When a roof needs replacing rather than repairing
A roof is worth re-covering when the parts you cannot see have failed. On the concrete-tiled semis built across Dublin from the 1960s to the 1980s that usually means the bitumen felt has gone brittle and torn, the battens have softened and the tiles are crumbling at the edges after 50 winters. On the slate terraces in Clontarf, Drumcondra and Ranelagh it is nail sickness: the iron nails rust through and slates come down in every storm. If you are paying for repairs two or three times a year, the money is better spent on a roof that will last another 50.
What the job involves
We strip the old covering, felt and battens back to the rafters and check the timber. Anything soft is replaced and priced separately, never buried in the tile cost. A breathable membrane goes on, new treated battens are set to the tile or slate gauge, and the roof is covered in concrete interlocking tiles or natural slate. Ridges and hips go on as a dry-fix system where mortar kept cracking, valleys and chimney flashings are renewed in lead, and vents are added at the eaves and ridge so the attic stops sweating. Flat sections such as a rear extension or porch get torch-on felt, GRP fibreglass or EPDM.
What affects the price
Every re-roof is priced after a free survey. What moves it:
- Roof area and pitch: a detached house has far more roof than a terrace, a steep pitch is slower, and every chimney, valley and hip means leadwork.
- Material: natural slate costs more than concrete tile because it is dearer and slower to lay, so both are quoted as options.
- Scaffolding: every re-roof needs it, and the height of the house, a narrow side passage or a conservatory under the eaves change how much.
The price is agreed before any work starts, and there are no hidden charges.
The free survey comes first
A roofer surveys the roof, the attic and the chimneys, photographs everything, and you get your quote with tile and slate as options and photos of what we find. The price covers strip and disposal, membrane and battens, covering, leadwork, ventilation, scaffolding and skip, and it is agreed before any work starts. No hidden charges.
The 25-year guarantee
Every new roof build carries a 25-year guarantee, and the Laydex, Soprema and RoofTX materials we use carry 20-year manufacturer warranties on top. We are fully insured, we have completed over 1,700 roofs across Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare, and the site is cleared and swept before the scaffolding comes down.