Tiling a Roof: How Much Does it Cost?

Handmade clay tiles from Heritage Clay Tiles
(Image credit: Heritage Clay Tiles)

The choice of roof covering can have a significant impact on the eventual look of the home. And yet, in the initial stages, much more attention is lavished on the layout and the external cladding of the walls. However, it is the roof that makes an enclosure into a home and the choices tend to reflect the region in which the home is built.

Of course, there are many forms of roof covering, from the traditional thatch to the more contemporary sheet roofing; not to mention green roofing, which is taking up an increasing chunk of the market. Nevertheless, for most self builders the choices revolve around plain tiles, interlocking tiles and slates.

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Rosemary machine-made clay roof tiles
Tiles (10,716 tiles @ £450/1,000£4,822.20
– Labour (14 days)£3,528.00
Breathable membrane (5 rolls)£324.60
Batten (@ 31p per metre)£527.85
– Labour to underfelt and batten£2,666.52
Eaves support tray labour and material£239.81
Universal dry hip and ridge system and ridge and hip tiles £3,989.00
– Labour (5 days) £1,260.00
Valley lead £92.42
– Labour £36.12
Nails and fixings £81.18
Waste clearance £295.00
Total£17,862.70
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Marley Modern interlocking roof tiles
Tiles (1,980 tiles @ £1,100/1,000) £2,153.80
– Labour (7 days) £1,764.00
Breathable membrane (5 rolls) £324.60
Batten (@ 31p per metre) £139.50
– Labour to underfelt and batten £756.00
Eaves support tray labour and material £239.81
Universal dry hip and ridge system and ridge and hip tiles £3,989.00
– Labour (5 days) £1,260.00
GRP valley labour and materials £61.00
Nails and fixings £81.18
Waste clearance £295.00
Total £11,063.89
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Natural Spanish slates
Slates (3,547 slates @ £1.27 each) £4,504.69
– Labour (12 days) £3,024.00
Breathable membrane (5 rolls) £324.60
Batten (@ 31p per metre) £263.93
– Labour to underfelt and batten £1,389.60
Eaves support tray labour and material £239.81
Universal dry hip and ridge system and ridge and hip tiles £3,989.00
– Labour (5 days) £1,260.00
Valley lead £92.42
– Labour £36.12
Nails and fixings £81.18
Waste clearance £295.00
Total £15,500.35
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Flat Roof Cost Guide
Felt (torch-on method):Approximately £40-£50/m² fitted
EDPM Single Ply:Around £80/m² fitted
Fibreglass GRP:Approximately £90/m² (including lead flashing, trim and installation)
Green Roof:From £50/m² for a sedum roof to £200/m² for a fully planted intensive roof (bear in mind that any reinforcements that may be needed for the roof will cost extra)
Metal:Lead costs anything from around £50/m² not including installation. Zinc and copper are more at around £100/m² — again, this does not include installation
David Snell

David is one of the UK's leading self build and plotfinding experts, and a serial self builder who has been building homes for 50 years. The author of Building Your Own Home, now in its 18th edition, and the Homes Plans Book, David spent decades as a speaker and expert at self build exhibitions such as the Homebuilding & Renovating Show. He also helped countless budding self builders find their dream building plots as part of his long-running Plotfinder Challenge series in Homebuilding & Renovating magazine. He has self built 14 homes.