A roof replacement, or re-roof, strips the old tiles or slates, battens and felt from a pitched roof and replaces them with a new breathable membrane, battens and covering, repairing timbers and renewing ridges, valleys and flashings at the same time.
Cost is usually the first question about a new roof, so here is the guide for Scotland: £6,700–£14,500 including VAT. We cover the whole of Edinburgh and the Lothians, with Edinburgh, Livingston, Musselburgh and Bathgate among the main centres. Because each UK nation sets its own rules, we check the requirements in Scotland for your property, then put a firm price on paper following a free survey.
- Guide price
- £6,700–£14,500 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 1–2 weeks on site, plus scaffolding time
- Planning rules
- Scotland
- Price level
- About 4% below the national guide
- Towns listed
- 7
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
How much does a new roof cost in Edinburgh and the Lothians?
In Edinburgh and the Lothians, guide figures for a new roof sit at £6,700–£14,500, VAT included. We set them using rates for Scotland, currently about 4% below the national guide. The table shows what pushes a project towards either end of the range; your own price is set after a free survey.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Edinburgh and the Lothians |
|---|---|---|
| Terraced house or bungalow | A smaller pitched roof re-covered in concrete or clay tiles, including scaffolding. | £4,800–£9,600 |
| Typical semi-detached | A 3-bed semi re-roofed in concrete or clay tiles with new membrane, battens and leadwork. | £6,700–£14,500 |
| Detached or natural slate | Larger or more complex roofs, or any roof finished in natural slate. | £11,500–£24,000 |
The main things that change the figure:
- Roof area, pitch and the number of hips, valleys and dormers
- Covering material: concrete tile, clay tile or natural slate
- Condition of rafters, fascias and other timbers
- Chimneys, leadwork and roof windows to rework
Scope of the work
- Survey of the covering, timbers, chimneys and loft ventilation
- Scaffolding with edge protection, erected and removed
- Stripping old tiles or slates, battens and felt in stages
- Repairs or replacement of damaged rafters and fascia boards
- Ridges, hips and verges dry-fixed or bedded, with new leadwork
- Waste removal by skip and a clean site on completion
Housing across Edinburgh and the Lothians
Edinburgh's New Town is a planned Georgian sandstone townscape within a World Heritage Site, and districts such as Marchmont and Leith have Victorian tenements. Bungalows and villas fill the suburbs, Midlothian has former mining villages, Livingston was built as a new town, and East Lothian villages often have red pantile roofs.
Listed and conservation-area homes need careful window and stone repairs. Bungalows commonly suit loft conversions and dormers, and suburban semis take extensions and garage conversions.
East-coast weather brings cold winds, haar and frost, and exposed hills around the city catch wind-driven rain.
Do you need permission in Edinburgh and the Lothians?
For anyone in Edinburgh and the Lothians, the relevant framework is Scotland's. The summary below is general, so we always contact the council about your address before putting a price in writing.
In Scotland, like-for-like re-roofing does not usually need planning permission, except on listed buildings or in conservation areas.
Like-for-like re-covering does not usually need a building warrant, but structural changes or new roof windows can. Bats are protected across the UK; if they roost under roof tiles, soffits or fascias, work stops and a licensed ecologist advises before it restarts.
Rules change and every property is different, so we check the planning history and constraints for your address before we quote.
From survey to handover
A visit to your home
We arrange a free site survey on a date convenient to you. We measure up, look at the existing structure and access, and discuss your plans for a new roof so the price reflects your home.
Quote in writing
Next you receive a written quote with a fixed price for the agreed specification. It lists what is included, what is not, and how payments are staged, so you can compare it properly.
Getting ready
With the quote agreed, we book the work in and handle preparation: permissions where needed, building control notifications, material orders and access arrangements for your Edinburgh and the Lothians property.
Build and hand over
Our trades complete a new roof while your point of contact keeps you updated. When everything is finished, we clear the site, take away waste and go through the result with you before handover.
What you can expect from us
Questions about a new roof in Edinburgh and the Lothians
How long will a new roof last?
A well-installed roof lasts for decades. Concrete tiles typically last around 50 years or more, clay tiles longer, and natural slate can last a century with proper upkeep. Lifespan depends on the quality of materials, fixings, ventilation and leadwork, and on how exposed the roof is. Keeping gutters clear and fixing slipped tiles quickly helps it reach its full life.
How much will a new roof cost in Edinburgh and the Lothians?
As a guide, expect to pay £6,700–£14,500 including VAT for a new roof in Edinburgh and the Lothians. That range is adjusted for Scotland, which runs about 4% below the national guide. Where your project lands depends on size, materials, access and the condition of what is already there. We confirm a fixed price in writing after a free survey of your home.
Which postcodes in Edinburgh and the Lothians do you cover?
We cover EH1, EH53, EH21 and EH48, along with the rest of Edinburgh and the Lothians. If your postcode is not listed, get in touch anyway: our coverage is UK-wide, and we can usually arrange a survey wherever you live. Enter your postcode in the guide-price tool or contact form and we will confirm.
What happens if it rains during the work?
We strip the roof in sections and only remove as much covering as we can replace or protect the same day. New breathable membrane goes on straight after stripping, which keeps most rain out, and we sheet exposed areas at the end of each day and before forecast showers. If heavy rain or high winds are forecast, we pause work. The house is never left open.
Can my old tiles or slates be reused?
Old tiles or slates can sometimes be reused if they are sound, which can help keep the look of a period house. Many older concrete tiles and some slates are porous, cracked or have failing fixing nibs, so they would not last. Reclaimed slates or tiles can make up shortfalls. We check a sample during the survey and explain the cost difference.
Towns in Edinburgh and the Lothians
Our coverage for a new roof in Edinburgh and the Lothians includes the towns listed here. Each page explains guide costs, typical timings and the neighbouring places we also serve.