🏠 Trusted Local Roofers
Roof Replacement & Re-roofing Market Harborough
A tired roof gives itself away long before it fails outright. Slipped tiles, damp patches upstairs and a ridge that dips in the middle all point the same way. When patch after patch stops holding, roof replacement in Market Harborough is the honest fix, not another bucket in the loft. Tate & Sons Roofing strips, re-boards and re-covers pitched roofs across the town and the wider Welland Valley, from a single failed slope to a full house re-roof.
This page explains when a roof is worth replacing, the coverings we fit, what a re-roof costs in 2025, how long the work takes, and the planning rules that apply. Every job starts with a free drone survey and a written price, so you know the cost before anyone touches a tile. Re-roofing is one part of the wider service we offer as a roofing contractor across Market Harborough.
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Know the Signs Your Roof Needs Replacing, Not Just Patching
Most roofs warn you well ahead of a full failure. Catch the signs early and you can plan the work on your terms, rather than in a panic after a storm.
Watch for these:
- Slipped, cracked or missing tiles showing up after every gale
- A ridge line that sags or dips in the middle
- Damp patches or brown stains on upstairs ceilings
- Daylight coming through the roof when you stand in the loft
- Piles of tile grit or sand collecting in the gutters
- Failed or crumbling mortar along the ridge and hips
- The same leak coming back after two or three repairs
One or two slipped tiles rarely means the whole roof is finished. A single slope failing while the rest holds firm is a repair, or at most a partial re-roof. It is the pattern that matters, not one bad tile. When leaks spread across the covering, the felt underneath has perished, or repairs no longer hold, replacement usually works out cheaper over time. We see this on older houses around Great Bowden and Kibworth Beauchamp, where a 1960s concrete tiled roof has simply reached the end of its life. Sinking money into a roof that fails every winter costs more than doing it once, properly. Our Residential Roofing service covers repairs too, so you get a fair steer either way.
Repair, Partial Re-roof or Full Re-roof — You Get a Straight Answer
Not every failing roof needs stripping to the rafters. There are three routes, and the right one depends on how much of the covering has gone. A repair sorts isolated damage on a sound roof. A partial re-roof re-covers one failed elevation while the rest lasts on. A full re-roof strips the whole thing back and starts fresh. Here is how the three compare in plain figures.
| :-: | :-: | :-: | :-: |
| Option | Typical cost | What you get | Best for |
| Roof repair | £150–£800 | Fixes the fault; roof life unchanged | A few slipped tiles or one failed flashing on a sound roof |
| Partial re-roof | £1,800–£5,000 | One elevation re-covered; 30–60 year life on that slope | A single worn-out slope while the other side holds on |
| Full re-roof | £5,500–£12,000 | New covering, felt and battens throughout; 30–60 years | Widespread failure, a sagging structure or an end-of-life roof |
A repair costs a fraction of a full re-roof, so we always check whether one will hold before quoting anything bigger. The free drone survey shows the whole roof at once — the ridge, the valleys and the flashings a ground-level look always misses. You get the footage, not just our word for it. If a repair buys you five more good years, we will tell you, even though it earns us less. That is how you build trust in Lubenham, Foxton and every village we work in.
Slate, Clay or Concrete — The Covering That Suits Your Home
Three coverings account for almost every pitched roof around Market Harborough. Each has its own look, cost and lifespan. In short: concrete tiles are the strong-value choice most homes end up with; clay tiles cost more but hold their colour and suit older and period properties; natural slate costs the most upfront and lasts longest, the pick for character homes and conservation streets. The right choice depends on your house, your budget and how long you want it to last.
- **Concrete tiles*are the most affordable and cover most post-war homes in the district. A good concrete tiled roof lasts around 30 to 50 years and gives strong value for the money.
- **Clay tiles*cost more but keep their colour for decades and never fade. They suit older houses and period streets, and a clay roof often lasts 50 years or more.
- **Natural slate*is the longest-lived covering, often good for 60 years and beyond. It carries the highest upfront cost, but suits character homes and conservation areas where looks matter most.
Whichever covering you choose, the felt and battens underneath get replaced as part of a full re-roof. That hidden layer is what keeps a roof watertight, so a proper job never reuses old, perished felt. If you are weighing a full replacement against a fresh build, our New Roof Installation page covers new-build and extension roofs in full. Ryan Tate, who runs our site work, will walk you through which covering suits your roof and your budget, in plain English rather than sales talk.
What a Full Re-roof Really Costs in Market Harborough
Cost comes down to three things: the size of the roof, the covering you pick, and access for scaffold.
As a general guide, a full re-roof runs roughly £70 to £130 per square metre all-in, covering strip-off, new felt, battens, tiles and labour. Most semi-detached roofs cover 50 to 65 square metres, which works out at around £5,500 to £9,500. A larger detached house often lands between £8,000 and £12,000 or more. The covering matters too: concrete tiles sit at the lower end, clay in the middle, and natural slate at the top.
What pushes a price up or down:
- **Roof size and pitch*— a bigger, steeper roof takes more time, more scaffold and more materials
- **Covering choice*— concrete is cheapest per square metre, clay sits higher, slate costs the most
- **Access*— a roof tight against a neighbour or a busy road needs more scaffold than an open frontage
- **Timber condition*— rotten rafters or battens found on strip-off add cost before the covering goes back
- **Insulation and ventilation*— bringing the roof up to current Building Regs standard adds to the bill
These are general market ranges for 2025, not a quote for your roof. Two houses the same size can price very differently once access and timber condition are weighed in. For an independent view, the FMB new roof cost guide is a useful read before you commit. The only way to a firm figure is a proper survey — which is exactly what our free drone survey gives you, followed by a clear written price with nothing added later. A fixed price needs a survey.
What Happens on a Re-roofing Job, Day by Day
A full re-roof follows the same order on every house:
- Scaffold goes up and the roof is sheeted for weather protection
- Old tiles, felt and battens stripped back to the rafters
- Rafters checked and any rotten timber replaced
- New breathable felt and treated battens fitted throughout
- New tiles or slates laid, with fresh ridge and hip work
- Flashings, lead and mortar finished, then the site cleared
Most semi-detached and terraced re-roofs take three to five working days, weather allowing. A large detached house or a complex roof with many valleys can run one to two weeks. We give you a realistic timeframe before work starts, not an optimistic one to win the job. The roof stays sheeted overnight, so your home is protected even mid-strip. You will know who is turning up each morning and roughly how long they will be there. Homeowners in Medbourne and Husbands Bosworth tell us that clarity is half of why they book.
Planning Permission and Building Regs, Handled for You
A like-for-like re-roof, with the same style and materials, usually needs no planning permission in England. Change the roof line, raise the height or add dormers and that changes, so we flag it before quoting.
Building Regulations are a separate matter and apply to most full re-roofs. Once you re-cover 50% or more of a roof, the work has to meet current standards for insulation and ventilation. Your roof counts as a thermal element, so a re-cover is the moment to bring it up to standard and keep more heat in the house. Listed buildings and homes in conservation areas need consent first, and parts of Great Bowden and Foxton sit within those areas. We handle the Building Control side as part of the job, so you are not left chasing forms or worrying about sign-off later.
A New Roof That Protects Your Home for Decades
A re-roof done properly should see out the covering’s full life with little more than the odd check. A few simple habits keep it that way, and none of them need a specialist.
- Clear leaves and moss from gutters each autumn
- Glance up after every big storm for slipped or missing tiles
- Check upstairs ceilings for any fresh damp patches
- Book a free drone survey if you spot any warning sign above
A new roof also lifts the value and kerb appeal of your home, and gives a buyer’s surveyor one less thing to flag. With paperwork and a warranty behind it, a fresh re-roof reassures a lender and can head off a retention on a sale. Look after it and it will look after the house for 30 years or more.
Why Market Harborough Homeowners Call Tate & Sons First
You are not just buying tiles — you are buying whoever fits them. Ryan Tate, our project manager, joined the trade full-time after his NVQ Level 3 in Roofing, and specialises in full re-roofs. He runs the site work himself and is part of the same crew that turns up to strip and re-cover your roof, not just the man who quoted it.
Founder Michael Tate started his apprenticeship at sixteen and built Tate & Sons on one conviction: fix the cause, not just the symptom. He surveys every job himself and never patches a roof to look right for a season and fail the next. Between us we carry over 45 years of combined experience, hold NVQ Level 2 and 3 qualifications in Roofing Occupations, and keep CSCS cards and NFRC trade-body membership. Hannah Freeman, our office manager, keeps you posted from the first phone call through to final inspection, so nothing slips between the drone survey and the finished roof. Read more about the people behind the work on our About Tate & Sons Roofing page.
Areas We Serve Across Market Harborough and the Harborough District
We replace and re-roof homes across Market Harborough and the surrounding Welland Valley villages. If your area is not on the list below, call us anyway — if you are nearby, there is a strong chance we cover you.
- Market Harborough (LE16)
- Great Bowden (LE16 7)
- Little Bowden (LE16 8)
- Lubenham (LE16 9)
- Foxton (LE16 7)
- Medbourne (LE16 8)
- Kibworth Beauchamp (LE8)
- Great Glen (LE8 9)
- Fleckney (LE8 8)
- Husbands Bosworth (LE17 6)
- Desborough (NN14 2)
Got Questions?
Your Roof Replacement Questions, Answered Properly
How do I know if I need a new roof or just a repair?
It comes down to how much of the roof has failed. A few slipped tiles or one leak usually means a repair on an otherwise sound roof. Widespread failure, perished felt, a sagging ridge or repairs that keep coming back point to a re-roof instead. A free drone survey shows the whole roof at once, so you get a straight answer rather than a guess. We would rather sell you a repair that holds than a re-roof you do not yet need.
How much does a full re-roof cost in Market Harborough?
As a general guide, a full re-roof runs around £70 to £130 per square metre all-in. A typical semi-detached roof lands between roughly £5,500 and £9,500, while a larger detached house can reach £12,000 or more. The covering makes a difference, with concrete tiles cheapest and natural slate the priciest. A free drone survey gives you an exact written price rather than a phone estimate. A fixed price always needs a survey first.
How long does re-roofing a house take?
Most semi-detached and terraced re-roofs take three to five working days. A large detached house or a roof with many valleys can run one to two weeks. Weather plays a part, since heavy rain or high wind can pause a strip-off for safety. We keep the roof sheeted overnight so your home stays protected throughout. You get a realistic timeframe before we start, not an optimistic one.
Do I need planning permission to re-roof my house?
Usually not. A like-for-like re-roof, using the same materials and keeping the same roof line, counts as permitted development in most cases. You will need planning permission if you change the shape, raise the height or add dormers. Listed buildings and conservation areas are the exception and need consent first. We check all of this before quoting, so there are no surprises once work is scheduled.
Do I need Building Regulations approval to re-roof?
Most full re-roofs do. Once you re-cover 50% or more of a roof, the work has to meet current standards for insulation and ventilation. Your roof is treated as a thermal element, so a re-cover is the point at which it must be brought up to standard. This keeps more heat in the house and cuts your energy bills over time. We handle the Building Control paperwork as part of the job.
What is the difference between a partial and a full re-roof?
A partial re-roof re-covers one elevation or slope while the rest of the roof is left in place. It suits a house where one side has worn out but the other still has years left. A full re-roof strips the whole roof back to the rafters and re-covers everything at once. Full replacement costs more upfront but resets the life of the entire roof. A survey tells you which route makes better sense for your money.
Which roof covering lasts longest — slate, clay or concrete?
Natural slate lasts longest, often 60 years and beyond. Clay tiles typically hold up for 50 years or more and keep their colour without fading. Concrete tiles give around 30 to 50 years and offer the strongest value for the money. The best choice balances lifespan, looks and budget for your particular house. We talk you through all three at survey stage so the decision is yours.
Will a new roof add value to my home?
It can, and it removes a common sticking point on a sale. Surveyors flag old or failing roofs, and a buyer often chips the price or asks for a retention when one turns up. A recent re-roof with paperwork and a warranty behind it reassures both buyer and lender. It also lifts kerb appeal and cuts heat loss once the insulation is upgraded. Few home improvements protect the whole building the way a new roof does.
Book Your Free Drone Roof Survey Today
See exactly what your roof needs before any work starts. No ladders, no pressure — just a clear picture from a local Market Harborough team.
Every winter a tired roof waits, water works deeper into the felt and timber beneath the tiles. A quick, free survey today tells you exactly where you stand — and often a repair still does the job. Book now, get an honest quote, and protect your home before the next storm finds the weak spot.
ð 5 Hood Close, Market Harborough, LE16 9XS
ð 01858 457600
Call the Market Harborough team today on 01858 457600, or request your free drone survey online. We're already working across your area.
Book Your Free Drone Roof Survey
See exactly where your roof stands, with no obligation and no pressure. Call our Market Harborough team or request your free drone survey today.
Get in Touch
Tate & Sons Roofing — Market Harborough Office
5 Hood Close, Market Harborough, LE16 9XS
📞 01858 457600
✉️ [email protected]