Real slate repair case study: Edwardian Old Town villa, reclaimed Welsh slate matching, invisible repair, £380.
An Edwardian villa on Croft Road in Old Town with a Welsh slate roof dating from 1905. Four slates had cracked and slipped on the front slope, exposing the felt underneath and allowing water to drip into the front bedroom during heavy rain.
The original copper nails holding the four slates had corroded after 115+ years of service — remarkable longevity but inevitable eventually. The slates themselves were in excellent condition apart from the four that had cracked at the nail hole when the corroded nails allowed them to slip. The surrounding slates were secure but would eventually face the same nail corrosion over the coming years. The homeowner wanted a repair that was invisible — matching the colour, size and character of the 120-year-old weathered Welsh slate.
Source four reclaimed Penrhyn Welsh slates matching the existing in size (600x300mm), thickness (5mm) and colour (silver-grey with 100+ years of weathering patina). Remove the four cracked slates and clean the exposed area. Re-hang four replacement slates using stainless steel disc rivets (tingles) — the standard repair method that avoids disturbing the surrounding slates. Check and gently test the six surrounding slates for nail security.
We sourced matching reclaimed Penrhyn slate from a specialist yard near Bangor within four days of the survey. The repair itself took one afternoon — three hours on a ladder with no scaffold required for this accessible front slope position.
Total: £380 including reclaimed slate sourcing, delivery and installation. No scaffold needed.
The repair is invisible from the ground and from first floor window height. The reclaimed slates match the surrounding 120-year-old weathered slate in colour, texture and thickness. The stainless steel disc rivets will last longer than the original copper nails — the repair is designed to outlast both the homeowner and the building. No more bedroom leaks. The homeowner was delighted with the match quality and the minimal disruption.
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The original copper nails holding the four slates had corroded after 115+ years of service — remarkable longevity but inevitable eventually. The slates themselves were in excellent condition apart from the four that had cracked at the nail hole when the corroded nails allowed them to slip. The surro
Source four reclaimed Penrhyn Welsh slates matching the existing in size (600x300mm), thickness (5mm) and colour (silver-grey with 100+ years of weathering patina). Remove the four cracked slates and clean the exposed area. Re-hang four replacement slates using stainless steel disc rivets (tingles)
We sourced matching reclaimed Penrhyn slate from a specialist yard near Bangor within four days of the survey. The repair itself took one afternoon — three hours on a ladder with no scaffold required for this accessible front slope position.
Prices depend on scope and access. We provide free written itemised quotes with no obligation and no call-out fee. Every quote breaks down materials, labour, scaffold and waste disposal separately so you can see exactly what you are paying for.
The repair is invisible from the ground and from first floor window height. The reclaimed slates match the surrounding 120-year-old weathered slate in colour, texture and thickness. The stainless steel disc rivets will last longer than the original copper nails — the repair is designed to outlast bo
Nothing. Quotes are always free, written and itemised with no obligation. We never charge a call-out fee — the survey, diagnosis and written specification cost you nothing regardless of whether you proceed. For formal condition reports, the inspection fee (£120–£250) is credited against any work booked. We survey, photograph, explain and quote in writing. If you decide not to proceed, there is no charge.
Emergency repairs: same-day response, available 24/7 including weekends and bank holidays. Standard repairs: usually within a few working days of the survey. Planned re-roofs and larger projects: typically scheduled within 2-4 weeks depending on the time of year. We confirm your start date one week before and again the day before work begins.
Nothing. Quotes are always free, written and itemised with no obligation. We never charge a call-out fee — the survey, diagnosis and written specification cost you nothing regardless of whether you proceed. For formal condition reports, the inspection fee (£120–£250) is credited against any work booked. We survey, photograph, explain and quote in writing. If you decide not to proceed, there is no charge.
Emergency repairs: same-day response, available 24/7 including weekends and bank holidays. Standard repairs: usually within a few working days of the survey. Planned re-roofs and larger projects: typically scheduled within 2-4 weeks depending on the time of year. We confirm your start date one week before and again the day before work begins.
Nothing. Quotes are always free, written and itemised with no obligation. We never charge a call-out fee — the survey, diagnosis and written specification cost you nothing regardless of whether you proceed. For formal condition reports, the inspection fee (£120–£250) is credited against any work booked. We survey, photograph, explain and quote in writing. If you decide not to proceed, there is no charge.
Emergency repairs: same-day response, available 24/7 including weekends and bank holidays. Standard repairs: usually within a few working days of the survey. Planned re-roofs and larger projects: typically scheduled within 2-4 weeks depending on the time of year. We confirm your start date one week before and again the day before work begins.
Every roofing job is different. The property type, the housing era, the specific failure pattern, the exposure conditions and the homeowner's priorities all affect the specification and the cost. That is why we provide free, no-obligation surveys and detailed written quotes for every job. A case study like this one shows our process in action — the diagnosis, the specification decision-making, the execution and the result. If you recognise a similar problem on your own property, call 0179 329 7084 for a free assessment. We will tell you honestly what your roof needs, what it will cost, and how long it will take. No pressure, no salespeople, just straightforward advice from the people who will actually do the work.
We are NFRC registered, carry five million pounds of public liability insurance, and provide a written 10-year workmanship guarantee on every job. We have been serving Swindon and surrounding Wiltshire since 2003. Our business is built entirely on honest work and word-of-mouth recommendation. We do not advertise, we do not cold-call, and we do not employ salespeople. Every customer comes to us through recommendation or by finding us online — and we keep them by doing excellent work at fair prices. That is a business model we are proud of and one that benefits every homeowner who works with us.
We cover every postcode and neighbourhood across Swindon and a 15-mile radius. From the 1840s Railway Village to the 2020s Wichelstowe development, from hilltop Highworth to floodplain Cricklade, from the wind-exposed western estates at Shaw and Toothill to the sheltered inner suburbs at Covingham and Eldene. We carry the twelve most common tile profiles on every van, maintain relationships with specialist suppliers for reclaimed Welsh slate, Cotswold limestone tiles and traditional materials, and switch between modern specifications and period-appropriate techniques daily. Whether your property needs a single tile replacement, a full re-roof, a flat roof conversion, or specialist chimney work, we have the expertise, the materials and the local knowledge to do the job right first time.
A good roofer surveys from the roof, not from the ground. Photographs everything and explains what they find in plain language. Provides a detailed written specification, not just a price. Uses the correct materials for the property type and local conditions. Specifies stainless steel fixings as standard rather than the galvanised nails that caused Swindon's nail sickness crisis. Includes scaffold and waste removal in the quote. Offers a meaningful written guarantee backed by trade body membership and adequate insurance. Turns up when they say they will, does what they quoted, cleans up after themselves and stands behind the work for years afterward. This is the standard we maintain on every job and the standard you should expect from any roofer you hire.
Swindon's roofing market is served by a mix of national lead generation platforms, regional roofing companies and local sole traders. The national platforms route your enquiry to whoever pays them the most — you have no control over who turns up and no relationship with the company. Regional companies may send different teams for different jobs with variable quality. A genuine local roofer with their own team, their own reputation and their own guarantee on every job provides the consistency and accountability that matters when the work is on your home. We have been that local roofer for Swindon since 2003 and intend to be here for the next twenty years. Call 0179 329 7084 and talk to the people who will actually be on your roof.
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