Which roofing material
is right for you?
Pitch, exposure and the existing structure rule out more options than taste does. Start with the covering you are drawn to and check whether your roof can take it.
Pitched
Most economicalConcrete Tile
The default covering on Irish housing since the 1970s, and the most economical way to re-roof.
- Lifespan
- 40 – 60 years
- Minimum pitch
- 17.5° (profile dependent)
- Maintenance
- Low. Moss removal every few years; never pressure-washed.
- Typical use
- Pitched roofs above 17.5°. Suits most estate and suburban housing.
Appearance
Interlocking profiles in slate-grey, brown and terracotta. Flat profiles read closest to slate.
Advantages
- Lowest cost per m² of any pitched covering
- Widely stocked, so matching a repair is straightforward
- Heavy enough to resist uplift on exposed sites
Considerations
- Surface colour fades over the first decade
- Weight means the roof structure must be checked before switching from slate
- Reads as a modern covering on a period property
Pitched
PremiumNatural Slate
The traditional Cork covering. Outlasts everything else on the roof, including its own fixings.
- Lifespan
- 80 – 100+ years
- Minimum pitch
- 22.5°
- Maintenance
- Very low. The fixings, not the slate, are what eventually need attention.
- Typical use
- Pitched roofs above 22.5°. Period, coastal and conservation properties.
Appearance
Riven blue-grey Spanish or Welsh slate. Weathers rather than fades.
Advantages
- Longest service life of any common covering
- Sound slate can be salvaged and re-laid on a re-roof
- The correct covering on a period or protected property
Considerations
- Highest material and labour cost
- Requires copper or stainless fixings, especially near the coast
- Individual slates are brittle underfoot — access matters
Pitched
HigherClay Tile
Colour that comes from the material rather than a coating, so it does not fade.
- Lifespan
- 60 – 100 years
- Minimum pitch
- 30° (plain tile)
- Maintenance
- Low. Occasional replacement of frost-damaged units.
- Typical use
- Pitched roofs above 30° for plain tile. Period and character properties.
Appearance
Plain or pantile profiles in natural reds and browns. Develops patina rather than losing colour.
Advantages
- Colour is through the material and will not fade
- Very long service life
- Small unit size follows curved and complex roofs well
Considerations
- Plain tile needs a steep pitch — often rules it out on modern housing
- More units per m² means higher labour cost
- Frost damage possible on lower-quality tiles
Pitched & low pitch
PremiumStanding Seam Metal
For low pitches and complex shapes a tile cannot follow — and for roofs meant to read as one plane.
- Lifespan
- 40 – 70 years
- Minimum pitch
- 5°
- Maintenance
- Low. Keep gutters and valleys clear; check fixings after severe storms.
- Typical use
- Pitches from 5°. Contemporary builds, extensions, dormers and agricultural spans.
Appearance
Continuous seamed bays in zinc, aluminium or coated steel. Matt greys, greens and anthracite.
Advantages
- Works at pitches no tile or slate can achieve
- Light — often the answer where the structure will not take tile
- Long unbroken runs with very few joints to fail
Considerations
- Needs a ventilated substrate or it condenses underneath
- Specialist installation; a poor seam is a permanent problem
- Rain noise is noticeable without adequate build-up
Flat
MidEPDM Rubber
A single sheet of rubber across the whole roof — on most domestic flat roofs there are no joints at all.
- Lifespan
- 25 – 40 years
- Minimum pitch
- 1:80 fall minimum
- Maintenance
- Very low. Clear debris and check outlets annually.
- Typical use
- Flat and near-flat roofs: extensions, dormers, garages, porches.
Appearance
Matt black membrane, usually unseen from ground level.
Advantages
- Typically installed as one sheet, so no seams to fail
- Stays flexible through temperature and deck movement
- Quick to install with no hot works
Considerations
- Falls must be correct — EPDM over a puddle still ponds
- Can be punctured by sharp debris or careless foot traffic
- Detailing at upstands and outlets is where quality shows
Flat
HigherGRP Fibreglass
Laminated in place to form one rigid, seamless surface. The choice where the roof gets walked on.
- Lifespan
- 25 – 35 years
- Minimum pitch
- 1:80 fall minimum
- Maintenance
- Low. Inspect for hairline cracking every few years.
- Typical use
- Flat roofs, balconies and terraces, particularly where foot traffic is expected.
Appearance
Smooth resin finish, usually mid grey. Can be finished as a walkable terrace.
Advantages
- Completely seamless once cured
- Hard-wearing enough to walk on regularly
- Trims and upstands form part of the same laminate
Considerations
- Rigid, so it needs a stable deck — it will crack over movement
- Cannot be laid in wet or very cold conditions
- Repairs need matching resin and a dry window
A note on switching covering
Weight is the thing people forget. Concrete tile is roughly twice the weight per m² of natural slate, so a roof designed for slate cannot simply be re-covered in tile without the structure being checked first. It works the other way too — going lighter is usually fine, but the batten gauge and fixings all change. We check the structure at survey stage and say plainly if a covering you like is not an option.