If it is pitched roofing you are looking for then we are the roofers for the job. With our vast knowledge of the construction of both slate and tile roofs, you can rest assured that you will receive the roofing service that you deserve.
When we take on any project, whether it is a slate or tile roof, we always do everything by the book!
Every re-roof needs to have the full involvement of the local Building Regulations. This only applies when more than 25% of the roofs substrate is being removed and renewed.
Our service includes the removal of the old roof covering ie the underlay, laths and old slates or tiles also leaving the job clean and tidy when the project is complete.
We organise the ordering and delivery of all materials to site, keeping you well informed along the way. You will be well advised of the best materials to use, helping to make sure you get the quality job you want. We strive to use the best materials. All our pitched roofs are installed using treated laths and timbers through out the construction of the roof. We only use breathable underlay avoiding damp & condensation which is a common problem for roofs.
We don't use cheap slate or tile products, this will help give you a much longer life expectancy for your roof. We only install a breathable dry ridge system - it doesn't use mortar making the roof totally maintenance free. We also use a dry verge system which again is maintenance free without the use of mortar.
Finally when the all of the work is done you will receive a certificate from building regulations to confirm the job is of the highest standard. All that's left now is for you to sit back and relax!
We try and provide you with a maintenance free roofing solution so that you don?t have the inconvenience of regular roof repairs.
Below are some facts and information about slate and tile materials.
About Slate
Slate is a great roofing material which has been used on roofs for many centuries. Welsh slate is known as the best slate money can buy with a minimum life expectancy of 75 years. In many cases Welsh slate can be reused even after reaching its expected life of 75 years. Unfortunately Welsh slate is an expensive material often used on stately homes and royal residents, it has even been used at number 10 Downing Street.
Not to worry there are many other manufacturers of slate for roofing purposes. Many people opt for Spanish or Chinese slate which come at a far cheaper price and also have long life expectancies of between 60 and 75 years.
How is Slate formed?
Slate is a fine metamorphic rock. Its main constituents are quartz, chlorite, mica and calcite. Slate is formed when ocean or riverbed sediments are compressed and heated by the earth's crust.
About Tiling
Clay tiles have excellent environmental credentials and can achieve an A+ rating in the building research establishments (BRE) Green guide to specification. Coupled with the fact that clay is a natural material and has a very long life compared to many of its counterparts, making clay a clear choice for any roofing project.
Cement tiles are a more cost effective alternative to clay or slate and is available in a range of colours, profiles, shapes and sizes. Because of its lower cost to slate and clay, concrete has become a clear favourite for many of our clients.
Slating & Tiling
Slating and tiling encompass many different options, with tiles being divided into clay and concrete and then sub-divided into plain or profiled. Slates are divided into stone or man-made (Eternits).
Tiles
Interlocking concrete tiles are perhaps the most cost effective of the roof coverings. These are large tiles that cover around ten per square metre. They are laid as a single lap, side by side with the grooves on the underside of the one tile resting within those on the upper side of the preceding tile.
Plain tiles come in both concrete and clay forms with the hand made clay tiles being the most expensive. The coverage rate is around sixty per square metre, therefore resulting in an increase in labour. Additionally as the tiles are laid double or treble lapped (i.e. each tile has part of up to two other tiles beneath it) there is a great deal more battening needed and the weight on the roof is significantly increased. Plain tiles are often used for tile hanging.
Slates
Slates are usually laid treble lapped with each slate nailed to a timber batten. Nowadays slates are imported from countries such as China, Spain and Canada. Additionally there are many man-made slates on the market made from either fibre cement (Eternits) or moulded with a mixture of slate dust and glass fibre resin.
Perhaps the most expensive, but traditional roofing option is to use stone slates. These are large, heavy slabs of natural stone laid in slightly different patter.
