Newmarket Roofers carry out full new roofs and complete re-roofs in Mildenhall, working with slate, clay and concrete tiles from strip-off to ridge.
Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
When it comes to a new roof - whether on a self-build, an extension or a full re-roof of an older property - the material you choose affects the cost, the look, the weight on your structure, and how long the roof will perform before it needs attention again. There is no single best answer. The right choice depends on your property type, your budget, any planning considerations, and what you want from the roof long-term.
We work with slate, concrete tiles and clay tiles across Mildenhall and the surrounding area. Below is an honest account of what each material offers, where it works well, and where it falls short.
Concrete tiles are a popular choice for re-roofing, and for good reason. They are produced in a wide range of profiles - from flat interlocking to double roman to plain tile profiles - and they are considerably cheaper than clay or natural slate. For an average semi-detached house, a full re-roof using concrete tiles typically costs in the range of £5,000 to £10,000, depending on roof size, pitch and complexity.
On the positive side, concrete tiles are consistent in size and tolerance, which makes laying them straightforward and reduces material waste. They are manufactured to current British Standards and are widely available, so sourcing replacements for repairs in years to come is rarely a problem.
The honest downside is longevity. Concrete tiles have a typical lifespan of around 50 to 60 years, sometimes less depending on exposure. As the surface coating weathers, the tile becomes more porous, frost damage accelerates, and the surface can start to break apart. By the end of their life, concrete tiles require full replacement rather than repair. They are also heavier than some alternatives, which is worth checking against the structural capacity of older or lighter roof frames before specifying them on a re-roof.
Concrete tiles can also fade and pick up moss growth more readily than clay as they age, though this is a cosmetic issue rather than a structural one.
Clay tiles have been used on roofs in Britain for centuries, and a well-maintained clay tile roof can last 80 to 100 years or more. The material itself doesn't degrade in the same way concrete does because it is fired rather than cast - it doesn't absorb moisture in the same way, and the colour runs through the tile rather than being a surface coating that wears off.
The visual result is also different. Clay tiles tend to have a warmer, more varied tone that many homeowners find more attractive, and they suit older and period properties well. In areas where planning authorities or conservation officers take an interest in the character of the street scene, clay is sometimes the required or strongly preferred material.
The drawbacks are cost and brittleness. Clay tiles cost more than concrete - a re-roof using clay tiles on the same semi-detached property might run from £7,000 to £14,000 or higher depending on the profile and source - and they are more prone to cracking under impact or in sharp frost. Walking on a clay tile roof carelessly causes breakages, so access for any future maintenance needs to be handled carefully. Sourcing matching clay tiles for localised repairs can also be harder than with concrete, particularly if the roof profile is older or less common.
Natural slate is the premium option. Good quality Welsh or Spanish slate carries an expected lifespan of well over a century when correctly fixed and maintained, which means a slate roof installed today may well outlast the current owners. For period properties, listed buildings or homes where appearance is a priority, slate is often the best long-term investment even at higher upfront cost.
Slate is also the thinnest and lightest of the three main options, which can be relevant on older properties where the roof structure is lighter and adding heavier concrete tiles would require structural work first.
The cost is the main barrier. Natural slate re-roofing typically costs from around £8,000 to £16,000 or more for a standard semi-detached, with Welsh slate at the higher end and some Spanish or Portuguese slates offering a more accessible price point. Quality varies between sources, so it is worth asking specifically what slate is being specified and where it originates. Lower-grade imported slates can delaminate within a decade or two, which is a poor return on what feels like a premium investment.
Natural slate requires a roofer experienced in working with it. The gauge (spacing of the battens) and the nail fixings are critical - soft nails corrode and release slates within decades, whereas stainless steel fixings are the correct choice for longevity. An improperly fixed slate roof will slip long before the slate itself has worn out.
Fibre cement slates are manufactured to mimic the appearance of natural slate and cost less. They are a reasonable choice where the slate look is wanted but the budget for natural slate is not available. Expected lifespan is typically 30 to 50 years - shorter than natural slate but comparable to or better than concrete tile.
The limitation is that quality varies considerably between manufacturers, and fibre cement slates can fade or develop surface blemishes over time. Some products perform well; others disappoint at the five or ten year mark. Asking for the specific product name and checking independent reviews is worthwhile before committing.
Whatever material is chosen, the process of a full re-roof follows the same sequence. Everything comes off first - tiles or slates, timber battens and old underlay - back to the bare rafters. This is the moment to inspect the timber structure properly. Any rot, woodworm or structural movement in the rafters is addressed before anything else happens. Skipping this stage by overlaying new materials on old battens and underlay is a false economy.
New breathable underlay is fixed to the rafters. Breathable membranes are the current standard - they allow moisture vapour from the loft to escape while preventing wind-driven rain from getting in, and they reduce the risk of condensation build-up that can rot timber over time. New treated timber battens are then fixed at the correct gauge for the chosen tile or slate, and the covering material is laid from eaves to ridge.
Ridge tiles, hip tiles, valleys and all leadwork at chimneys and abutments are completed last. Lead is the correct material for flashings - it lasts well and can be dressed tightly to masonry. Mortar-only details without lead underflashing tend to crack and fail within a decade in frost-prone conditions.
On an extension or self-build, the same material choice applies. The decision is often driven by matching the existing house roof rather than choosing freely - if the main house has plain clay tiles, the extension should match to avoid a visually disjointed result. This is usually straightforward with tiles still in current production, but older or discontinued profiles sometimes need sourcing from specialist reclaim yards.
For self-builds with no existing roof to match, the choice is open and is often shaped by budget, planning requirements and personal preference. A structural engineer or your architect may already have a material specified; if not, we can advise based on the pitch, the structural capacity and the aesthetic you're aiming for.
Before approaching roofers for quotes on a new roof in Mildenhall or the surrounding area, it helps to be clear on a few things:
Any contractor confident in their work will answer these questions without hesitation. If you receive a quote that doesn't specify materials, treat it with caution.
Customer reviews are worth reading, but look for reviews that describe the actual work - what was done, how the site was left, how problems mid-job were handled - rather than just a star rating. Google reviews allow customers to leave detailed accounts, and these give a more useful picture than a simple score. Look at the pattern across several reviews rather than focusing on the best or worst individual entry.
Bear in mind that roofing businesses without a formal online presence are not necessarily less reliable. Many good local roofers work almost entirely on recommendation. Asking neighbours or local tradespeople who they have used is still one of the most reliable ways to find someone worth trusting with a significant piece of work.
Newmarket Roofers is based in Newmarket and works across the surrounding area including Mildenhall, Ely, Bury St Edmunds, Haverhill, and the villages nearby. We cover new roofs on all property types - houses, bungalows, extensions and self-builds.
To discuss your project and arrange a site visit, call us and we'll come out to measure up and give you a clear, itemised breakdown of what the work involves and what it will cost.
No obligation · We'll call you to arrange a free visit
Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
