A Georgian New Town roof, brought back to life in natural slate.
How we stripped and re-slated a Georgian New Town roof in natural Scottish slate, conservation-area compliant, with new lead valleys and a leak-free guarantee. An Edinburgh heritage roofing case study.
Case study · Heritage slating — New Town, EH2 · Conservation area · Full strip & re-slate · 3 weeks on site
Project at a glance
| Location | New Town, EH2 |
| Property | Georgian terrace |
| Material | Natural Scottish slate |
| Scope | Full strip & re-slate |
| Detailing | New lead valleys |
| Duration | 3 weeks |
| Constraint | Conservation area |
The brief
A 150-year-old roof at the end of its life.
The owners of a Georgian terraced home in Edinburgh’s New Town — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and conservation area — had been chasing recurring leaks for years. Slipped and delaminating slates, tired lead valleys and failed flashings were letting water into the top-floor rooms, and patch repairs were no longer holding.
Because the property sits within a conservation area, any work had to preserve the roof’s traditional appearance exactly — the right slate, the right detailing, no modern shortcuts visible from the street. The owners wanted it done once, done properly, and guaranteed.
What we did
A careful, conservation-grade re-slate.
We erected full scaffold and edge protection, then stripped the roof back to the timbers — salvaging every sound original slate we could for blending. From there:
- Replaced defective sarking — renewing tired roof boards and treating the timbers before re-covering.
- Laid a breathable membrane — improving ventilation and protecting the structure — invisible from the street.
- Re-slated in natural Scottish slate — blending salvaged originals with matched new slate, hand-sorted for size and colour.
- Formed new lead valleys & flashings — Code-appropriate lead, dressed traditionally to conservation standards.
- Re-bedded the ridge & chimney — new mortar, sound flashings and weather-tight chimney detailing.
- Cleared & aligned rainwater goods — so the new roof drains exactly as it should.
On site
The work in pictures.
The result
Watertight, authentic, and guaranteed.
The finished roof is indistinguishable from its original Victorian self from the street — exactly as conservation rules require — but it’s now fully weathertight, properly ventilated and good for generations. The leaks are gone, the top-floor rooms are dry, and the work carries our workmanship guarantee on top of the slate manufacturer’s warranty.
They treated our home like it was their own. The new roof looks completely original, the leaks are finally gone, and they handled every detail with the conservation office for us.
Mr & Mrs Sutherland · New Town, Edinburgh
Similar roof? If you’ve got a period or conservation-area roof in Edinburgh, we’d be glad to take a look. Request a free survey or read our Edinburgh roofing guide.
Keep reading
- Roofing in Edinburgh — slate, tenement & heritage roofing across every EH area.
- How long does a slate roof last in Scotland? — lifespan, warning signs and how to get the most from yours.
- All case studies — landmark roofs across Scotland & the UK.
Frequently asked questions
Can you re-roof a listed or conservation-area property in Edinburgh?
Yes — it's one of our specialities. We use sympathetic natural slate and traditional lead detailing so the finished roof matches the original appearance, which is what conservation areas and listed-building consent require. We're happy to liaise with the council's conservation team on your behalf.
Will a re-slate look different from the original roof?
It shouldn't. We salvage sound original slates, match new slate carefully for size, colour and weathering, and replicate the original detailing. From street level the finished roof looks original — the improvements (membrane, ventilation, sound timbers) are all hidden beneath.
How long does a full slate re-roof take?
A typical Edinburgh terrace or tenement runs around 2–3 weeks depending on size, access and weather. We'll give you a clear programme up front and keep the property watertight throughout.
What guarantee do you provide?
Our workmanship is guaranteed, and the slate and materials carry their own manufacturer warranties on top. You'll receive full documentation on completion.