Slate and tile roofing
Natural slate, reclaimed slate and tile, laid to last on Scottish property.
In short
Slate is the traditional covering across most of Glasgow and Ayrshire, and a properly laid slate roof will outlast the person who paid for it. The work that makes the difference is invisible from the ground: the right gauge and headlap for the pitch, non-ferrous fixings that will not corrode before the slate does, and lead dressed into every valley and abutment. Tile suits most post-war housing and costs less to lay.
Scottish weather is harder on a roof than most of the UK gets. Wind-driven rain finds any shortfall in headlap, and a slate roof laid to the wrong gauge will let water past long before the slate itself has failed. Getting the setting out right at the start is most of the job.
When slate and tile work is needed
- Slates slipping because the nails have corroded, not because the slate has failed
- Delaminating or flaking slate that crumbles at the edges
- Previous repairs done in the wrong slate size or the wrong colour
- Mortar-bedded verges and ridges breaking up after years of exposure
- Tiles cracked by foot traffic or by falling branches
- A roof that has been patched so many times it no longer matches itself
What the job involves
Every roof is different, but the shape of the work is usually the same. Here is how a typical slate and tile roofing job runs.
Match the covering
We work out what is on the roof now and what will match it, whether that is new natural slate, reclaimed slate or a tile to suit the property and the street.
Set out the gauge
Battens are gauged to the slate size and the pitch of the roof, so the headlap is right for the exposure rather than just the average.
Fix it properly
Slates are nailed with non-ferrous fixings, and hooks are used where the exposure or the pitch calls for them.
Lead and detailing
Valleys, abutments and any penetrations are dressed in lead, because that is the part of a slate roof that usually fails first.
Ridge, hip and verge
The top of the roof is finished either bedded in mortar or with a dry system, and you are told which and why.
Want someone to take a look?
Call 07464 695657 or send a photo on WhatsApp and you will get a straight answer on what it needs.
Slate and tile roofing near you
E Stewart Roofing Ltd covers Glasgow, Ayrshire and Central Scotland. Pick your area for local detail, or call 07464 695657 if you are not sure whether you are in range.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a slate roof last?
A well laid natural slate roof can last a hundred years or more. In practice what fails first is rarely the slate: it is the nails, the sarking underneath, or the lead work, which is why an old roof can often be re-covered using much of the original slate.
Can you reuse my existing slates?
Often yes. Good natural slate is worth saving, and on a strip and re-cover we sort what comes off, keep what is sound, and make the numbers up with matching reclaimed or new slate. Slate that is delaminating or badly holed is not worth putting back.
What is nail sickness?
It is when slates start slipping because the fixings have rusted through, even though the slates themselves are still perfectly good. It shows up as slates coming off in different places every winter, and it means the roof needs re-covering rather than repairing again.
Is slate better than tile?
For Scottish period property, slate is usually the right answer on looks, longevity and matching the street. For most post-war housing, concrete or clay tile does the job at lower cost. The wrong choice is putting a heavy covering on a roof structure never designed to carry it.
Do you work on tenements and traditional stone property?
Yes. Traditional Glasgow and Ayrshire stone property is a large part of what we do, and it comes with its own detailing: shared valleys, substantial stacks, skews and cast iron rainwater goods that need working around rather than ripping out.