The choice of covering shapes how a house looks for the next fifty years and how much the roof costs now. Here is how the four main options compare.
| Natural slate | Fibre-cement slate | Clay plain tile | Concrete interlocking | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost per m² (laid) | £120 – £180 | £80 – £110 | £100 – £150 | £60 – £90 |
| Life | 80 – 150 years | 30 – 50 years | 60 – 100 years | 40 – 60 years |
| Weight | Medium | Light | Heavy | Heavy |
| Minimum pitch | 20 – 25° | 20° | 35° | 15 – 22° |
| Look | Fine, varied, traditional | Uniform grey | Warm, textured | Plain, large format |
Natural slate
Welsh slate is the benchmark and the most expensive; Spanish slate is good quality at a lower price. Slate roofs almost always fail because of nails and battens, not the slate, so many re-roofs re-use the existing slates. The right choice for period houses, conservation areas and anyone thinking long term.
Fibre-cement slate
Man-made, light and consistent, at roughly two-thirds the cost of natural slate. It looks like slate from the street but not close up, and it does not last as long. A sensible choice for extensions matching a slate house on a budget.
Clay plain tiles
Small, handmade-looking tiles that give the warm, textured roofs typical of Surrey and Hampshire villages. Long-lived and attractive, but they need a steep pitch and are slow to lay.
Concrete interlocking tiles
The workhorse of post-war housing. Cheap, quick, and fine for a modern house, though older concrete tiles go porous and lose their colour. Not usually acceptable in conservation areas as a replacement for slate or clay.
Which should you choose?
Match what the street has, check the roof pitch and structure can take the weight, and think about how long you intend to own the house. We will give you a price for more than one option if you are undecided.