Tile & Slate Roofing

Concrete, clay tile and natural slate, laid and matched properly

Concrete tile, clay tile and natural slate each behave differently on a roof — different weight, different fixing method, different look — and getting the right one laid correctly matters as much for a small repair as it does for a full new roof.

Concrete interlocking tiles, clay plain tiles and natural slate are the three coverings you'll see across most of this patch, and each has its own laying pattern and fixing requirements. Concrete interlocking tiles are the most common on post-war housing, laid in straight courses with a batten gauge set to the tile size. Clay plain tiles, more often found on older or higher-specification roofs, are laid in a double-lap pattern with a much tighter gauge, which means more tiles and more labour per square metre but a finer, more traditional finish. Natural slate is fixed individually, nailed or hooked, and needs careful handling since slates crack far more easily than concrete tiles if walked on incorrectly. Whichever covering is on the roof, the principle for both repair and full re-covering work is the same: get the batten gauge and lap correct, use fixings appropriate to the roof pitch and local exposure, and match colour and profile to the existing roof or the surrounding streetscape where that matters. On a re-roof, we'll also talk through whether staying with the existing tile type makes sense or whether a different covering suits the property and budget better.