Slate Roofing in Keynsham

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Slate Roofing

Natural and fibre cement slate roofing, repair and re slating in Keynsham

A well laid natural slate roof is the longest lasting covering in common use in this country. Welsh slate on a Victorian property can run past a century, and often the slates outlive the nails holding them up.

That single fact shapes most slate work: the usual reason a slate roof needs attention is not the slate at all. Keynsham runs from older stone property near the town centre to extensive postwar estates. Local stone and render are common on the older stock, with concrete tile widespread on the newer.

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Natural, Welsh, Spanish and fibre cement

Welsh slate is the benchmark. Dense, low porosity, and with a service life commonly quoted at a hundred years and more. It is the most expensive option and it is frequently the correct one on period property in and around Keynsham, particularly where conservation rules apply.

Spanish slate makes up the majority of imported natural slate and covers a wide quality range. Good Spanish slate performs well and costs considerably less than Welsh. Poor Spanish slate contains excess iron pyrites, which rust and cause the slate to break down within a couple of decades. The grading is what matters, and it is worth asking specifically what is being quoted rather than accepting natural slate as a description.

Fibre cement slate is a manufactured alternative at a much lower cost, with a service life more like thirty to fifty years. It is lighter, which occasionally matters where a roof structure will not carry natural slate, and it is uniform in appearance. On a listed building or in a conservation area it is often not acceptable.

Reclaimed slate suits repair and extension work where matching weathered slate matters. Quality varies and each slate needs checking, since reclaimed stock includes plenty that was taken off for good reason.

Our work

Recent slate roofing work

A few recent slate roofing jobs. Photographs are of work carried out by TB Rooflines, not stock images.

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Reviews

What Our Customers Say

Read genuine reviews from homeowners and businesses across Keynsham and the surrounding area.

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Nail sickness, slipped slates, and repair or re slate

Nail sickness is the defining condition of an old slate roof. The slates are fine; the nails have corroded through. The symptom is slates slipping one after another over a few seasons, with no obvious pattern and no storm to blame.

This is the point where the decision matters. Refixing individual slipped slates on a nail sick roof is chasing the problem: fix one, another goes next month. Once slates are coming off across the whole roof rather than in one area, stripping and re slating with the sound original slates is usually the better value route, because the slates themselves are still good and can be reused.

A re slate on a nail sick roof typically involves:

Stripping the slates carefully and sorting reusable from broken
Replacing the underlay, which on a roof of that age will be perished bitumen felt or nothing at all
Replacing battens, which are frequently at the end of their life too
Checking and repairing rafters and wall plate
Re slating using the salvaged slate, topped up with matched slate to make up the shortfall
Renewing leadwork at valleys, chimneys and abutments while access is in place

Where the roof is genuinely sound and only a handful of slates have gone, individual repair is right and there is no reason to inflate it. A slate hook or tingle is the standard method for refixing a single slate in the middle of a slope, since the original nail head cannot be reached. Mortar or foam used to stick slates back is a bodge that traps water and causes more damage, and it is worth refusing.

Why choose TB Rooflines for slate roofing in Keynsham?

On an old slate roof the slates usually outlive the nails, which shapes the whole job. How TB Rooflines approaches slate in Keynsham:

Existing slates salvaged and reused where sound, which materially reduces cost
Expected loss quantified at survey, not discovered once the roof is stripped
Slate grade specified openly, since natural slate covers a wide quality range
Slate hooks used to refix single slates, never mortar or foam
Leadwork at valleys and chimneys renewed while access is in place
A written quote setting out the work, the materials and a realistic timescale

Where the roof is genuinely sound and a handful of slates have slipped, individual repair is the right answer and there is no reason to inflate it.

FAQ

Slate Roofing in Keynsham: common questions

My slates keep slipping one at a time. What does that mean?

It is the classic sign of nail sickness: the nails have corroded and are letting go one by one. Individually refixing them tends to become an annual expense. At that stage it is worth having the roof properly assessed so you can make an informed decision rather than paying for repeat visits.

Can my existing slates be reused in a re slate?

Usually a good proportion of them, and that materially reduces the cost. Each slate gets checked for delamination and soundness as it comes off. Expect some percentage loss, and expect it to be quantified honestly at survey rather than after the roof is stripped.

How long does re slating take?

Longer than a tiled re roof, because slating is more labour intensive and salvaging slates takes care. A terraced or semi detached property is typically one to two weeks including scaffolding. Detached or complex roofs take longer.

Can I have fibre cement instead to save money?

On many properties yes, and it is a legitimate saving. On listed buildings and in conservation areas it is often not permitted, and on a period property it changes the look noticeably. In parts of Keynsham with protected building stock this needs checking before it is specified.

Is it worth repairing a slate roof before selling?

Slipping slates are one of the things a buyer's survey flags most readily, and it tends to invite a retention or a renegotiation. Getting an assessment first at least means you know the scale of it and can decide whether to fix or price accordingly.

Other services in Keynsham

Slate Roofing in other areas we cover

Where we work

Slate Roofing across Keynsham and the surrounding area

TB Rooflines covers Keynsham and the towns around it, working from a base in Gloucester. If you are just outside the area shown, it is still worth a call.

Unit 2, Woodrow Way, Gloucester, Gloucestershire GL2 5DX

Get a quote for slate roofing in Keynsham

Tell TB Rooflines what you are dealing with and you will get a straight answer on what the work involves, what it will cost and how long it will take. No obligation.

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