Slate Roof Cost

Want to know what prices are involved in having a slate roof constructed?

In this cost guide, we'll discuss the prices of various types/sizes of slate roofs and explore other relevant topics ranging from what's involved in building a slate roof to a closer look at the different types of slate roofing materials.

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The average cost of slate roof installation will be around £7,800, but the price will vary depending on various factors which will be explored below.

How Much Does a New Slate Roof Cost?

So, how much for a new roof?

The average cost of building a slate roof varies depending on the size of your roof, the ease of access, the roof's pitch, your location, and more. There are many factors involved that would shape the price of building a slate roof, which we'll cover in this guide.

As a guide, it would cost approximately:

• £3,100 to £3,700 to slate a terrace roof
• £7,000 to £8,600 to slate an average, semi-detached home
• £9,700 and £12,300 to add a slate roof to a bungalow or a detached house

Slate Roof Prices

Let's look at some total roof slate prices for terraced, semi-detached, bungalow, and detached roofs:

Additional Slate Roof Costs

In this section, we’ll discuss some additional jobs you may wish to have undertaken while having your slate roof installed:

Roof Insulation Cost

When installing a new slate roof, you may find it a good time to insulate your roof (if it isn’t already). A properly insulated roof can keep your home warmer during cold winter months.

This, in turn, could keep your energy bills down and both save you money and lower your carbon footprint. Here are some average roof insulation costs* for you to consider:

• Fibreglass Insulation - £380 to £420
• Mineral Wool Roll Insulation - £400 to £480
• Spray Insulation - £700 to £900
• Warm Deck Insulation Boards - £600 to £700

*These prices are based on covering a 20m² area, and would also depend on the type/pitch of your roof.

Gutter Replacement Cost

Your property's gutters will be temporarily removed while your roofer works on your slate roof, so it's a good time to check them over.

If you haven't kept up with cleaning your gutters and are experiencing poor drainage and suspected water damage, it might be time to replace them.

You can expect gutter replacement costs of around £650.

Fascia and Soffit Capping Cost

Gutters are attached to fascia boards, so while you're working on your roof, it can make sense to get them capped if they're still in good condition, but could use some TLC. If your gutters haven't been working as they should, your property's soffits will also have been impacted by water damage.

You must ensure that your existing boards are in good condition - dry, free from rot and signs of pest infestations - before factoring in the cost of fascia and soffit capping to your roofing project.

This will cost you an extra £800, and can significantly improve both the appearance and the longevity of your property's exterior.

Slate Roofer Costs and Timescales

Depending on the complexity of your slate roof project, your roofer's labour costs will range:

• Basic, straight forward installations will cost between £40 to £55 per m²
• Complex, steep pitched installations will cost between £60 to £75 per m²

You may be quoted a daily roofer rate instead of a price per square metre. In 2025, a roofer's daily rate is between £200 to £275.

The location of your property will also influence your labour fees. You should expect higher prices in London and the surrounding areas compared to those in the north of the UK.

The bigger your property's roof, the longer the job will take your roofer:

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What Impacts Slate Roof Installation Costs?

Slate roof costs are impacted not only by the size/type of roof, but also by the exact type of slate material used, and ease of access.

Let's now break down the cost-affecting factors in more detail. We’ll explain these factors and how they can shape the overall cost of installing a slate roof.

Type/Size of Slate Roof

The size and type of roof you have will shape the cost of adding slates, including the type of pitch.

If your roof is quite steep, the work may cost more than the same size roof with a shallower pitch.

This is because roofers would need support to lay the various slates, adding to the complexity and length of the job.

Slate Material

Regular slate from the UK - including Welsh slate - is famed for its superior longevity, and can last for over 100 years.

As quarrying in the UK is more expensive than in Spain, due to environmental restrictions which limit the volume available to be quarried at any one time, regular slate commonly has a higher supply cost compared to Spanish slate, where quarries can produce in bigger batches, bringing down overall unit cost.

• Natural UK slate - £60 to £75 per m²
• Spanish slate - £30 to £38 per m²

You can also choose slate-like tiles, such as composite or tiles designed to mimic the appearance of natural slate:

• Fibre cement slate - £22 to £30 per m²
• Concrete slate - £18 to £25 per m²
• Metal slate - £40 to £80 per m²
• Composite synthetic slate - £40 to £80 per m²

Ease of Access

If your roof is more accessible, the work should be easier and quicker, likely keeping your labour expenses down.

However, if access is more difficult, it could be more expensive, especially if scaffolding is required.

Location of Property

It’s generally more expensive to hire a roofer in the southeast of England than it is in northern England.

Labour prices tend to be below average in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

What's Involved in Building a Slate Roof?

Building a slate roof can be a complex process, and the methods may vary depending on the specifics of the installation. Here's what you can expect:

1. Preparation

Before the slate roof construction can get underway, it’s important to know the angle or pitch of the roof so that the size of the overlap can be calculated. Different slate tiles will suit different roof pitches and different roofs in general, so it’s important to ensure that the correct slates are being installed.

Notably, if the wind or rain levels in your area are more than average, you’ll likely require a larger overlap, so make sure to keep this in mind.

Another important preparation to consider is if your roof is new or you’ve stripped the roof, you need to ensure that the rafters have no nails sticking out of them or other elements sticking out of the timber. This is to ensure that you do not damage the breathable membrane.

If required, scaffolding should be added prior to any work beginning. Scaffolding will be needed if the roof is particularly high and difficult to access with just a ladder.

2. Installing the Slate Roof

If you are looking to replace an existing roof, then you will need to first remove the old roof. The first practical step of fitting the slate roof (again, depending on the type and nature of the installation) would likely involve rolling out the breathable membrane. It should be pulled taught and nailed into position.

Next, the first battens and tiles should be placed in position. This can be used to calculate the exact number of battens required. More battens can then be added, one after another, from the top to the bottom of the roof.

At this point, it’s time to install the first row of slate tiles with an established overlap. Continue to add the remaining rows of tiles from there. The tiles can be secured in position using fasteners or nails.

They may be made from aluminium, copper, galvanised steel or stainless steel. Among the types of slate roof tiles to be installed, you’d also need suitable ridge tiles for a slate roof.

3. Clean Up

Once everything is safe and firmly in position, the clean-up can begin. If scaffolding had been set up, it can be disassembled now, too.

Can I Install a Slate Roof Myself?

In general, it's best to leave installing a slate roof to a professional.

Even if you have the right skills and knowledge, a professional contractor is likely to perform a more precise job, which reduces the risk of issues arising with your roof later down the line.

Some of the hazards/dangers associated with adding a slate roof DIY are:

• Falling from a height
• Slipping on the roof
• Incorrect slate roof installation

If you do decide to undertake the work DIY, ensure that you take all the necessary safety steps, such as having a second person hold the ladder you use, and consider wearing a safety harness for working on your roof.

If in doubt, hire a professional roofer.

Building Regulations & Planning Permission for Slate Roofing

In this section, we’ll discuss the building regulations and planning permission rules for adding a slate roof.

Building Regulations

The building regulations for covering a roof include:

• The materials covering a roof should be long-lasting and weather-resistant.
• If you’ve a pitched roof, the type of slate being used is partly determined by how shallow or steep the roof’s slope is.
• If your roof is near a boundary, it must have the necessary qualities to minimise the danger of fire spreading across your boundary.

As for the ventilation building regulations, these are:

• Ventilation is unnecessary for a warm roof system (i.e., a roof where there is insulation fitted above the joists/rafters).
• Ventilation is needed in other situations, where you have a cold roof system.
• When ventilation is needed, the air should have room to enter the roof at one end before travelling through and exiting out the other end.

Planning Permission

There are general re-roofing planning permission rules for whatever type of roof you have installed, including a new slate roof.

The good news is that re-roofing is generally deemed permitted development, which means that planning permission would not be required.

This assumes the following:

• There is no enlargement of a dwellinghouse that features the addition or alteration of its roof.
• No additional storeys are being added to your home.
• There is no installation or alteration of solar equipment to your home.

If in doubt, you can contact your local council for further advice on your specific re-roofing plans. If you do need planning permission approval, this waiting period can be between 6 and 8 weeks.

Types of Slate Roofing Materials

We'll now take a closer look at the various types of slate roof materials, including a breakdown of their pros and cons and estimated costs.

Natural Slate Roof Cost

A sturdy and long-lasting option is natural slate. Natural slate consists of grains of quartz, mica and chlorite.

Natural slate costs about £60 to £75 per square metre, so it’s one of the costlier choices. However, it may last for a century or more if well-maintained.

Pros

• ✔ Can last for 100+ years if well-maintained
• ✔ Low maintenance, with fire, moisture, and pest resistance

Cons

• ✖ High cost when compared to other slate roof tiles
• ✖ Heavy, sometimes requiring additional roof support, and can be tricky to install

Fibre Cement Slate

Another popular choice is fibre cement slate. This is a more affordable alternative to natural slate at £22 to £30 per square metre. Fibre cement slate consists of sand, cellulose fibres, and cement.

Fibre cement used to include asbestos as well, but this stopped after the 1980s for health and safety reasons as the dangers of asbestos became clearer.

Pros

• ✔ Affordable compared to natural slate roof tiles
• ✔ Lightweight, and easier to install than natural slate

Cons

• ✖ Less durable than natural slate, with an average lifespan of 20 to 25 years
• ✖ More expensive to maintain than natural slate, requiring repainting every 10 to 15 years on average

Concrete Slate

Another low-costing choice is concrete slate roofing, costing £18 to £25 per square metre.

These slates comprise cement, sand, water and oxide. However, like fibre cement slates, concrete slates need plenty of maintenance and should be repainted every several years, but they can last for around 50 years or more if looked after properly.

Pros

• ✔ Budget-friendly slate option
• ✔ Durable, lasting around 50 years if well-maintained

Cons

• ✖ Susceptible to cracking in harsh weather
• ✖ Heavier than other slate tiles, may need structural reinforcement

Checklist: Hiring Contractors to Install a Slate Roof

Before hiring a professional to fit a slate roof, there are various tips worth taking on board:

• Ask family or friends for their trader recommendations if they've had their slate roofs done recently.
• Get at least 3 quotes from different roofers before making a decision.
• Check out any online ratings/reviews of different slate roof installers to see what past customers have said about their service.
• Get an itemised quote, clarifying if waste removal, skip hire, or scaffolding is included in the fee.
• Take a look at any photographs/videos of their previous work to get an idea of the quality of work you can expect.

FAQs