Slate roofs: lifespan, repair and what to watch for
Natural slate is the original roof covering on most Victorian and Edwardian stock across our patch. Done right it outlives everyone — the failures are almost always the fixings, not the slate itself.
How long slate actually lasts
Welsh and Spanish slate has a 80–120 year life. The problem is almost never the slate — it's 'nail sickness', where the original iron or galvanised nails rust through and the slates start slipping en masse. When you see three or four slips on a 100-year-old roof, the whole slope is usually on borrowed time.
Repair vs full re-slate
A handful of slips on an otherwise sound roof can be re-hung with stainless tingles. Once nail sickness sets in across a slope, spot repairs are a false economy — we strip, re-batten with breathable membrane, salvage the sound slates and top up with matched new ones.
Matching slate in conservation areas
Much of Hampton Hill, Teddington and Richmond is conservation-sensitive. We source matching Welsh or Spanish slate by size and colour, re-use originals on the visible frontage and put new on the rear where it's less prominent.
What pushes the price
Slate is labour-heavy: every slate is hung individually. Add scaffolding, breathable membrane, new battens, lead valleys and ridge work, and a full re-slate on a typical terrace runs well above a tile re-roof — but lasts twice as long.
FAQs
Usually yes — sound slates are salvaged and re-hung on the most visible elevation, with matched new slate making up the shortfall. We only condemn slates that are delaminating or cracked.
It's when the original fixing nails corrode and fail, causing slates to slip across the whole slope. It's the main reason century-old slate roofs need re-doing — the slate itself is often still fine.
On a period property, yes — it's the correct look, it's often required in conservation areas, and it lasts far longer than concrete tile. On a modern house, tile is usually the sensible choice.
Related reading
More on roof repairs and the jobs that usually come with it.
- Why is my roof leaking? The common causes, in orderRepairs & problems
- Condensation and poor loft ventilationRepairs & problems
- Chimney flashing repair: stop the most common roof leak
- Scaffolding for roof work: when you need it and what it costsCosts & budgeting
Looking for something specific? See our roofing services, cost guides, common roof problems or the areas we cover.
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