Does Your Roof Really Need Replacing?
A new roof is a serious spend, and you shouldn't pay for one you don't need. Plenty of leaks on older roofs can be sorted with a repair — so before we talk about replacement, we look for the signs that a roof is genuinely at the end of its life:
- Nail sickness. Many slate roofs in E1, E2 and E3 were nailed a century ago with iron nails that are now rusting through. When slates start slipping all over the roof rather than in one spot, the slates may be fine — but the fixings are finished.
- Leaks in different places. One leak is a repair. New leaks appearing in new spots every winter usually mean the covering as a whole has failed.
- Rotten or sagging battens — the slates or tiles have nothing sound left to hang on.
- Daylight in the loft through more than the odd gap.
If we recommend replacement, we'll show you photographs of why — and where a repair is still a realistic option, we'll quote both so you can decide with the evidence in front of you.
What a Full Re-Roof Includes
Our quote covers the whole job, not just the slates:
- Stripping the old covering back to the rafters
- Inspecting the timbers and replacing anything rotten or weak
- A breathable membrane and new treated battens
- New slates or tiles, properly fixed and laid to specification
- New leadwork and flashings at chimneys, parapets and abutments
- Ridge and hip tiles re-bedded or dry-fixed
- Scaffolding, plus removal of all old materials and waste
Slate, Fibre-Cement or Tile?
- Natural slate — what most of Tower Hamlets' Victorian terraces were built with. The most expensive option, but the best-looking and by far the longest-lasting.
- Fibre-cement slate — the look of slate for noticeably less money. Lighter and quicker to lay, though it won't last as long as the real thing.
- Clay and concrete tiles — tough and economical. Concrete is the budget choice; clay costs more but holds its colour and generally outlasts it. Weight matters, so we check the roof structure suits the tile before quoting.
Got a flat section over a back addition? We re-cover those at the same time — see flat roofing.
Conservation Areas
Parts of Tower Hamlets — around Tredegar Square, Victoria Park and Wapping, for example — sit within conservation areas where the council may require matching reclaimed slates or specific materials. We source matches and price the options clearly, so the finished roof looks like it belongs on the street and there are no surprises later.
How Much Does a New Roof Cost in London?
It depends on the roof — and any honest answer starts there. The main factors are the size and pitch of the roof, whether you choose natural slate, fibre-cement or tile, the scaffolding needed, what condition the timbers turn out to be in once the old covering is stripped, and how much leadwork there is at chimneys and parapets. As a rough guide, most full re-roofs on London terraced houses land somewhere in the £6,000–£15,000+ range depending on size and materials.
Be wary of quotes that look too cheap — the usual corners cut are the ones you can't see from the street, like skipping the new membrane and battens or reusing tired leadwork. Our quotes itemise the whole job. The survey is free, and every job is quoted in writing — a fixed, itemised price before we start.
What to Expect During the Job
A full re-roof takes days, not hours — on a typical terraced house, expect roughly a week or two depending on size and weather. Scaffolding goes up for the duration, and we sheet the roof and keep it watertight overnight, so your home is never left open to the rain. We keep the site tidy as we go and clear everything away at the end.
Every job starts with an itemised written quote and finishes with a written workmanship guarantee. We're local, independent and fully insured — call 020 4578 5836 for a free survey anywhere in E1, E2, E3 or E14.