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.
We take on a new roof throughout St Albans and the surrounding AL1 and AL2 postcodes, as well as in Harpenden, Hatfield and Hemel Hempstead. The guide range for this work in the East of England is £7,400–£16,000 including VAT; where your project falls depends on its size, the materials you pick and how easy the site is to reach. A free survey turns that range into a fixed figure.
- Guide price
- £7,400–£16,000 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 1–2 weeks on site, plus scaffolding time
- Postcodes
- AL1 and AL2
- Planning rules
- England
- Local area
- Hertfordshire
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
How much does a new roof cost in St Albans?
These are guide costs, not quotes. For a new roof in St Albans the range is £7,400–£16,000, VAT included, reflecting prices in the East of England that are about 5% above the national guide. Once we have visited for a free survey, you get a firm figure for the scope you approve.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in St Albans |
|---|---|---|
| Terraced house or bungalow | A smaller pitched roof re-covered in concrete or clay tiles, including scaffolding. | £5,200–£10,500 |
| Typical semi-detached | A 3-bed semi re-roofed in concrete or clay tiles with new membrane, battens and leadwork. | £7,400–£16,000 |
| Detached or natural slate | Larger or more complex roofs, or any roof finished in natural slate. | £12,500–£26,000 |
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
- Scaffolding, access and the height of the house
What does the job include in St Albans?
- Survey of the covering, timbers, chimneys and loft ventilation
- Repairs or replacement of damaged rafters and fascia boards
- 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
- Waste removal by skip and a clean site on completion
Building in St Albans
Hertfordshire is home to the first garden cities, Letchworth and Welwyn Garden City, and the post-war new towns of Stevenage, Hatfield and Hemel Hempstead. Watford and St Albans have Victorian terraces and Georgian streets, interwar semis line the commuter suburbs, and brick-and-flint cottages appear in Chiltern villages to the west.
Generally dry with chalk and clay soils; clay areas can move in long dry spells, and mature trees near houses need considering for foundations.
That variety is why a guide price for a new roof in St Albans is only a starting point; the survey shows what your particular property needs.
Do you need permission in St Albans?
Because St Albans falls under England's rules, the guidance below is the version relevant to you. Before sending a price, we check your property's position with the council.
Re-roofing a house with similar materials does not usually need planning permission in England. Listed buildings and conservation areas may need consent if the covering changes.
Replacing more than a quarter of a roof’s covering counts as renovation under Building Regulations, so the work is notified and the roof insulation may need upgrading. 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.
What happens after you get in touch?
A visit to your home
First, someone visits your home in St Albans to see the space, take measurements and note anything that could affect the work, such as access or the condition of what is there. There is no charge for this visit.
Written quote
We put everything into a written, fixed-price quote: the specification, what's excluded, staged payments and the expected time on site. Take whatever time you need to decide; there's no pressure to commit.
Booking the work
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
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.
How we work
Roof replacement in St Albans: questions
Can you combine a new roof with other work?
Yes. Because we manage several trades under one contract, we can plan a new roof alongside other work on your St Albans home, such as new windows with rendering, or a kitchen refit with an extension. Combining jobs can reduce repeat set-up such as scaffolding, skips and access, and every element is listed and priced in the same written quote.
Do I need planning permission to replace my roof?
Planning permission is not usually needed to re-roof in similar materials, but it depends on the change, your home's location, whether it is listed or in a conservation area, and which UK nation you live in. Changing the roof shape, height or covering material can need permission. Listed buildings need consent for re-roofing. We check the position for your home before quoting.
Can I stay at home during the work?
In most cases, yes. Most people can live at home throughout, and we plan the work to keep disruption down by protecting floors, agreeing working hours and keeping access routes clear. Bigger jobs affecting kitchens, bathrooms or heating may mean a short spell with reduced facilities, and we talk this through with you at the survey.
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.
How much does a new roof cost?
Re-roofing a typical 3-bed semi costs £7,400–£16,000, 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.
Nearby towns
St Albans and its AL1 and AL2 postcodes are part of our coverage. Homeowners in Harpenden, Hatfield and Hemel Hempstead can also book a free survey with us and receive a written price for their job.