Roof slating and slate roof repairs
Most of the housing round here is under slate, and there are two very different kinds of it. Getting them mixed up is how roofs get ruined.
Welsh blue slate covers most of the Victorian terraces across Nelson, Colne, Burnley and Barnoldswick. Thin, light, uniform, and laid in even courses. A good blue slate roof will run well past a hundred years.
Yorkshire stone slate is what you find on older and higher property, and over into Craven around Skipton. It is sandstone, not slate at all, laid in diminishing courses with the biggest at the eaves. It is heavy, and that weight changes everything about how the roof has to be built underneath.
- Covering
- East Lancashire & Craven
- Quotes
- Free, no pressure
- Ring or text
- 07840 031508
What we do
- Replacing individual slipped, cracked or missing slates
- Patch re-slating where one area has failed
- Full strip and re-slate, in reclaimed or new slate
- Re-slating in salvaged stone slate, including sorting and re-sizing
- New battens, breathable membrane and re-fixing
- Ridge, hip and verge work
- Valleys and abutment detailing in lead
Why slate roofs fail
Slate itself lasts a very long time. What fails is everything around it.
- Nail fatigue
- The slates are sound but the nails have rusted through, so slates start slipping one at a time for no obvious reason. Once it starts in earnest across a roof, patching becomes a losing battle.
- Battens
- A hundred years of damp and the timber the slates are nailed to gives up.
- Previous repairs
- Cement fillets, mortar smeared into valleys, and mastic where lead should be. All of it traps water rather than shedding it.
- Torching
- Older roofs were lined underneath with lime mortar and hair. When it crumbles you get draughts, dust and water getting past.
Stone slate has one more: the roof structure was built for that weight when it was green and the rafters were strong. If somebody has replaced stone slate with something else, or the timbers have moved, the whole thing needs looking at structurally, not just re-covering.
Repair or re-slate?
The honest test is nail fatigue. If we lift a few slates and the nails come away as rust, the roof is telling you it is near the end regardless of how good the slates look. If the nails are sound and the battens are firm, repair it and leave it alone.
We will lift slates and show you, rather than asking you to take our word for it.
What slating costs
- Reclaimed versus new
- Reclaimed Welsh slate matches an existing roof and costs more. New slate is cheaper and can look wrong next to weathered slate.
- Stone slate is the expensive one
- It is heavy, slow to lay, and salvaged stone has to be sorted and graded by size.
- Access and scaffold
- A full re-slate needs a scaffold, and that is a significant line on the quote.
- What is found underneath
- Battens and any rotten timber at the eaves.
The things people ask us
Usually on Welsh blue slate. Stone slate is harder and depends what is available salvaged. We will tell you before you commit whether the patch will show.
Yes. A breathable membrane under new battens is standard now and worth doing whenever a roof comes off. It is the cheapest part of the job and the one you cannot add later.
What people said about the work
Read the reviews, then ring us and see if we match up.
Alex has just repaired chimney (putting right someone else’s bad work mainly) and ridge. Used Alex before after storm in 2022 brought guttering down on my 300 yr old cottage. Measured, made and fitted within about a week thankfully after months of others roofers either not showing or making out how difficult the job was
Very pleased indeed. Alex was responsive, helpful and, as chance would have it, was able to do the repair to the guttering at our daughter's bungalow, promptly. The charge was minimal for two tradesmen. Would certainly use again and have no hesitation in recommending him to others.
Alex and his team did a first class repair job on my roof. Excellent value for my money. Kept me informed at all stages of the job, clean and tidy on completion.
Alex replaced our leaking guttering. The guttering was measured, ordered and all replaced within a week! The job was done very professionally and at a great price! Great guys, who left the area spotless, when finished. Fantastic job! Great, honest, genuine tradesman. We would highly recommend to all!!!!!
We met Alex by chance one rainy afternoon on the local canal towpath. We were both sheltering from the rain under the same bridge. My husband and I had, earlier, been discussing our garage roof which was new a few years ago, but which had been leaking for some time. We think our chance meeting with Alex was meant to happen as, for some reason, I mentioned our leaky roof to him. We have always had difficultly finding reliable…
Excellent job, lovely people, very good roofers and sensible prices
Absolutely brilliant service from start to finish. The work was completed to a really high standard they were reliable, professional and tidy throughout. It’s clear they take pride in their work, and the finished roof looks fantastic. Would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for a trustworthy, hardworking roofer. Thank you to Alex, Jeff, Ryan & Junior Kath & Eric at Number 6
Great job done by Alex, Jason and Alfie on our chimney stack and roof. They provide a very professional friendly, service and are a pleasure to work with. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend their services. Thank you so much.
Excellent work done by a superb team. Alex, Geoff and Luke have done an incredible job on my roof and front of house. The roof no longer leaks (when living in Preston that's an important thing!) and the front of the house appearance has been transformed from an old tired look to a clean and more modern feel. They provide great advice, give you a quote detailing what they are going to do and then crack on and do a brilliant job…
Alex replaced our guttering, reset all the ridge tiles on the roof and capped the chimney properly. Alex and Luke were a breathe of fresh air to deal with. Alex was very friendly, he kept us informed of progress and what they were doing. He attended at the specified time and always kept everything clean and tidy. Quotes were accurate and were stuck to. Quality work throughout so if you want half a job doing don't call him. Personally I…
Alex and Geoff took great care inspecting the roof and deciding on a plan of action. Geoff and Luke worked seamlessly together to repair the numerous faults they discovered. They were cheerful and courteous at all times and were always ready to explain how the work was progressing and the issues they were dealing with as they arose. Jason and Alfie did a good job with the rendering. Photographs were provided, documenting their…
Alex and Luke have pointed our chimney and replaced pots. All the ridge tiles have been removed and replaced. Nothing has been too much trouble for these guys. We are more than happy with the end result. Totally reliable and trustworthy. Very friendly lads. I would 100% recommend their services.
Other things we do
Roof tiling
Concrete and clay tiles. Re-bedding ridges, replacing cracked tiles, and full re-tiles on the post-war housing.
Read moreFlat roofs
Extensions, dormers, garages and porches. Repairs where a repair will hold, replacement where it will not.
Read moreGRP fibreglass roofing
A seamless fibreglass flat roof with no joints to fail. More expensive than felt, and considerably longer lasting.
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