Slater in Edinburgh Natural Slate Roofs Repaired and Replaced
Edinburgh was built under slate. Robert has spent 22 years repairing and re-slating it, so your roof keeps its character, sheds the weather properly and does not need attention again for a very long time.
22 years' experience · Fully insured · Workmanship guaranteed
- 22 Years' Experience
- Fully Insured
- Fixed-Price Quotes
- Workmanship Guaranteed
- Owner-Operated
Slating
What slating work covers
What it is
Slating is the craft of covering and repairing roofs with natural slate. It ranges from replacing a handful of broken slates to stripping and re-slating an entire roof, reusing sound original slates and supplementing them where needed. Traditional Scottish slating has its own methods, with slates typically nailed to timber sarking boards rather than hung on battens, and doing it well depends on knowing those methods.
Who it's for
Slating is for owners of slate-roofed property: Edinburgh tenements and flatted buildings, Georgian and Victorian terraces, detached villas in areas like Morningside and Colinton, and older cottages. It also suits owners who want a natural slate finish on a new roof or extension.
When you need it
Slating work is due when slates are slipping regularly, when you notice delaminating or flaking slates, when nails have rusted across a slope, or when a previous repair used unsuitable materials. It is also the right time when you are planning a re-roof and want to keep the building's original appearance.
Why experience matters
Natural slate lasts for generations when it is laid correctly, and fails early when it is not. Wrong nails, wrong headlap or slates of the wrong size and thickness all shorten the life of a roof. A slater who understands traditional construction protects both the roof and the value of the property.
Recent slating work
The cost of waiting
Why neglected slate roofs get expensive
Slate itself is durable. It is almost always the fixings and details that fail first. Left unchecked, those small failures let water reach the sarking and timbers that hold the whole roof together.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Replacing natural slate with the wrong size or thickness, which leaves gaps and uneven courses.
- Using coatings or foam treatments that trap moisture against the slate and timbers.
- Walking on slate without crawl boards, breaking more slates than were originally damaged.
- Assuming a whole roof is failing when targeted re-slating of a slope would do.
- Choosing a roofer without slate experience for a traditional Scottish roof.
Nail fatigue spreads
When one slate slips because its nails have corroded, the others on the same slope are usually the same age. Ignoring the first signs often means several slopes need attention later.
Wet sarking boards
Water getting past slipped slates soaks the sarking boards beneath. Softened boards no longer hold nails, which accelerates slippage.
Loss of original slate
Slates that fall and break are lost. Acting early allows more of your original slate to be saved and reused.
Damage from poor repairs
Inappropriate repairs, such as heavy coatings, mismatched slates or sealant, can trap moisture and make future repairs harder.
How Robert works
A clear process, from first look to finished roof
- 1
Roof survey
Robert checks the condition of the slates, nails, sarking and details to assess what can be kept and what needs work.
- 2
Honest assessment
He explains whether targeted slating repairs, re-slating a slope or a full re-slate is the sensible option for your roof.
- 3
Fixed-price quote
You receive a clear fixed price covering the agreed scope before any work starts.
- 4
Slating
Slates are removed, sorted, refixed or replaced using matching slate and traditional methods, with details like ridges and flashings made good.
- 5
Final check and guarantee
The finished roof is checked, the site is cleared, and the work is covered by Robert's workmanship guarantee.
What you get
The result of doing it properly
Decades of life from your roof
Correctly laid natural slate outlasts most other roof coverings, so good slate work is a long-term investment.
Original character kept
Salvaging and reusing sound original slate keeps the look of your building, which matters on period and tenement properties.
Fewer call-outs
Addressing the cause, such as failed nails across a slope, stops the cycle of repairing one slipped slate after another.
Built for Edinburgh weather
Proper headlap, fixings and details keep wind-driven rain off the Forth where it belongs: outside.
Clear costs
A fixed-price quote means you know exactly what the slating work will cost before a ladder goes up.
Experience you can see
Straight courses, tidy details and slates that sit flat come from 22 years of doing this by hand.
In detail
Natural slate roofing in Edinburgh: materials and methods
Slating is a traditional trade with regional methods. Scottish slate roofs differ from English roofs in several ways, and understanding those differences is the basis of good work.
Scottish slating on sarking
Many Edinburgh roofs use timber sarking boards laid across the rafters, with slates nailed directly to the boards. This gives a very robust roof but means repairs need a different approach from battened roofs. Replacement slates must be fixed securely without disturbing sound slates above and below.
Types of slate
Older Edinburgh roofs may carry Scottish slate, now rarely quarried, or Welsh and other imported slates. Replacement slate should match in size, thickness and colour as closely as practical. Where enough original slate survives, it can be sorted and reused, with the best slates placed on the most visible slopes.
Re-slating a slope or whole roof
When nails have failed across a roof, the most lasting solution is to strip the slates, repair or replace sarking where needed, fit a breathable membrane where appropriate, and relay the slates with new fixings. This keeps the appearance of the roof while resetting its lifespan.
Details that make or break a slate roof
Slating does not stand alone. Ridges, hips, valleys, skews and abutments all need to be detailed correctly, often with lead. Robert handles these as part of the same job, so the slating and the leadwork are done by the same person to the same standard. See leadwork for more detail.
Tenements and shared roofs
Many Edinburgh flats share a roof. Slating on tenements involves access considerations and often agreement between owners. Robert can look at the roof and provide a clear fixed price to help owners make a decision together.
Slating 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 slating 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
Slating: questions answered
Something not covered here? Contact Robert or call directly.
Ask Robert: 07756 375223How much does slating cost?
Cost depends on the size of the roof, how much slate can be reused, access and the condition of the sarking. Robert provides a fixed-price quote after seeing the roof.
How long does a natural slate roof last?
Natural slate itself can last for generations. The fixings and details usually fail first, which is why correct nailing and leadwork matter as much as the slate.
Can you reuse my original slates?
Often, yes. Sound original slates can be sorted and relaid, with matching slate used to make up any shortfall.
How long does re-slating take?
It depends on the size of the roof and the weather. Robert will give you a realistic timeline when he quotes.
Do you work on tenement roofs?
Yes. Robert works on slate roofs across Edinburgh, including tenement and shared roofs.
Is slating work guaranteed?
Yes. Workmanship is guaranteed. Robert will explain what applies to your job when he quotes.
What if a slate falls off during a storm?
Call Robert on 07756 375223. Emergency roof repairs for storm damage are offered across Edinburgh.
Do you cover Morningside, Stockbridge and other slate-heavy areas?
Yes. Robert covers Edinburgh including Morningside, Stockbridge, Leith, Portobello, Corstorphine, Colinton, Liberton and South Queensferry.
Keep your slate roof sound for decades
Tell Robert about your roof. He will assess the slate, explain the options and give you a 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