Is Slate Roofing the Right Fix?
A full re-roof is the right call when repairs keep recurring, nail sickness affects multiple slopes, or the covering has reached the end of its life for its type.
- Repeated repairs to the same roof within a few years
- Multiple slopes showing slipped tiles from nail sickness
- Concrete tiles visibly eroded and shedding aggregate
- Sagging roofline or visible dips between rafters
- A roof at or past its expected age — 35–50 years for concrete tile
When it is not the answer: If the tiles are sound but the fixings have failed, a strip-and-relay re-fix costs far less than a full replacement Read the full guide.
Local Factors in Portsmouth
Solent salt air and exposed Channel weather corrode fixings and lift tiles faster than inland Hampshire. Portsea Island's dense Victorian terraces mean rear elevations are often reached only through tight alleys, and front scaffold needs permit-controlled pavement space. It is why we specify marine-grade fixings and correct lead codes as standard on Portsmouth roofs — the coastal environment punishes anything less.
What to Expect: Slate Roofing in Portsmouth
1. Survey
We assess the whole roof — covering, fixings, timbers and underlay — and confirm whether re-roofing or re-fixing is the honest answer.
2. Written quote
An itemised fixed quote: materials, marine-grade fixings, scaffold, waste and guarantee, with no vague allowances.
3. Scheduling
We book the work and erect scaffold; most re-roofs start within a fortnight of acceptance.
4. The work
Strip, inspect and replace defective timbers, fit breathable underlay, batten and re-cover with marine-grade stainless fixings to BS 5534.
5. Cleanup & sign-off
Full site clear, waste removed, final inspection and your transferable 10-year guarantee handed over.
Typical Timescales
| Job | Typical duration |
|---|---|
| Terrace roof re-cover | 3–5 days |
| 3-bed semi re-roof | 5–8 days |
| Detached / complex roof | 1–2 weeks |
| Added timber or structural repair | +1–2 days |
| Scaffold erect and strike | Included in programme |
Sustained rain or high wind pauses stripping — we never leave a roof open overnight and weatherproof at the end of each day.
Getting Safely onto Portsmouth Roofs
A full re-roof always needs scaffold to every elevation for safe working and materials handling. Scaffold is specified for: the full duration of any re-roof — it is included and itemised in the quote, never a hidden extra - always itemised in your written quote, never a hidden extra, and we arrange it.
Portsea Island's dense Victorian terraces mean rear elevations are often reached only through tight alleys, and front scaffold needs permit-controlled pavement space. Pavement scaffold and skip permits go through Portsmouth City Council; allow a few working days on streets like Albert Road, Fawcett Road, Marmion Road where space is tight.
Portsmouth Slate Roofing: Cost Guide
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Slipped or cracked tiles | £150–£350 | Per visit incl. access |
| Leak diagnosis & repair | £150–£500 | Depends on water travel |
| Chimney flashing | £200–£600 | Code 5–6 lead |
| Valley repair | £400–£900 | Strip and re-lay |
| Nail-sickness re-fix (per slope) | £600–£1,200 | Estate stock |
What moves the price
- Roof height and access on Portsmouth stock
- Coastal-grade materials (marine fixings, code 5–6 lead)
- Extent of hidden salt-corrosion damage found on survey
- Scaffold vs tower vs ladder access
- Conservation constraints where applicable
Worked example: A typical job on a property off Albert Road in Portsmouth, including access and waste removal, sits in the middle of the ranges above once surveyed.
No deposit on repairs under £500. Staged payments on re-roofs — nothing up front before materials are on site. All prices include VAT; written itemised quote before any work.
Covering PO1, PO2, PO3, PO4, PO5, PO6 and surrounding postcodes.
Your Guarantee, Explained
The complete re-roof carries a 10-year written workmanship guarantee, transferable if you sell, with manufacturer warranties on tiles and underlay on top.
- Covered: workmanship for 10 years, in writing, transferable if you sell.
- On top: manufacturer warranties on materials (terms vary by product).
- Not covered: storm or impact damage - that is an insurance matter, and we will document it for your claim.
If a fault appears in covered work, we come back and put it right. No quibbling, no re-charge.
Living Around the Work
A re-roof means a week or more of scaffold, skip and daily activity — we protect the garden and drive, keep the site tidy, and agree access and parking before we start. You do not need to stay home for external work - we just need power and access agreed in advance.
Re-roofs run through most of the year; we programme around forecast weather and stage the strip so the roof is never exposed to a wet night. Solent salt air and exposed Channel weather corrode fixings and lift tiles faster than inland Hampshire.