TRUSTED
LICENSED
FULLY INSURED
10-YEAR GUARANTEE
Pitched Roofing Across London & the South East
Covers Of London provides pitched roofing in London for residential and commercial properties of every kind — from Victorian terraces in Hackney and Islington to new-build developments in Barnet and beyond. Whether you need a full strip and re-tile, slate repairs on a period property, or a new pitched roof installed to current British Standards, our team has the skill and the materials to get it done properly.
30+
YEARS IN THE TRADE
3,500+
PROJECTS COMPLETED
24hr
EMERGENCY CALL-OUT
10yr
WORK GUARANTEE
Most of the roofs you see across London are pitched. Slates on a Georgian townhouse in Camden. Concrete interlocking tiles on a 1930s semi in Enfield. Handmade clay plain tiles on a cottage in Richmond. They all fall under the same broad category, but the materials, fixing methods, and structural demands vary enormously from one property to the next.
That range is something we deal with every week. Our team has worked on pitched roofs of every description — from straightforward tile replacements on modern estates to full strip-and-re-slate jobs on Grade II listed buildings where every material choice has to go through conservation officers. We carry stock of common tile and slate sizes so that minor repairs can often be completed the same day, and we source specialist or reclaimed materials when a project calls for it.
If you are not sure what state your roof is in, we offer free surveys — including drone inspections on hard-to-access properties — so you get a clear picture before committing to anything.
PITCHED ROOF REPAIRS
Pitched Roof Repairs in London
A pitched roof that has been well maintained will protect a building for decades. But tiles slip, mortar fails, lead lifts, and felt perishes — and the longer these issues go unaddressed, the more damage they cause beneath the surface.
Tile Roof Repairs
Concrete interlocking tiles and clay plain tiles account for the majority of pitched roofs across London. Over time, individual tiles crack from frost action, slip when their nibs break or fixings corrode, or simply reach the end of their working life. We replace damaged tiles with matched replacements — sourcing from the same manufacturer where the tile is still in production, or finding the closest visual match on older roofs where the original product has been discontinued. On larger areas of failure, we strip back the affected section, inspect the battens and underlay beneath, and re-tile to BS 5534 standards using appropriate fixings for the exposure zone.
Slate Roof Repairs
London has no shortage of slate roofs — particularly across Hackney, Islington, Camden, and much of the inner boroughs where Victorian and Edwardian terraces dominate the housing stock. Natural slate can last well over a century, but individual slates do crack, delaminate, or slip loose over the years. We work with Welsh slate, Spanish slate, and reclaimed material depending on what the roof demands. Getting the grade, thickness, and colour right matters, especially on terraced streets where a mismatched repair is immediately obvious. Copper nails, stainless steel clips, and lead tingles — we use the correct fixing method for the slate type and the position on the roof, not just whatever is fastest.
Lead Flashings and Valley Linings
Every pitched roof has vulnerable junctions — where the roof meets a wall, wraps around a chimney, or channels water down a valley. These joints rely on lead flashings and valley linings to keep water out. Lead work is one of those things that is either done properly or it fails. We see plenty of roofs across Stoke Newington, Walthamstow, and Tower Hamlets where a previous roofer has smeared mastic into a gap instead of re-dressing the lead correctly. It might hold for a season. Then the joint opens again and the water finds its way in behind the plaster. We strip back substandard repairs and install or re-dress lead to Lead Sheet Association standards, using the correct code weight for the application.
Ridge, Hip and Verge Repairs
Ridge tiles sit along the apex of the roof. Hip tiles cover the angled edges. Verge tiles cap the gable ends. All of them are typically bedded on mortar, and mortar cracks and shrinks over the years as the building moves and weathers. Loose ridge tiles are a genuine hazard — high winds can send them sliding off the roof and onto the street or garden below. We re-bed and repoint loose ridge and hip tiles using either traditional sand-and-cement or modern dry fix systems. Dry fix is the current standard under BS 5534 and tends to last significantly longer because it is mechanically fixed rather than relying on a mortar bed alone. We will advise on which approach suits your roof and your budget.
New Pitched Roof Installation
When a pitched roof has reached the point where individual repairs no longer make financial sense — perished felt, rotten battens, tiles that crumble when you handle them — a full strip and re-roof is the right course of action. We remove the existing covering down to the rafters, inspect and replace any damaged structural timbers, install new breathable roofing membrane and pressure-treated battens, then tile or slate the roof to the specification agreed during survey. Every new installation complies with BS 5534 and current building regulations. We handle the building control notification and can arrange scaffolding as part of the project. Properties across Haringey, Southwark, Lewisham, and Greenwich are among the areas where we regularly carry out full re-roofs on Victorian and Edwardian housing stock.
Storm Damage & Emergency Repairs
High winds strip tiles from ridges and verges. Fallen branches punch through slate coverings. Torrential rain exposes every weak point in an ageing roof. After a bad storm our phones ring constantly. We offer a fast-response emergency service for pitched roof damage across London — making the roof safe and watertight as a first priority, then scheduling the permanent repair once conditions allow. If you need to make an insurance claim for storm damage, we provide a full written report of the damage including aerial drone imagery where needed, along with a detailed quotation for the reinstatement works. We deal with insurers and loss adjusters regularly and know what they expect to see in a claim.
24-Hour Emergency Pitched Roof Repairs Across London
Some roof problems cannot wait. A section of pitched roof blown off in a storm. A major leak pouring water through light fittings. A chimney stack that has shifted and is at risk of collapse. These situations need an immediate response.
We run a 24-hour emergency pitched roof repair service across London and the surrounding areas. When you call, we will get a team to your property as quickly as possible — often within the hour. The priority is always to make the roof safe and stop water getting in. That might mean a temporary covering, emergency re-tiling, or securing a loose structure until the permanent repair can be carried out.
Once the immediate danger is dealt with, we arrange a proper survey and provide a full quotation for the permanent works at a time that suits you.
OUR EXPERTISE
Types of Pitched Roof We Install and Repair
London’s pitched roofs come in many forms. The right approach depends on the structure, the covering material, and the age of the building. Here is what we work on regularly.
Gable roofs — the most common pitched roof shape in the UK. Two sloping sides meeting at a central ridge. Found on everything from Victorian terraces to modern detached houses.
Hip roofs — all four sides slope downwards to the walls, with no vertical gable ends. More stable in high winds and common across Edwardian housing in areas like Ealing, Bromley, and Croydon.
Mansard and gambrel roofs — double-pitched designs that maximise loft space. Widely used across London for loft conversions and common on period properties in Kensington, Chelsea, and Westminster.
Covering materials — natural Welsh and Spanish slate, clay plain tiles, concrete interlocking tiles, handmade tiles, reclaimed materials, and fibre cement slates. We source the correct material for the property and the location.
Heritage and listed buildings — specialist repair work using period-appropriate materials and methods. We have worked on properties where the wrong tile or the wrong pointing mix would cause more harm than good.
REPAIR OR REPLACE
Pitched Roof Repair vs Replacement — Honest Advice
Not every failing pitched roof needs stripping. And not every repair is worth the money.
If the problem is localised — a run of slipped slates, a section of cracked ridge mortar, a leaking valley — a targeted repair is almost always the better option. It costs less, disrupts less, and we guarantee the work the same as we would a full re-roof.
But there comes a point where patching stops making sense. When the roofing felt beneath has perished, when the battens are soft and spongy, when you are calling someone out every few months for a different tile in a different place — that is when a full replacement becomes the more cost-effective route.
We will be straight with you about which applies to your property. We would rather give honest advice and do one job properly than come back four times for temporary fixes that do not hold. That approach has kept us busy through referrals for over thirty years.
Customer Reviews
What our customers say
Service Areas
Pitched Roofing London — Every Borough Covered
Based in Hackney, we carry out pitched roofing work right across Greater London and into Essex and Hertfordshire. If you are within the M25 — or close to it — we can get to you. We know the housing stock, the planning requirements, and the building regulations specific to each borough. That local knowledge makes a measurable difference to how we assess, quote, and deliver a roofing project.
Hackney
Islington
Tower Hamlets
Camden
Haringey
Southwark
Lambeth
Wandsworth
Greenwich
Barnet
Enfield
Chingford
Loughton
All London Boroughs →
Why Choose Covers Of London for Pitched Roofing
There is no shortage of roofers in London. Finding one who actually turns up, does the job right, and charges what they quoted — that is the harder part.
We have been repairing and installing pitched roofs across the capital for several decades. Our team is not made up of agency workers or whoever answered the ad last week. They are experienced tradespeople who work for us directly, on every job. No sub-contractors.
Every repair and installation we carry out comes with a written workmanship guarantee. We hold full public liability insurance. Our quotes are detailed, itemised, and fixed — the price we agree is the price you pay.
And if we think you do not actually need a repair, we will tell you that too. We would rather earn your trust than your money on a job that was not necessary.
FAQS
Pitched Roofing — Frequently Asked Questions
How much does pitched roofing cost in London?
It varies depending on the scope of work. Replacing a handful of slipped tiles might cost a few hundred pounds. Re-bedding a full run of ridge tiles or replacing a section of lead valley will cost more. A full strip and re-tile on a typical London terraced house usually falls between £8,000 and £15,000 depending on the roof size, access requirements, and choice of materials. We provide free surveys and detailed written quotes before any work begins, so you will know the cost upfront.
How long does a pitched roof last?
That depends heavily on the covering material and how well the roof has been maintained. Natural slate can last 100 years or more. Clay tiles typically last 60 to 80 years. Concrete tiles generally give 40 to 50 years of service. The underlay and battens beneath usually need replacing before the tiles themselves, which is why a periodic inspection matters — catching deterioration early extends the life of the whole roof.
Do you carry out emergency pitched roof repairs?
Yes. We run a 24-hour emergency call-out service across London. If your pitched roof has been damaged by a storm, if tiles have come loose and water is getting in, or if a chimney stack has shifted, call us and we will get a team to you as quickly as possible — often within the hour. The priority is always to make the roof safe and watertight. Permanent repairs are then scheduled at a convenient time.
What is BS 5534 and why does it matter?
BS 5534 is the British Standard for slating and tiling on pitched roofs. It sets out requirements for fixing methods, wind loading calculations, and the use of dry fix systems for ridges, hips, and verges. Since 2015, mortar bedding alone no longer meets the standard for new work — mechanical fixings are required. All of our pitched roofing installations and major repairs comply with BS 5534, which means your roof is properly secured against the wind loads specific to your area and exposure zone.
Can you match existing tiles or slates on older roofs?
In most cases, yes. We carry stock of common tile and slate sizes and have established supply chains for less common materials. Where an exact match is no longer in production — which happens regularly on pre-war properties — we source the closest available alternative and discuss it with you honestly before proceeding. For listed buildings or properties in conservation areas, we can source reclaimed materials to meet planning requirements.
Do you handle building control and planning for new roofs?
Yes. Any full re-roof or significant structural alteration requires building control notification. We manage this as part of the project. If the property is in a conservation area or is listed, planning permission may also be needed for changes to the roof covering or profile. We have experience working within these constraints and can advise on what is and is not permitted before work starts.
Get a free pitched roofing quote
Whether you need a few tiles replaced or a full strip and re-roof, we are ready to talk. Leave your details and we will be back in touch within the hour during working hours. For emergencies, call us directly on 0208 064 3801 — our 24-hour team is always available.