New Roofing & Re-Roofing Tunbridge Wells & Kent

The headline figure depends on the covering you choose: natural slate routinely lasts 100+ years, clay tiles 60+, and concrete tiles 40–60. The materials underneath matter more than most homeowners realise — modern breathable membranes typically last 25–40 years, and treated battens should match the lifespan of the tiles above them. As long as the underlying timberwork is sound and the lead flashings are properly detailed at every junction, a well-installed new roof will outlast most homeowners' ownership of the property.

Yes. Every new roof and re-roof we install is backed by a written workmanship guarantee from us, typically covering 10 to 25 years depending on the work. The materials themselves carry separate manufacturer warranties on top — natural slate typically 100 years, concrete tiles 30–50, breathable membranes around 30. We'll spell out exactly what's covered, for how long, and what falls outside the guarantee before any work begins, so you have it in writing rather than a verbal assurance.

Yes. We have extensive experience with conservation area properties — parts of Tunbridge Wells qualify — and with listed buildings across Kent. Both involve restrictions on what you can change, particularly around materials. Conservation area work often needs to use like-for-like materials (you generally can't swap natural slate for concrete tile); listed buildings additionally need listed-building consent before any work begins. We'll flag any planning or consent considerations at the survey and, where possible, source matching materials from local salvage yards as well as new suppliers.

In almost every case, no. We work carefully to minimise disruption and we always make the roof watertight at the end of each working day, so you're never exposed to overnight rain on a stripped roof. There will be scaffolding up, there will be working noise during the day, and you may need to move cars off the drive for material deliveries — but the house stays habitable throughout. The exceptions are major structural projects that involve internal work, and we'll flag any of those at the survey stage.

Call us on 07466 480928 or fill in our online form. We'll arrange a convenient time to visit your property, carry out a thorough roof inspection — including, where safe, the loft side so we can assess the timber and membrane condition — and give you a detailed, itemised written quote. The visit and quote are free, with no obligation and no chasing follow-up calls. For a project this size, expect a written quote that runs to several pages — generic one-line "£X for a new roof" quotes from anyone are a red flag.

Cost depends on the type of job (re-roof vs full new roof vs overhaul), the roof area, the material chosen (concrete tile is the most affordable, clay mid-range, natural slate the highest), scaffolding requirements, and whether structural timberwork needs replacing. A small terraced re-roof and a large detached natural-slate new roof can differ by a factor of five. We never quote blind, and we never quote on a one-line phone-call basis for work this large — the only sensible price comes from a site visit. We carry out free surveys and provide itemised quotes you can compare line-by-line.

For a like-for-like roof replacement that covers more than 50% of the existing roof area — which most new roofs and full re-roofs do — Building Regulations Part L applies and you need to meet current thermal performance standards. In practice that usually means upgrading the loft insulation as part of the work, or fitting a warm-roof build where there's no habitable loft to insulate. We handle the Building Control notification on your behalf where it's needed, so the work is properly signed off and you have the paperwork on file for resale or remortgage. Skipping this is a problem that surfaces years later — usually at the worst possible moment.

Three considerations: the look you want, the period and style of your property, and the budget. Natural slate suits period properties, Welsh and Spanish slate are the common choices, and a well-installed slate roof routinely lasts 100+ years. Clay tiles suit traditional Kent properties and come in a range of profiles and colours; expect 60+ years of life. Concrete tiles are the most affordable modern option, available in tile-look profiles that closely match clay; typical lifespan 40–60 years. For listed buildings or conservation-area properties you may not have a free choice — we'll flag that at the survey. For unrestricted properties we'll lay out the trade-offs and let you decide rather than push the most expensive option.

A full new roof strips everything back to the rafters and rebuilds — most expensive, appropriate when the structure is at end of life. A re-roof keeps the existing roof timbers, strips and replaces everything above them — battens, membrane, and tiles or slates. A re-roof is typically significantly cheaper than a full new roof and is the more common job, because on most properties the timber is still sound long after the tiles, battens and felt have failed. At the survey we look at the timber condition and tell you straight which job your roof actually needs — we don't push a full new roof if a re-roof will do.