Natural slate or concrete tile, what should I choose?
On a house that has always had slate, slate is usually the right answer and in conservation areas it can be the required one. On a plainer roof, a good concrete tile does the job for less money. Slate costs more up front and lasts longest; we price what suits the house and tell you why.
Can you reuse my existing slates or tiles?
Often a good share of them. Sound slates can come off carefully, be re-holed and re-laid, topped up with matching reclaimed stock. It keeps the weathered look and saves money, and we sort the good from the finished as we strip.
What is the black mortar along my verge and can it be avoided?
Traditional verges are bedded in mortar, which cracks and falls out over time. A dry verge system caps the edge mechanically, needs no repointing and stops birds getting in. On re-roofs we fit dry systems as standard unless the setting calls for a traditional finish.
Do you work on older and listed buildings?
Yes. Around Richmond, Ripon and the Dales villages a lot of the housing stock is stone-built and some of it listed, which affects the covering and the details you are allowed to change. We work with what the building needs and keep the character where it matters.
Why are my tiles slipping when they look fine?
Usually nail fatigue: the tiles are sound but the fixings holding them have rusted through, so they slide one at a time. It can be managed for a while with individual repairs, but when slips become regular across the roof it is telling you the fixings are done, and a strip and re-lay reusing your tiles is the lasting fix.
