Slate has a reputation for lasting, and often it does. The slates themselves can outlive everything else on the roof, which is why many slate roofs fail for other reasons: rusted fixings, tired underlay, worn flashings or a handful of slipped and broken pieces. Deciding between a patch, a renovation and a full replacement is the main question for any owner.
This guide sets out the options for Lincolnshire homeowners. We cover what Slate Roof Replacement involves, when Slate Roof Renovation is enough, why Slate Roof Underlay Replacement is often the hidden part of the job, and what to think about before scaffolding goes up. It is general guidance, since the right answer depends on a close look at your roof, and we always recommend an inspection first.
Slipped slates, a few cracked ones and slides of grit in the gutter can be one-off repairs. A pattern of slipping slates is different: it usually means the nails holding them have corroded and snapped, and more will follow. Damp patches on ceilings, daylight visible in the loft and sagging battens point to wider problems. Walk round the house and look at the roof slope in good light, then look in the loft with a torch. If the roof is slipping in many places, spending on repeated patching may not make sense, and a bigger job is the honest answer.
Slate Roof Renovation means stripping the roof, sorting the slates, and relaying the good ones with new fixings, repaired battens and new underlay. Slates in good condition, with a clear ring when tapped and no flaking, are worth keeping, and reusing them preserves the look of an older house. Gaps are filled with matching slate. Renovation often suits character properties and roofs where the slate is sound but the fixings and underlay have failed. It is not suitable if many slates are soft, delaminating or thin, as relaid slates will not last long.
Slate Roof Replacement means new slates on a prepared roof, chosen to suit the house, with new battens, underlay and fittings. Natural slate is the traditional choice, and fibre-cement or other alternatives exist where the budget or building allows. Slate Roof Re-Roofing is the wider term for stripping and recovering the whole roof, and it is a chance to correct problems at the same time: poor ventilation, weak eaves detail, old lead flashings or a roof window that needs fitting properly. A Velux roof window can be added or renewed during the job, as the opening is already being worked on.
Underlay sits out of sight, so it is easy to ignore. On older slate roofs it can be torn, brittle or missing, and rain blown under the slates then reaches timbers and insulation. Slate Roof Underlay Replacement is normally done when slates are lifted, since the two jobs share the same access. A breathable membrane suits many pitched roofs, but ventilation, eaves details and lap sizes all matter. Doing this properly protects the roof structure far more than the visible surface does, and it is one reason a full strip often costs more than a surface repair but saves trouble later.
The size and pitch of the roof, the number of hips, valleys and dormers, and the type of slate you choose all shape the quote. Whether existing slates can be reused counts for a lot, as does the state of the battens and rafters once the roof is open. Scaffolding is usually needed for a full job and for most tall properties, and it forms part of the price. Lead flashings, chimneys, ridges and roof windows add detail work. A fair quote is itemised, so you can see what is included and compare it with another.
We are based in Beckingham near Lincoln and cover Lincolnshire, including Lincoln, Sleaford, Louth and Boston. Tell us the age and type of house, roughly how much roof you have, and what you have noticed, whether slipped slates, leaks or daylight in the loft. Photos from the ground are useful. We will usually inspect the roof before putting a figure to it, and the quotation is free. We will explain whether we think a repair, renovation or replacement fits, and if we think a smaller option will do, we will say so.
For slate roof replacement, re-roofing and renovation anywhere in Lincolnshire, call or WhatsApp 07561 405402, or use the form below and tell us about the job.
Pictures are for illustration purposes only.
See all New Roof Installations services in Lincolnshire →
The slates can last a very long time, but fixings, underlay and flashings usually wear out sooner. How long a roof lasts depends on the slate quality, the exposure of the site and the standard of the original work. An inspection tells you what condition yours is really in.
Sometimes. Slates that are sound, flat and not flaking can be relaid on new battens and underlay, with matching slate to fill gaps. If many are soft or delaminating, new slate is the more dependable route. We can assess this once the roof is accessible.
For stripping and relaying a whole roof, almost always, as it gives safe access and protects people below. It also lets the work be done properly. Whether a smaller repair needs scaffolding depends on the height and where the work is.
Tell us about the job and we will be in touch.
Prefer to talk? Call 07561 405402 or WhatsApp us.
