Newmarket Roofers carries out complete roof replacements for homeowners in Haverhill, helping you choose the right materials for a roof that will last.
A full roof replacement is the right call when the covering has reached the end of its useful life, when repairs have become frequent and expensive, or when an inspection reveals that the underlay, battens or structural timbers underneath are failing. At that point, continued patching costs more over time than starting fresh with a correctly specified, properly installed new roof.
The process involves stripping the existing covering back to the bare rafters, checking every timber for rot or damage, replacing any sections that are no longer sound, and then re-covering with new underlay, battens and tiles or slates. Done to a good standard, a re-roof removes the cycle of reactive repairs and gives you a roof you do not have to think about for decades.
This page focuses on the materials available for a re-roof and what each one genuinely means for your home, your budget and your long-term maintenance. These are choices worth thinking through carefully before you commit, because once the tiles are on they will be there for a generation.
There is no single best material. The right choice depends on your roof pitch, the style and age of your home, your budget and what the existing covering is. Here is an honest look at each option.
Natural slate is the premium option. Welsh slate in particular has a fine grain, a distinctive blue-grey colour and a proven lifespan - well-fixed natural slate can remain weathertight for 80 to 100 years or more. Spanish slate is more widely available and less expensive, but quality varies and some grades are softer and more prone to delamination over time. When specifying Spanish slate, it is worth asking for the specific grade and country of quarry origin.
Pros: Very long lifespan when correctly fixed. Attractive, traditional appearance that suits older properties well. Individual slates can be replaced if damaged without disturbing neighbours. Adds to kerb appeal and can support property value.
Cons: Higher material cost than concrete or reconstituted alternatives. Heavier than some modern tiles, so if your roof structure is already under stress the timbers may need checking more carefully. Requires skilled labour to lay correctly. Not every supplier stocks the size and thickness needed to match an existing slate roof if only part of the covering is being replaced.
Natural slate suits properties where appearance matters and where the owner intends to stay long-term. On a house with an existing natural slate roof, re-roofing in slate maintains the character and avoids the mismatch of mixing old and new materials.
Reconstituted slate is made from crushed natural slate bonded with cement or resin. It is manufactured to a consistent size and thickness, which makes it easier to lay and easier to match if individual pieces need replacing later. The appearance is close to natural slate, though not identical at close range.
Pros: More consistent than natural slate in dimensions. Lower cost than natural Welsh slate. Lighter weight than some natural slates. Available widely from builders' merchants.
Cons: Lifespan is typically shorter than premium natural slate, though a good-quality product should perform well for several decades. The colour and surface texture can differ noticeably from genuine quarried slate, which matters on heritage or characterful properties. Quality varies considerably between manufacturers, so the specification matters.
Reconstituted slate works well on modern homes where the look of slate is wanted but budget is a consideration. On an older property already roofed in natural slate, the mismatch in appearance can be obvious, particularly on a prominent elevation.
Concrete interlocking tiles are the most widely used roofing material on UK housing built from the 1950s onward. They are robust, widely stocked, and competitively priced. Most come with a factory-applied surface colour that weathers over time; the tile itself remains functional long after the colour has faded.
Pros: Lower material cost than slate. Large tiles cover more area per course, which means faster laying and lower labour costs on straightforward roofs. A large range of profiles and colours available. Replacement tiles are easy to source.
Cons: Concrete tiles are heavy. On older roofs or homes where the rafters are modest in section, a structural check is important before specifying a heavy concrete tile. The surface finish absorbs more moss and lichen than smooth slate. A functional lifespan of around 30 to 50 years means they will likely need replacing within the life of the mortgage on a new home. Certain profiles look obviously modern, which can look out of place on older properties.
Concrete interlocking tiles are the practical, cost-effective choice for most straightforward re-roofs on post-war housing. They are not always the right choice for older or more characterful homes.
Clay plain tiles are the traditional covering on much older housing across Suffolk and the surrounding counties. They are smaller than interlocking tiles, requiring a steeper pitch and more battens, and they are laid with a generous head lap. Good quality clay tiles can outlast the building they cover - many Victorian and Edwardian roofs still carry their original clay tiles.
Pros: Very long lifespan from a quality manufacturer. Age and weather to a natural, varied colour that complements older properties well. Suitable for steeper pitches where large interlocking tiles do not work. Each tile is small and can be replaced individually.
Cons: Higher material and labour cost than concrete tiles - more tiles per square metre, more time to lay. Good matching clay tiles can be difficult to source for repairs or partial replacements. The small format requires a correctly pitched roof; they are not suitable for low-pitch situations.
On an older property with a steep pitch and existing clay tiles, a like-for-like re-roof in clay is generally the best long-term answer. Switching to a heavier or differently profiled tile on a roof not designed for it can cause structural or weathering problems.
Flat or low-pitch roofs over extensions, bay windows and outriggers need different materials from pitched roofs. The two most common options for domestic flat roofs are torch-on felt systems and EPDM rubber membrane.
Torch-on felt uses layers of modified bitumen felt bonded together with a gas torch. A well-specified three-layer torch-on system is durable and handles foot traffic reasonably well. EPDM rubber is a single-ply membrane that is glued or mechanically fixed to the roof deck. It is lightweight, flexible in cold weather, and resistant to UV degradation. EPDM flat roofs typically last 20 to 30 years or more without needing replacement.
A flat roof that is blistering, cracking, pooling water excessively or showing felt breakdown at the joints has usually reached the end of its life. Continued patching rarely extends a failed flat roof by more than a season or two.
At every point where your roof meets a vertical surface - a chimney stack, a parapet wall, a dormer or a roof light - there is a flashing, almost always made from lead on a domestic property. Lead is the best material for this purpose: it is malleable, long-lasting and can be dressed to fit complex shapes. However, lead does move with temperature changes and the fixings can work loose over time.
When re-roofing, it makes sense to inspect all existing flashings carefully and replace any that are cracked, lifting or poorly fitted. Leaving aged leadwork in place under a new tile covering means you may face a separate flashing repair job within a few years. The scaffold is already in position during a re-roof, so the additional cost of replacing flashings at the same time is much lower than returning to do it separately later.
The eaves are exposed and accessible while scaffold is in place, which makes a re-roof a practical time to renew tired timber fascias and soffits. Persistent gutter leaks can soak the fascia board behind them, and once that timber softens it will not hold gutter brackets securely. uPVC fascia and soffit systems are low-maintenance, factory-finished and do not need painting. Fitting them at the same time as the re-roof saves a return visit and a second scaffold hire.
There is no single rule, but some indicators are consistent. If your roof is under 20 years old, the underlying structure is sound, and the problem is isolated to one area, repair is usually the better call. If the roof is over 30 to 40 years old, repairs have become recurrent, or the underlay is visibly failing, the case for replacement strengthens significantly. A roofer who has been on the roof and checked the underlay and battens from above is in a much better position to give you a reliable view than one working from a ground-level inspection alone.
When getting quotes for a re-roof, ask each contractor to confirm in writing: the tile specification (manufacturer, product name and grade), whether scaffold is included, how timber repairs are priced (day rate or included), and what happens to the stripped materials. These details determine whether two quotes at similar prices are actually for the same job.
A re-roof on a typical semi-detached home in and around Haverhill runs from roughly £5,000 to £10,000. Larger roofs, more complex shapes, and premium materials all push costs upward. Natural Welsh slate costs more in materials than concrete tile, but on a large roof the labour is often the bigger variable. Always get the quote broken down so you can see what you are comparing.
We work across Haverhill and travel to nearby towns and villages including Clare, Wickhambrook, Stradishall and surrounding communities.
If you are considering a roof replacement and want a clear view of which material suits your home and budget, call Newmarket Roofers to arrange a roof survey. We will give you a straight assessment from roof level before you commit to anything.
No obligation · We usually respond within 2 hours
Storm damage, active leak, damaged ridge - we aim to be on-site within 24 hours.
