Full Re-roofs in Edinburgh Slate and Tiled Roofs Stripped and Replaced
When repairs have become a yearly habit, a re-roof resets the clock. Robert strips off the old roof and puts on a new one for a price agreed before work starts, so you get a sound roof without a bill that grows as the job goes on.
22 years' experience · Fully insured · Workmanship guaranteed
- 22 Years' Experience
- Fully Insured
- Fixed-Price Quotes
- Workmanship Guaranteed
- Owner-Operated
Full Re-roofs
What a full re-roof includes
What it is
A re-roof replaces the covering of your roof rather than patching it. The existing slates or tiles are stripped, the timbers and sarking are checked and repaired where necessary, a new membrane or underlay is laid, and the roof is re-covered with new or salvaged slate or new tiles. Ridges, hips, valleys, flashings and edges are renewed as part of the same job.
Who it's for
Re-roofing is for owners whose roof has reached the end of its reliable life: homes with widespread slipped slates, rusted nails throughout, failing underlay, porous tiles or a history of repeated repairs. It is also chosen by owners renovating a property who want the roof done once, properly, before interior work begins.
When you need it
Consider a re-roof when repairs are needed every winter, when slipped slates appear across several slopes, when the underlay has perished and you can see daylight in the loft, when tiles are cracking and flaking widely, or when a survey has flagged the roof as near the end of its life.
Why experience matters
A re-roof is a significant investment and the structure underneath matters as much as the finish on top. Experience determines whether timbers are properly assessed, whether salvaged slate is sorted well, and whether the details are built to last. Robert has been roofing in Edinburgh for 22 years and does the work himself.
Recent full re-roofs work
The cost of waiting
The cost of delaying a re-roof
Repairing a roof that is failing across the board can be like bailing out a boat. Each repair solves one problem while the rest of the roof continues to age. Eventually the cost of repeated repairs, and of the damage they fail to prevent, overtakes the cost of doing the job once.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Choosing on the lowest headline price without knowing what is and is not included.
- Accepting an estimate that leaves the cost open once the roof is stripped.
- Replacing the covering but leaving tired lead and ridges in place.
- Discarding sound original slate that could have been reused.
- Leaving a failing roof until after interior renovations, then damaging new decoration.
Repeated repair bills
When fixings and underlay have failed throughout, repairs rarely last. Paying for access and repairs every year adds up fast.
Structural damage
Water getting in over time rots sarking, rafters and wallheads, adding structural carpentry to the eventual re-roof.
Interior damage
Stained ceilings, damaged plaster and wet insulation are expensive to fix and disruptive to live with.
Storm risk
An ageing roof is far more likely to lose slates or tiles in high winds, sometimes onto paths or neighbouring property.
How Robert works
A clear process, from first look to finished roof
- 1
Survey
Robert inspects the roof covering, timbers, sarking, leadwork and edges to understand the full scope.
- 2
Options and advice
He explains what the roof needs, including whether slate can be reused and which covering suits your property.
- 3
Fixed-price quote
You get a clear, fixed price covering the agreed work, so you know exactly what you are paying before work starts.
- 4
Strip and replace
The roof is stripped in stages, timbers repaired, membrane laid, and the roof re-covered with ridges, hips, valleys and lead renewed.
- 5
Handover and guarantee
The roof is checked, the site cleared, and the work is covered by Robert's workmanship guarantee.
What you get
The result of doing it properly
An end to recurring leaks
Replacing the covering and underlay deals with the cause of repeated failures rather than the symptoms.
Known cost from day one
A fixed price agreed before work starts means your budget does not move when the roof is opened up.
A long-lasting roof
New fixings, membrane and details give the roof a fresh lifespan built for Edinburgh weather.
Improved loft condition
A sound roof with a new membrane keeps the loft dry and protects insulation.
Appearance preserved or improved
Salvaged slate keeps the original look; new materials give a crisp finish where appropriate.
One roofer, start to finish
Robert carries out the work himself, so the person who quoted is the person on the roof.
In detail
Re-roofing options for Edinburgh properties
No two re-roofs are identical. The right approach depends on your building, its existing materials and how long you intend the roof to last.
Re-slating with salvaged slate
On many traditional Edinburgh roofs, the slate itself is still sound even when the nails have failed. Stripping, sorting and relaying good slate with new fixings, supplemented with matching slate, keeps the building's character and can reduce material cost.
New natural slate
Where the original slate is past reuse, new natural slate provides a long-lasting, traditional finish. Choosing slate that matches the size and colour of neighbouring roofs matters on terraces and in conservation settings. See slating for more detail.
Tiled re-roofs
Many post-war and modern homes use concrete or clay tiles. A tiled re-roof replaces tiles, battens and underlay and renews ridges and verges, often with dry-fix systems that reduce ongoing maintenance. See tiling for more.
Timbers, sarking and membranes
Once the covering is off, the structure can be properly assessed. Damaged sarking boards and rafters are repaired or replaced, and a breathable membrane is laid to manage condensation and provide a secondary barrier against water.
Lead, ridges and edges
A re-roof is the right time to renew every detail: leadwork at chimneys and valleys, ridges and hips, and gutters, fascias and soffits if needed. Doing these together avoids scaffold or access costs later.
Full Re-roofs across Edinburgh and its neighbourhoods
Edinburgh's housing stock changes street by street. Tenements and terraces in Leith and Stockbridge, Victorian and Edwardian villas in Morningside and Colinton, seafront homes in Portobello exposed to salt air, and post-war and modern housing in Corstorphine, Liberton and South Queensferry all present different challenges. Robert has worked across all of them over 22 years, so he knows how roofs in each part of the city were built and how they tend to wear.
Wherever you are in Edinburgh, the approach to full re-roofs is the same. Robert looks at the job himself, explains what he has found in plain language, and gives you a clear, fixed-price quote so you know exactly what you are paying before any work starts. R Galloway Roofing Services is owner-operated and fully insured with public liability and employer's liability cover, and the workmanship is guaranteed. You deal with one person from the first phone call to the finished job.
To arrange a visit, call Robert on 07756 375223 (Mon-Fri, 8:00am-5:00pm) or send a request using the form below. You can also read more about Robert or return to the homepage.
Straight answers
Full Re-roofs: questions answered
Something not covered here? Contact Robert or call directly.
Ask Robert: 07756 375223How much does a re-roof cost in Edinburgh?
Cost depends on the size and pitch of the roof, the covering chosen, the condition of the timbers and access. Robert gives a fixed-price quote after surveying the roof.
How long does a full re-roof take?
It depends on the size of the roof, the scope and the weather. Robert will give you a realistic timeline when he quotes.
Can I stay in the house during the re-roof?
In most cases, yes. The roof is stripped and re-covered in stages so the house stays protected during the work.
Will you reuse my slates?
Where the original slate is sound, it can be sorted and relaid with matching slate to make up any shortfall.
What if you find rotten timber?
Robert assesses the structure as part of the survey and explains how any timber repairs are handled in the quote before work starts.
Is a re-roof guaranteed?
Yes. Workmanship is guaranteed. Robert will explain what applies to your job when he quotes.
Do I need a re-roof or just repairs?
Robert will tell you honestly. If targeted repairs will do the job, that is what he will recommend.
Which areas do you cover?
Edinburgh including Leith, Portobello, Morningside, Corstorphine, Stockbridge, Colinton, Liberton and South Queensferry.
Get the roof done once, properly
Tell Robert about your roof. He will survey it, explain the options and give you one fixed price. Fully insured, workmanship guaranteed.
Request a quote
Get a clear, fixed price
for your roof
Tell Robert what's going on with your roof. He'll come back to you personally to arrange a look and give you a fixed price.
07756 375223Mon-Fri, 8:00am-5:00pm