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 Galashiels 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 Scottish Borders, including Hawick, Kelso and Peebles.
- Guide price
- £6,700–£14,500 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 1–2 weeks on site, plus scaffolding time
- Postcodes
- TD1
- Planning rules
- Scotland
- Local area
- The Scottish Borders
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
Roof replacement prices in Galashiels
Budgeting for a new roof in Galashiels? The numbers below include VAT and are adjusted for Scotland, where costs are about 4% below the national guide. The headline range is £6,700–£14,500. Nothing is final until we have measured up at a free survey and agreed the specification with you.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Galashiels |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Your price depends mostly on:
- Roof area, pitch and the number of hips, valleys and dormers
- Condition of rafters, fascias and other timbers
- Chimneys, leadwork and roof windows to rework
- Scaffolding, access and the height of the house
What do you get?
- 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
Homes in Scottish Borders
Mill towns such as Hawick, Galashiels and Selkirk have stone terraces and tenements from the textile industry, Melrose and Kelso have older sandstone centres, and farmhouses and cottages across the Borders are built of whinstone or sandstone under slate roofs. Post-war and newer estates surround the larger towns.
Cold winters with frost and snow on higher ground, and the Tweed and Teviot can flood low-lying properties.
Whatever era your Galashiels home dates from, we plan a new roof around how it is actually built rather than a one-size-fits-all specification.
Permissions for a new roof in Galashiels
Which rules apply depends on where you live. For Galashiels, the answer is Scotland, and the points below reflect that; we verify them with the council before quoting.
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
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
You get the price in writing, itemised so you can see where the money goes. As long as the specification stays the same, that is the price you pay for a new roof.
Getting ready
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.
Build and hand over
Work goes ahead as scheduled and you deal with one contact throughout. When the last trade leaves, we clear and clean the site, talk you through what has been done and pass on any certificates and care instructions.
What you can expect from us
Roof replacement in Galashiels: questions
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.
Do you cover Hawick, Kelso and Peebles?
Yes. As well as Galashiels, we cover Hawick, Kelso and Peebles and the rest of Scottish Borders. Our coverage is UK-wide, so the process is the same wherever you are: a free site survey, a quote in writing that fixes the price for the agreed scope, and one point of contact while the work is planned and carried out.
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.
How much will a new roof cost in Galashiels?
As a guide, expect to pay £6,700–£14,500 including VAT for a new roof in Galashiels. 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 long does a roof replacement take?
Re-roofing a typical semi-detached house takes around one to two weeks once scaffolding is up, depending on the roof's size, complexity and the weather. Smaller terraced roofs can take a few days. Scaffolding usually goes up a day or two before work starts and comes down once everything is inspected. We give you a programme and keep the roof weathertight overnight.
Nearby towns
From TD1 to the edges of Galashiels and on into Hawick, Kelso and Peebles, we can arrange a site visit and a written quote for your project, planned around dates that work for you.