Slate Roofing Specialists in Swindon & Oxford
Beautiful, Long-Lasting Slate Roofs Crafted to Last a Century
- New Slate Roof Installations, Repairs & Restoration
- Natural, Reclaimed & Synthetic Slate Specialists
- Family-Owned, Fully Insured & Backed by 15-Year Guarantee
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NEW ROOF INSTALLATIONS
Expert New Roof Installations Across Swindon, Oxford & Surrounding Areas
At Crown Guard Roofing Services, we are specialist slate roofers working across Watchfield, Swindon, Oxford, Witney, Carterton, Abingdon, Didcot and the surrounding areas. As a family-owned business with over 10 years of hands-on experience, we’ve worked on slate roofs of every age and style — from new high-end builds to careful restoration of period properties, listed buildings and traditional Cotswold homes.
A slate roof is in a class of its own. Few roofing materials match the timeless beauty, character and durability of natural slate — which is why it’s been the premium choice for British homes for centuries. A properly installed slate roof can last 80–100+ years, develops a beautiful patina with age, and adds genuine, lasting value to any property.
But slate roofing is also one of the most demanding crafts in the trade. Each slate must be hand-graded, properly fixed, and laid with precise attention to head laps, side laps and weather detailing. Get it wrong, and even the most expensive slates will fail within years. Get it right, and your roof will outlast you.
That’s where our experience matters. Whether you need a brand-new slate roof, careful repairs to existing slates, or full restoration of a heritage property, we deliver work that’s done properly, looks stunning, and lasts. Every slate roof is fully insured and backed by our 15-year workmanship guarantee for total peace of mind.
TYPES OF SLATE ROOFS WE WORK WITH
We work with every type of slate from premium natural Welsh slate to budget-friendly synthetic alternatives. We’ll help you choose the right slate for your property’s style, your budget, and how long you want the roof to last.
Welsh Slate
Welsh Slate The gold standard of British roofing slate for nearly 200 years. Welsh slate is renowned worldwide for its dense, even texture, deep blue-grey colour, and exceptional longevity. The premium choice for character properties and high-end new builds.
Best for: Period properties, listed buildings, premium new builds, and any property where authenticity and longevity matter most.
Key benefits:
- Lifespan of 100+ years
- Exceptional natural beauty and consistency
- Holds colour for decades
- Naturally fire and frost resistant
- Adds significant property value
Spanish Slate
Spanish Slate Spanish slate offers excellent quality at a more accessible price point than Welsh slate. Top-grade Spanish slate is widely used across the UK and provides outstanding performance and a beautiful natural finish.
Best for: New builds, re-roofs and properties wanting natural slate without Welsh slate prices.
Key benefits:
- Lifespan of 75–100 years
- Excellent quality at competitive prices
- Wide range of grades and finishes available
- Natural, attractive appearance
- Reliable performance proven over decades
Reclaimed Slate
Reclaimed Natural Slate Beautiful, characterful slates carefully reclaimed from historic roofs and given a second life. Ideal for restoring period properties where matching the original look is essential.
Best for: Listed buildings, conservation areas, period restorations, and homes in Cotswold or heritage settings.
Key benefits:
- Authentic period appearance
- Already weathered and patinated
- Environmentally sustainable choice
- Often the only acceptable choice in conservation areas
- Decades of remaining service life when properly graded
Our Complete Slate Roofing Services
- New Slate Roof Installations Brand-new slate roofs for new builds, extensions and full re-roofs — installed with quality felt, batten and fixing systems built to current British standards.
- Slate Roof Replacements (Re-Roofs) Stripping back tired or failing slate roofs and rebuilding from the structure up — often using reclaimed slates where appropriate.
- Slate Repairs & Replacements Replacing slipped, broken or missing slates using carefully matched materials to keep your roof watertight and looking right.
- Period & Heritage Slate Restoration Specialist restoration work for listed buildings, period properties and homes in conservation areas — sympathetic to the property's original character.
- Ridge Tile Re-Bedding Re-bedding loose or cracked ridge tiles on slate roofs — often a critical job for stopping leaks at the highest point of the roof.
Signs Your Slate Roof Needs Repair or Replacement
Slate roofs can last a century but they don’t always need replacing when they start showing problems. Knowing the warning signs helps you act early and often saves the original slates. Here’s what to look out for:
On the Roof
- Slipped slates leaning out of position
- Missing slates or visible gaps
- Cracked, broken or split slates
- Powdery, flaking or delaminating slate surfaces
- Sagging or uneven roof line
- White nail-staining where fixings are failing (“nail sickness”)
Inside Your Home
- Damp patches on bedroom or upstairs ceilings
- Active leaks during heavy rain
- Daylight visible through the loft
- Damp or musty smells in the loft space
- Stained or sagging upstairs ceilings
- Higher heating bills (poor underlay/insulation)
If your slate roof is 50+ years old and you’re seeing multiple slipped slates at once, it’s often a sign of “nail sickness” — where the original iron nails have rusted through. In this case, the slates may still be sound but the fixings have failed. We can usually salvage and re-lay the original slates onto fresh battens and underlay.
The Benefits of a Properly Installed Slate Roof
A slate roof from Crown Guard Roofing is more than just protection — it’s a long-term investment that pays you back for decades. Here’s what you gain:
- A century of weather protection — Natural slate roofs routinely last 80–100+ years when properly installed and maintained.
- Stunning visual appeal — The natural variation, depth of colour and character of slate is impossible to replicate with concrete or synthetic alternatives.
- Significant property value — A slate roof is one of the strongest selling points any property can have, particularly on period homes.
- Excellent fire resistance — Natural slate is non-combustible.
- Outstanding weather resistance — Highly resistant to frost, UV, rain, and pollution.
- Naturally sustainable — Slate is a natural mineral, recyclable, and reclaimed slate is one of the greenest roofing options available.
- Suits all property types — From traditional cottages to modern architecture, slate looks brilliant on almost any building.
- Develops character with age — Unlike concrete tiles which fade, slate develops a beautiful patina that improves over time.
- Low maintenance — Once properly installed, slate roofs need very little attention for decades.
Fully guaranteed — Every slate roof we install is fully insured and backed by our 15-year workmanship guarantee.
How We Install & Restore Slate Roofs
Slate roofing is a craft — and we treat it like one. Whether it’s a single slate replacement or a full heritage restoration, our process is the same: clear, professional and built around quality.
Free On-Site Survey
We visit your property, fully inspect your existing roof or area, and discuss exactly what you're looking for. We'll talk through slate options, colours, fixings and timescales — in plain English, with no upselling.
Detailed Written Quotation
You'll receive a clear, fixed-price written quote covering all materials, labour, scaffolding, underlay, battens, fixings and waste removal. Everything itemised — nothing hidden.
Project Planning & Scheduling
Once you're happy to go ahead, we agree a start date and source your slates from trusted suppliers — particularly important for matching reclaimed slates on heritage projects.
Professional Installation
Our experienced team carries out the work to the highest standard — laying quality underlay, accurately spaced battens, and hand-grading every slate before it goes on. Lead detailing is fitted to last for generations.
You’re in Safe Hands
We’re here to help with your roofing emergencies 24 hours a day, 365 days a year providing fast, reliable, fully insured support whenever you need it most
Why Choose Us for Your Slate Roof?
Slate roofing is a specialist trade. Many general roofers can fit concrete tiles competently, but slate demands genuine craft skills — proper hand-grading, accurate head laps, careful fixing, and the experience to know when a roof can be saved versus when it needs replacing. As a family-owned roofing company with over a decade of hands-on slate experience, we bring that craft to every project.
- Family-owned and locally trusted for over a decade
- Fully insured with full public liability cover
- 10+ years of new roof installation experience
- 15-year workmanship guarantee on every new roof
- Specialists in Welsh, Spanish, reclaimed & synthetic slates
- Sympathetic restoration of period & heritage properties
- Quality materials from trusted UK suppliers
- Free, no-obligation surveys and written quotes
- Fixed-price quotations — no hidden costs
- Skilled, time-served roofers (no subcontractors)
Frequently Asked Questions
Our customers often ask the same questions about slate roofing, so here are clear, honest answers to the most common ones:
That depends on the slate type:
- Welsh slate: 100+ years
- Spanish slate (top grade): 75–100 years
- Reclaimed slate: 50+ years remaining service life when properly graded
- Synthetic / fibre cement slate: 40–60 years
A well-installed natural slate roof from a reputable installer will easily reach the upper end of those ranges. Our 15-year workmanship guarantee covers the installation work itself.
Welsh slate is the premium choice — exceptional quality, longest lifespan, but the most expensive.
Spanish slate offers excellent quality at a more accessible price — the most popular choice for new slate roofs.
Reclaimed slate is essential for heritage properties and conservation areas where matching the original is required.
We'll always recommend the right slate for your specific property and budget.
For most domestic properties, a typical slate re-roof takes between 5 and 10 days depending on the size of the property, the type of slate, and the weather. Slate is more time-consuming to lay than concrete tile because each slate is fixed individually.
Slate roofing is generally a premium investment — it costs more than concrete tile but lasts considerably longer. Costs depend on the size of your roof, the slate chosen, scaffolding, and the condition of the existing structure. We provide free, fixed-price written quotes so you'll know the exact price before any work begins.
Not necessarily. Many slate roof problems come from "nail sickness" — where the original iron nails have rusted through, but the slates themselves are still perfectly sound. In these cases, we can often strip the roof, replace the underlay, battens and fixings, then re-lay the original slates at a fraction of the cost of new materials. A free inspection will tell you exactly what's possible.
Yes, very often — particularly with Welsh slate, which can have decades of remaining service life even on roofs over 100 years old. We carefully strip, hand-grade and re-lay sound slates onto fresh underlay and battens. This is the best of both worlds: original character, modern weatherproofing.
Yes. We carry out sympathetic slate roofing work on listed buildings, period homes and properties in conservation areas across Oxford and the Cotswolds. We work with reclaimed materials, traditional fixing methods, and the right detailing to satisfy planning and conservation requirements.
Yes — for proper safety and quality, full scaffolding is needed for almost all slate roof installations and major repairs. This is always included in your written quote — no surprise charges.
Yes — Crown Guard Roofing is fully insured with comprehensive public liability cover. We're happy to provide proof of insurance before any work begins.
Yes — every slate roof we install is backed by our 15-year workmanship guarantee, one of the strongest in the local industry. The slate itself, of course, will outlast any guarantee we could offer.
Need a roofer
We’re here to help with your slate roofing requirements 365 days a year, no matter your situation. Family-owned. Fully insured. Backed by a 15-year guarantee.