Slate Roofing Specialists in York
Slate Types on York Roofs
Welsh slate — the premium. Blue-grey, fine-grained, splits cleanly, rings when tapped. Found on York's best Georgian and Victorian properties. Lasts 100-150 years. Penrhyn quarry (Bethesda) produced the finest grades; Ffestiniog slate is coarser and darker. We source reclaimed Welsh slate from specialist suppliers for conservation repairs.
Spanish slate — the modern standard. Darker blue-black, slightly thicker and heavier. 60-80 year lifespan at significantly lower cost than Welsh. Suitable for new-build, re-roofing, and non-conservation work where visual matching isn't critical.
Westmorland green slate — distinctive greenish-grey with mica sparkle. Appears on some North Yorkshire properties near the Dales boundary. Specialist sourcing required.
Strip and Relay — Saving Your Existing Slate
When a Welsh slate roof has widespread nail failure but the slates themselves are sound, strip-and-relay is the most cost-effective approach. We strip every slate, grade them for condition and size, replace the battens and membrane, and re-fix the original slates with copper nails. Typically 70-85 percent of a well-aged Welsh slate roof goes back on. The failed slates are replaced with matching reclaimed stock. Cost is 60-70 percent of full re-slating — and the original character of the roof is preserved.
Conservation Area Slate Work
Within York's conservation areas, slate replacement must match the existing in type, colour, size, and thickness. We photograph the existing slate, source matches from our network of reclaimed and new-quarry suppliers, and submit samples to City of York Council's conservation team where required. Our specifications are written to satisfy conservation officer scrutiny.