-bronze returns it to reliable service for a generation. A roof losing slates because the stone itself is delaminating is not. The two cannot be told apart from the ground, which is why we assess every roof in person before we quote.
What people say
What restoration clients say.
S B Peagram
2 days ago
Wells Roofing completed the roof on our home and we're extremely happy with the result. Steve and the team were professional, reliable and easy to deal with throughout the project.
Kat W
a year ago
Wonderfully helpful staff and willing to help out no matter how small or large your project or expected spend is.
Calem
2 years ago
absolute superstar, no problems supplying a few tiles whilst on a job, quick efficient and cheap, thanks heaps again
Kate Adriaans
3 years ago
Needed a couple of spare roof tiles, I emailed, and they had what I needed within a couple of days. Super helpful, great service and great price. Would highly recommend
mark andreasen
4 years ago
Excellent products at best prices
Kane McCartin
5 years ago
Excellent service, Joe's a real gentleman, a pleasure to do business with.
Worked with us? A few words on Google genuinely helps.
Common questions
Questions we’re often asked.
Are slate roofs expensive?
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.
How long does a slate roof last?
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.
Can you walk on a slate roof?
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.
Can you install solar panels on a slate roof?
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.
How much are slate roof tiles?
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.
How do you clean a slate roof?
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.
Can you paint slate roof tiles?
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.
Related
Other specialist work.
Have a project to price?
Send us your plans.
Heritage restoration, a new slate roof or an architect-specified build — send the plans or the roofing specification and you'll get a straight, specialist answer.
Specialist slate & tile roofing since 1982.
Prestige Slate & Tile Roofing Specialists — Since 1982