Full slate re-roof on a Westoe semi

The situation

A 1920s semi-detached in Westoe, South Shields. Original roof was Welsh slate that had served its 100-year life - slipped tiles showing up after every storm, daylight visible through the loft felt from multiple points. The owners wanted to stay with natural slate rather than step down to concrete.

The problem

On closer inspection during the free survey, we found the original sarking felt had perished entirely (no surprise for 100+ years), three roof timbers needed replacing due to end-rot at the eaves, and the ridge tiles were bedded in a cement mortar that had cracked and let water in along the entire ridge line. A patch-repair would have been throwing good money after bad.

Our approach

Full strip-back to the rafters. We replaced three lengths of timber (wall plate and two rafter ends), laid modern breathable membrane throughout, treated battens to new regs (38x25mm stainless-screwed), and laid new Welsh natural slate from Penrhyn. Ridge and verge done as a dry-fix mechanical system - no more cracked mortar in 20 years.

Spec

• Penrhyn Welsh natural slate, 500×250mm, random diminishing courses
• Klober Permo Air breathable membrane throughout
• Treated 38×25mm battens, stainless screws
• Marley dry-fix ridge system, colour-matched
• Code-4 lead soakers & step flashings to abutments
• New cast-aluminium gutter run, black

The outcome

Five working days from scaffold-up to scaffold-down, on the original quote. The slate will outlast the next owners. The owners got a written 10-year workmanship guarantee and a 50-year manufacturer warranty on the Penrhyn slate.

"We had four quotes. Roof Proof weren't the cheapest but they were the only ones who went up on the roof properly before quoting. The finished job is beautiful. Already recommending them."

- Sarah & Tim W., Westoe, South Shields

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