Slate roofing in Harpenden from Reliable Roofers Ltd, six miles away in Luton: re-slating the Edwardian villas along Milton Road, Station Road and the Avenues with their original Welsh slate sorted and reused, repairing slipped and broken slates properly, and renewing the lead and ridges that go with them, priced in writing before any work starts.
Harpenden's Edwardian houses were roofed in good Welsh slate, and a century on the slate is mostly fine; the iron nails and the lead are not. The symptoms are slates in the gutter after wind, a rash of lead tingles from previous quick fixes, and damp around the chimney breasts where the stepped flashings have pulled away. On the bigger houses around Rothamsted and East Common there are valleys, dormers and multiple stacks, all of which need proper lead rather than mastic.
A re-slate from us strips the roof, sorts the slates on the ground, discards the cracked and delaminated ones, lays breathable membrane and new battens, and re-lays the sound slates with copper or stainless nails at the correct headlap for the pitch, topped up with matched new slate. New soakers, step and cover flashings, valleys and aprons in code 4 or 5 lead, and the ridge re-bedded in clay or replaced like for like. In the conservation areas we specify exactly that, so the council has nothing to object to.
With slate roofing in Harpenden, your material choice starts with the existing roof's shape and pitch. A Milton Road villa needs more than a grey covering to retain its appearance. Look at the slate courses, chimney junctions and ridge together when discussing what you want the finished house to look like.
Ask for the slate's origin and grade in the specification. Welsh and Spanish natural slate offer choices to discuss alongside reuse of sound originals. Slate-effect coverings are another option for suitable roofs. Compare the actual materials and proposed laying details before making a decision based only on a photograph of their colour.
On a substantial house near Rothamsted, several stacks and dormers divide the slate into smaller working areas. Each interruption needs weathering that fits the courses around it. The roof's outline therefore tells you more about the labour involved than its overall width viewed from the pavement.
After lifting the covering, reusable slates are separated from damaged pieces. The exposed structure is checked before membrane and battens are installed. Headlap describes how far the slates overlap vertically, and the laying arrangement must suit your pitch. Lead soakers sit within the courses at wall junctions, with flashings covering those connections as the work progresses upwards.
Discuss the handling area as well as the roof when arranging your Harpenden survey. Original slates need space for sorting before they return to the scaffold. Explain whether deliveries can reach the driveway and point out planting, side gates or extensions that restrict access around your Station Road property.
The amount of salvage, new slate required, lead detailing and scaffold layout all influence the price. A straightforward re-slate occupies about a working week; a large house with several roof sections takes longer. Repairing an isolated slipped slate is a smaller task. Ask the quotation to distinguish these scopes so you know exactly what you are booking.
Your installation photographs provide evidence of the overlaps, fixings and lead before the finished courses conceal them. Store these with the slate specification and written guarantee. They are useful when discussing later chimney work on an East Common house with several stacks or explaining an alteration to another contractor.
Arrange removal of debris that obstructs valleys or gutters, and report fallen slate after windy weather. Inspect from below instead of disturbing the covering yourself. Our roofers complete the work without subcontracting, with an itemised price agreed beforehand. Bring your priorities for appearance and reuse to the survey so the proposal reflects the roof you want to keep.
Photos of our own jobs. Tap to enlarge.
Natural slate roof with new lead flashing around a brick chimney
Grey slate-effect roof completed around a chimney
Tell us what the roof is doing. A photo of the outside and of any damp inside is usually enough for a price range.
We find the cause, not the stain, and tell you whether it is a repair or a replacement.
Itemised, with materials named and dates set. Nothing starts until you have it.
Our own team does the work, photographs each stage and leaves the site clean.
Usually, yes. We sort and reuse the sound ones and top up with matched new Welsh or Spanish slate.
Yes. Like-for-like re-slating is normally acceptable and we can advise on what the conservation officer wants.
A semi in about a week; a large detached Edwardian house with dormers and several chimneys can take two.
Yes. Like-for-like re-slating is normally acceptable, and we can advise on what the conservation officer will want to see.
Yes. Individual slates replaced with hooks or tingles, lead renewed and ridges re-bedded. We will tell you honestly when a roof has reached the point where repairs are no longer worth it.
It describes the vertical overlap between courses of slate. That overlap is part of the roof's weathering, and its specification depends on the pitch and slate being used. Ask us to explain the proposed arrangement for your house, particularly where dormers and adjoining roof sections complicate the main slopes.
Soakers, chimney aprons and valleys serve different junctions, especially on larger Edwardian houses. Naming them lets you see which connections the work covers and compare quotations accurately. A broad allowance for lead gives you less detail about the proposed finish around your stacks, dormers and the walls adjoining the roof.
Guttering fixed, all exterior walls rendered & new pathing slabs down. Work was done within the agreed time frame. Well mannered and professional.
I had a leaking gutter it was leaking and he came and fixed it! I’m very happy with it will definitely recommend!
Ring, WhatsApp a photo, or send the form. You get a written price before any work starts, and we reply within one working day.
