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.
Homeowners in Edinburgh usually consider a new roof for one of a few reasons: something has worn out, the house no longer suits the way they live, or they are getting it ready to sell. We visit, agree a specification and put a fixed price in writing. Most jobs like this take 1–2 weeks on site, plus scaffolding time, and we work across Edinburgh and the Lothians, including Musselburgh, Bonnyrigg and Penicuik.
- Guide price
- £6,700–£14,500 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 1–2 weeks on site, plus scaffolding time
- Postcodes
- EH1, EH2, EH3, EH7 and EH8
- Planning rules
- Scotland
- Local area
- City of Edinburgh
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
Roof replacement prices in Edinburgh
Here is how the guide price for a new roof breaks down in Edinburgh. We start from national figures and adjust for Scotland, which comes out about 4% below the national guide. The resulting range, VAT included, is £6,700–£14,500, and a survey, at no cost to you, firms it up.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Edinburgh |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
What moves the price up or down:
- 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
- Scaffolding, access and the height of the house
What’s included?
- 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
- Breathable membrane and new treated battens
- New tiles or slates, or sound originals refitted where suitable
- Ridges, hips and verges dry-fixed or bedded, with new leadwork
What are homes like around Edinburgh?
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.
For a new roof in Edinburgh, this means checking things like wall construction, roof structure and existing services before we put a figure on paper.
Permissions for a new roof in Edinburgh
Each UK nation sets its own consent rules, and Edinburgh is in Scotland. What follows is a plain summary; we check the specifics for your property with the council before pricing anything.
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.
The four stages
Survey and measure
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.
Dates and permissions
Next comes planning the work itself. We set a start date that suits you, line up the right trades, and make sure any approvals for a new roof are in place before the first day on site.
On site to finish
The job proceeds in the order set out in the programme, with dust and debris kept under control. Finally we tidy away, inspect the work together and pass the finished project over to you with its paperwork.
What you can expect from us
Roof replacement in Edinburgh: questions
How much will a new roof cost in Edinburgh?
As a guide, expect to pay £6,700–£14,500 including VAT for a new roof in Edinburgh. 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.
How much does a new roof cost?
Re-roofing a typical 3-bed semi costs £6,700–£14,500, including scaffolding, new membrane and battens. As a guide, allow roughly £70–£160 per square metre of roof plus fixed costs for scaffolding and waste. Concrete tiles sit at the lower end and natural slate at the top. Hips, valleys, chimneys and timber repairs add to the price. We confirm a fixed figure after inspecting the roof and loft.
What happens at the survey?
We visit your home at a time that suits you, look at the area involved, take measurements and check access, condition and any services that might be affected. We talk through what you want from a new roof, explain the options and answer questions. There is no charge and no obligation; afterwards we send a written quote.
How do I know if I need a new roof or just repairs?
A roof needs replacing when problems are widespread, not isolated. Signs include many slipped, cracked or porous tiles, sagging between rafters, daylight or damp in the loft, perished felt that crumbles to the touch and repeated leaks in different places. A few slipped tiles or a loose ridge can usually be repaired. We inspect from outside and inside the loft and tell you honestly which is needed.
Will my loft insulation and ventilation be improved?
Re-roofing is a good time to improve loft ventilation and insulation. A breathable membrane and eaves or ridge vents keep air moving and reduce condensation in the loft. Building regulations may require insulation upgrades when a large part of the roof is renewed. We check your current insulation and ventilation and include any required improvements in the quote.
Near Edinburgh
Homes across EH1, EH2, EH3 and EH7 in Edinburgh are within our coverage, as are those in Musselburgh, Bonnyrigg and Penicuik. If you are just outside these areas, ask anyway, because we work right across the UK.