Haverhill Roofers carries out full roof replacements in Newmarket, helping homeowners choose the right roofing material for their property and budget.
Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
A roof replacement is a significant investment, and the material you choose affects how long it lasts, what it costs to install, how it looks, and how much maintenance it will need. There is no single best option. The right choice depends on your roof pitch, the style of your home, your budget and what was there before. Here is an honest look at the main options available for pitched roofs, along with the trade-offs on each.
Welsh and Spanish slate are both widely used on replacement roofs. Welsh slate is regarded as the premium product and can last well over 100 years when fixed correctly. Spanish slate is softer, more variable in quality, and typically has a shorter service life, but it is considerably cheaper to buy and widely available.
Pros: excellent lifespan, attractive appearance, slim profile, suits period and modern homes, does not require much maintenance once in good condition.
Cons: heavier than most alternatives, so the roof structure must be sound enough to carry the weight. Welsh slate in particular is expensive. Sourcing matching slate for future repairs can be difficult if an unusual size or colour was used. All slate should be fixed with non-ferrous nails to avoid the nail sickness problem that blights older iron-nailed roofs.
Natural slate is a strong choice where the roof has a suitable pitch (generally 25 degrees or more), the structure is sound, and appearance is a priority.
Plain clay tiles have been used on English roofs for centuries and remain one of the most widely specified materials for replacement work. They require a steeper pitch than interlocking tiles, typically 40 degrees or more, which limits where they can be used but gives a traditional appearance suited to older homes.
Pros: very long lifespan (60 to 100 years or more from quality tiles), natural appearance, good frost resistance in fired clay products, easy to source matching tiles for future repairs.
Cons: heavier than interlocking tiles, requiring a stronger structure. Higher installation cost because each tile is small and lapping is tight. The mortar at ridges and hips needs periodic re-pointing.
Clay plain tiles are often the right material where an older tile roof is being replaced like-for-like, or where planning requirements specify a traditional appearance.
Concrete interlocking tiles became popular from the 1960s onward because they cover more area per tile, reducing labour costs and installation time. They can be laid at lower pitches than plain clay tiles, down to around 17.5 degrees depending on the profile.
Pros: lower material and labour cost than clay or slate. Wide range of profiles and colours. Readily available. Easy to match for repairs.
Cons: heavier than they look, and their weight increases as the concrete absorbs moisture over the years. Colour coatings fade. After 40 to 50 years the surface typically degrades, allowing frost to damage the tile body. Concrete tiles from the 1970s and 1980s are now reaching end of life on many homes.
Concrete tiles are a practical choice where budget is the primary concern and a long lifespan is less critical. For a full replacement on a home with an older concrete tile roof, many homeowners take the opportunity to upgrade to clay or slate.
Where a property has a flat or very low-pitch roof section, such as an extension, garage or bay, the material choices are different. Modern EPDM rubber membrane is now widely used for flat roofs. It is lightweight, flexible, highly resistant to UV degradation and can last 25 to 30 years with minimal maintenance. It is installed in large sheets, reducing the number of joints and therefore the number of potential leak points.
Traditional built-up felt remains in use and suits some applications, particularly where cost is the main driver. A quality felt system using torch-on high-performance felt layers performs well, though not quite as long as EPDM in typical conditions.
Reclaimed Welsh slate and reclaimed clay plain tiles are worth considering, particularly on older homes or where planning stipulates traditional materials. Reclaimed slate can be excellent if sourced from a reputable supplier who grades and sizes it properly. The risk is quality variation; a good roofer will check reclaimed material carefully before laying it. Reclaimed concrete tiles are generally not worth using given their age.
Whichever material is on your roof, the signs that it is reaching the end of its life are similar: tiles cracking, slipping or missing across multiple areas; mortar crumbling on ridges and hips; daylight visible in the loft; damp patches on the underlay felt; and timber that feels soft when pressed. Isolated failures are usually a repair. Widespread, repeated failures point toward replacement.
Does roof cleaning damage tiles? High-pressure washing can dislodge fragile tiles and damage the tile surface. Where tiles are already near the end of their life, cleaning is unlikely to add meaningful longevity. A biocide treatment at low pressure is gentler and more appropriate for sound roofs.
Should I remove moss before getting a quote? Leave the moss in place. It tells a roofer a great deal about how long the moisture problem has been developing and how far it has penetrated the tile and batten layers.
How often should a roof be inspected? Every two to three years as a minimum, and after any significant storm. A ground-level inspection with binoculars is enough to spot most issues with tiles, ridge pointing and gutters.
Can insulation be upgraded at the same time? Yes. With the roof stripped back, installing or upgrading loft insulation is straightforward and considerably easier than doing it as a separate job.
We are based in Haverhill and work across the surrounding area on both sides of the Suffolk and Essex border. We cover Newmarket and the nearby towns and villages.
Not sure which material is right for your property? Call Haverhill Roofers and we will look at your roof, discuss the options honestly and give you a clear picture of what each one involves.
No obligation · We'll call you to arrange a free visit
Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
