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Read more on Google Slate & tile roofing · West Cornwall
Slate & Tile Roofing in Penzance & Across Cornwall
Need a new slate or tile roof, a full re-slate or re-tile, or slipped slates put right? West Cornwall Roofing & Leadwork lays, replaces and repairs expert slate and tile roofs across Penzance and the whole of Cornwall. Whether your property calls for natural slate or a tiled roof, Steve matches the work to the building, fits it to BS 5534, and backs it with a 10-year workmanship guarantee.
NVQ-qualified in roofing & leadwork10-year workmanship guaranteeFully insured (incl. hot works)
Expert Slate & Tile Roofing That Lasts
A slate or tile roof is a pitched roof covered with overlapping natural slates, or clay or concrete tiles, fixed in courses over a breathable underlay and timber battens. It's the most common roof across Cornwall, and slate and tile are built and maintained the same careful way: the right underlay, the right fixings, and the lead detailing done properly where the roof meets chimneys, walls and valleys.
Both are core to what we do: tile pulls its weight here every bit as much as slate. The skill is in reading the property and the covering correctly: whether new slates or tiles can be matched to what is already there, whether a section will do or the whole roof needs re-covering, and how the hidden layers underneath should be specified. Steve is NVQ-qualified in roofing and leadwork, so the visible courses and the lead detailing that keeps them watertight are both done to a standard built to last.
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The Slate & Tile Work We Carry Out
From a full re-roof to a handful of repairs, on slate and tile alike, this is the work that comes up most across West Cornwall:
New slate & tile roofs
Complete roofs in natural slate, clay tile or concrete tile, specified to suit the property and laid to BS 5534 to last for generations.
Re-slating & re-tiling
Stripping a tired roof and re-covering it in slate or tile, renewing the breathable underlay and timber battens beneath as part of a proper re-roof.
Slate & tile repairs
Refixing or replacing slipped, cracked or missing slates and tiles where the rest of the roof is sound, expertly matched to the existing covering.
Re-felt & re-batten
Renewing the breathable underlay and timber battens the slates and tiles are fixed to: the hidden layer that actually keeps the roof watertight.
Ridge tiles & verges
Re-bedding and re-pointing loose ridge tiles, and dry-fixing where appropriate so they stand up to Atlantic winds for the long term.
Reclaimed & Cornish slate matching
Sourcing reclaimed and traditional Cornish slate to match heritage and period roofs so the finished work looks right on the building. For traditional scantle slating, see our scantle & heritage roofing.
Velux & roof window fitting
Roof windows set into the covering with the slates or tiles cut and dressed neatly around them and the flashing kit fitted so the surround stays watertight.
Recent Slate & Tile Work
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What Our Customers Say
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I was recommended by a friend of the family which had previously work done. I had several quotes
Read more on GoogleWhy a Slate or Tile Roof Pays Off
It lasts for generations.A well-laid natural slate roof can last 75 to 100 years or more, and a good tiled roof many decades: this is a roof you fit once and forget.
It looks right on your home.Matched slates and tiles keep the character of period and traditional Cornish properties, and lift the kerb appeal of newer ones.
It stands up to our weather.Proper fixings to BS 5534 and lead detailing mean the roof holds firm against the wind and driving rain that come in off the Atlantic.
The hidden layers are done right.Renewing the underlay and battens during a re-roof is the difference between a roof that lasts a lifetime and one that's leaking again in a few years, and it's backed by our 10-year workmanship guarantee.
How a Re-Slate or Re-Tile Works
01
Get in touch
Call Steve or send a message about the roof: a new roof, a re-cover, or repairs to slate or tile.
02
Free inspection
Steve gets up to the roof, checks the covering, the battens and the detailing, and gives you an honest, expert assessment of what it needs.
03
Clear written quote
An exact, no-obligation quote that sets out the materials, the prep and what is included.
04
Strip, re-felt, re-batten & cover
The old covering comes off, the underlay and battens are renewed, then the new slate or tile is laid to BS 5534 with the lead detailing done properly.
05
Watertight, guaranteed, tidy
The roof finished, the ridge and verges secured, the site cleared, and the work backed by our 10-year workmanship guarantee.
Why choose us
Why Choose Us for Slate & Tile Roofing
A slate or tile roof is only as good as its fixings and its detailing, and that's exactly where our expertise shows. All of Steve's slating and tiling follows BS 5534, the British Standard for slating and tiling, which sets out how slates, tiles, ridges and fixings must be specified to withstand wind loads. Cornwall's exposed coastal roofs sit among the highest wind zones in the country, so fitting to that standard is what keeps a roof on through an Atlantic winter. The lead detailing around chimneys, valleys and abutments is dressed properly too, because Steve is NVQ-qualified specifically in leadwork: the part of a slate or tile roof that most often decides whether it stays watertight.
You're also in fully insured hands, public liability, employers' liability and hot-works cover, with over 10 years' hands-on experience on slate and tile roofs across West Cornwall, knowledge of traditional and Cornish slate, and a 10-year workmanship guarantee on the work.
- Expert training & NVQ qualifications
- NVQ-qualified specifically in leadwork
- Fully insured incl. hot works
- 10-year workmanship guarantee
- Free inspection & clear written quote
Meet the roofer
About the Roofer, Steve Biggs
Slate and tile roofing is carried out by Steve Biggs, owner of West Cornwall Roofing & Leadwork. Steve has over 10 years' roofing experience across Penzance and West Cornwall, and is NVQ-qualified in roofing and leadwork, holds a flat-roofing certificate and a CSCS card, and is certified in working at height and asbestos awareness. He works in natural, reclaimed and traditional Cornish slate as well as clay and concrete tile.
“A slate roof can outlast the person who fitted it, but only when the underlay, the battens and the lead beneath are right. People see the slates; the real craft is in everything they don't see, and getting that right is what makes a roof last a lifetime.”Steve Biggs, owner and lead roofer
Slate & Tile Roofing Across West Cornwall
We lay, re-cover and repair expert slate and tile roofs throughout West Cornwall, across the towns and villages we know inside out:
How Our Slate & Tile Quotes Work
Every roof is different, so an accurate price starts with a proper look. What shapes a slate or tile quote is the size and pitch of the roof, the material you choose (natural slate, reclaimed or Cornish slate, clay or concrete tile), the condition of the battens and underlay underneath, how accessible the roof is for scaffolding and safe working, and how much lead detailing the chimneys, valleys and abutments need.
What you can always count on: a free inspection, a clear written quote that sets out the materials and what's included, and an expert recommendation on whether repairs or a full re-roof is the right investment for your money, so you know exactly what's being done, why, and what it costs before any work starts.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a slate roof last?+
A well-laid natural slate roof can last 75 to 100 years or more. The breathable underlay beneath it typically lasts around 30 to 40 years, which is why a proper re-roof renews the underlay and battens, not just the slates on top, and it is all backed by our 10-year workmanship guarantee.
How much does a slate or tile roof cost?+
Every roof is different, so there is no honest one-size figure. The cost depends on the size and pitch of the roof, the material you choose, the condition of the battens and underlay, access and scaffolding, and the lead detailing needed. Steve inspects the roof free of charge and gives you an exact written quote with no hidden extras.
Can you match my existing slates or tiles?+
Usually, yes. Steve matches new slates and tiles to your existing roof wherever possible, including sourcing reclaimed and Cornish slate for heritage and period properties, so the finished roof looks right on the building.
Natural slate or synthetic, which is right for my roof?+
Natural slate lasts the longest, looks best, and is often required on heritage and listed properties. Synthetic and fibre-cement slates are lighter and a lower outlay. Steve gives you an expert recommendation on the right choice for your property and budget at the free quote.
Do you re-felt and re-batten when you re-slate or re-tile?+
Yes. A proper re-roof renews the breathable underlay and the timber battens, not just the visible covering. That hidden layer is what actually keeps the roof watertight, so it is always part of doing the job properly.
Do you fit Velux and roof windows?+
Yes, Velux and other roof windows are fitted as part of slate and tile work, with the slates or tiles cut and dressed neatly around the window and the flashing kit installed so the surround stays watertight. It is done with the same care for the detailing as the rest of the roof.
Related Services
01Scantle & Heritage Roofing
Traditional Cornish scantle slating for period and listed buildings.
Scantle SlatingListed Buildings
02Roof Replacement & Re-Roofing
Full re-roofs and new-build roofs, built to last from the deck up.
Full Re-RoofsNew Builds
03Roof Repairs
Slipped slates and tiles, leaks and storm damage, diagnosed and repaired at the source.
Leak RepairsStorm Damage
Get Your Slate or Tile Roof Sorted
Whether it's a few slipped slates or a full re-roof, get expert advice and a clear written quote from a qualified, fully insured roofer who knows Cornish slate, with every roof fitted to BS 5534 and backed by our 10-year workmanship guarantee.
Call Steve on 07769 322677·Get a free quote online
West Cornwall Roofing & Leadwork
Penzance, West Cornwall, TR18 3PU
Phone: 07769 322677
Email: steve.westcornwallroofing@gmail.com
Hours: Mon to Fri 7:30am to 4:30pm, Sat 7:30am to 1pm
Last updated: 11 June 2026