Roofing
Slate Roofing
A well-laid slate roof outlasts everything except the nails that hold it.
- Family Run
- Local to your village
- Free Quotations
About this work
Slate arrived in the Weald with the railways and is found on Victorian and Edwardian houses across Tenterden, Cranbrook, Headcorn and Staplehurst. It's a superb material, a natural slate roof can last well over a century, but it depends entirely on the quality of the fixing and the detailing.
Many of the slate roofs we see are 'nail-sick': the slates are fine but the original iron nails have rusted through. The remedy is to strip, salvage the good slate, re-batten and re-fix with copper or stainless nails.
Our approach
How we go about it.
01
Assess the slate
Good Welsh slate is often worth salvaging. We test and sort it, reusing what's sound.
02
Strip and re-fix
New battens, breathable underlay and copper or stainless steel nails so the roof doesn't fail the same way again.
03
Lead the details
Slate roofs rely on well-formed lead valleys, soakers and flashings. We form them by hand.
04
Match new to old
Where new slate is needed we source to match thickness, colour and size so the roof reads as one.
Free, no-obligation quotation
Not sure how serious it is?
Send a photo or give us a ring. We'll tell you straight, whether it needs work now, watching, or nothing at all.
Real work
Slate Roofing we've completed.
Materials & techniques
What we use, and why.
- Welsh slate
- Spanish and other imported natural slate
- Copper and stainless steel nails
- Lead soakers, valleys and flashings
- Treated battens and breathable underlay
Specific systems and manufacturers listed once confirmed by the company.
Why experience matters
Slate is unforgiving of poor workmanship. Lap, gauge and fixing all have to be right, and the differences are invisible from the ground. Experience is what makes them right.
Slate roofing across Tenterden, Cranbrook, Headcorn, Staplehurst, Hawkhurst and the surrounding area.
From the trade
Questions we're often asked
Is natural slate worth the extra cost over artificial slate?
On period properties, in our view, yes. It lasts far longer and looks right. On outbuildings or budget-led projects fibre-cement slate can be a sensible alternative and we'll discuss both.
Can you repair just a section?
Yes, where the rest of the roof is sound. We'll tell you honestly if a section repair is likely to be followed by another.
Related
You may also need.
Re-Roofing
Strip, repair the timbers, re-batten and re-cover. Done properly, it's a once-in-a-lifetime job.
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Tiled Roofs
Clay and concrete tiling, new, repaired and re-laid, matched to the property.
Explore
Leadwork
Flashings, valleys, soakers and back gutters formed and dressed by hand.
Explore
Roof Repairs
Slipped tiles, leaks, ridges, hips, valleys and storm damage, repaired so they stay repaired.
Explore
Free, no-obligation quotation
Need something looked at?
Whether it's a leaking roof, an ageing flat roof, a damaged chimney, failing leadwork or a brick wall that needs rebuilding, speak directly to an experienced local contractor.
Just straightforward advice from people who know the trade.