Slate roof. Repair or replace

Question

My sister needs a repair done on her slate roof. The roofer who came out said that, as a slate roof has a life of about one hundred years and her house is roughly one hundred and twenty years old, she should have the whole roof done. He is getting a quote together which involves re-using the slates but said that, off the top of his head, it would be around twelve thousand pounds. Firstly, should she get the whole roof done and second, is that price right? It seems steep from the prices quoted here.

Paul · Accepted Answer

Yes you should get a new roof , the nails that hold the slates start to decay and slates start slipping . The slates can be reused because they decay at a much lower rate than the nails therefore you would be getting repairs done every time a nail fails. As for the price depends on the size of the roof and the steepness of the roof. scaffolding requirements also have a factor in the price .

Craig · Answer

It all depends on the roof structure and if he’s using the same slates there going to be natural slate I would be more worried about the timbers but if it’s years old them timbers would be very strong unless there’s been a lot of water ingress over years and the price depends on the size of the roof  and other factors

Dean · Answer

It will depends on the size of the roof and materials he’s using no way of knowing withought more details / access to a from the roof / scaffolding costs is it on a busy street where a permit is required there is plenty more factors

Richard · Answer

At a price of £12000 it must be a big roof 
I would get a few more quotes as he’s stating that he’s going to use the original slates I’m assuming that he’s going to use new felt and batten whit new valleys 
I would recommend have a few more quotes 
Before deciding on any works

Tony · Answer

It all depends on the overall condition of the roof itself and it doesn’t really matter how old the roof it’s how it’s been maintained over the years and as for the price it depends on the size and materials needed etc.

Michael · Answer

Depends on size of roof would need to see pictures to see if it can be repaired or need replaced.
Slates roofs can last longer than 1 hundred years but if it is that old could probably do with renewing

Jimmy · Answer

The price of a whole new roof would depend on many factors, size, amount of scaffold required, materials used, as-well the shape and logistics of the roof itself. Again, the condition of the roof would be determined more on how much work has been given to maintaining the roof over the one hundred year period, rather than the fact it’s over one hundred years old. Always get as many opinions and quotes as you can, preferably by a roofer willing to take the time to take a look at the roof in person.

James · Answer

Firstly get 3 quotes from different companies. Second if a builder you have had look at a job is trying to boost that job into a bigger job, if you have followed the first bit of advice and had 3 quotes then you will be able to call builder No1 and no2 and say "hi further to your visit I obviously had other tradesmen quote aswell and builder no3 reckons the whole roof needs replacing, whats your views on this?"  This is an excellent way of getting your tradesmen to give you a full evaluation of the scope of works needed. If you haven't had a chance to follow the advice, it's never to late to say HOLD OFF to the builder and get a couple of other quotes done before moving ahead. 
If you are still really unsure at this point then hiring a chartered surveyor is the only way to be 100% confident in the decision.

Connor · Answer

What’s more than likely happend is that over time the salts in the air perish the nails that the slates are fixed in with.
Which then causes the slates to slip , leading to water ingress.
As in regards to the price you would need someone to measure up roughly and get a price for a scaffold aswell , it all depends on the size of the roof and the product / material you were going to use.

Desmond · Answer

if you are talking about an average sized house,it wouldnt come to 12k,that would be with new slates,so that gives you a rough guide,cheers,des

Slate roof. Repair or replace

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