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 the South East: £7,800–£17,000 including VAT. We cover the whole of West Sussex, with Crawley, Worthing, Bognor Regis and Littlehampton among the main centres. Because each UK nation sets its own rules, we check the requirements in England for your property, then put a firm price on paper following a free survey.
- Guide price
- £7,800–£17,000 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 1–2 weeks on site, plus scaffolding time
- Planning rules
- England
- Price level
- About 12% above the national guide
- Towns listed
- 12
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
Roof replacement prices in West Sussex
Every figure below is a guide for a new roof in West Sussex, inclusive of VAT. Regional pricing for the South East works out about 12% above the national guide, and the overall span is £7,800–£17,000. The survey costs you nothing, and after it we commit to a firm price for your specification in writing.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in West Sussex |
|---|---|---|
| Terraced house or bungalow | A smaller pitched roof re-covered in concrete or clay tiles, including scaffolding. | £5,600–£11,000 |
| Typical semi-detached | A 3-bed semi re-roofed in concrete or clay tiles with new membrane, battens and leadwork. | £7,800–£17,000 |
| Detached or natural slate | Larger or more complex roofs, or any roof finished in natural slate. | £13,500–£28,000 |
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
What’s included?
- Survey of the covering, timbers, chimneys and loft ventilation
- Stripping old tiles or slates, battens and felt in stages
- Repairs or replacement of damaged rafters and fascia boards
- 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
Homes in West Sussex
Chichester has Georgian brick streets, Downland villages use flint and brick, and Horsham stone slabs cover some older roofs. Worthing and Bognor Regis have interwar and post-war bungalows and semis, Crawley was planned as a post-war new town, and Wealden villages to the north feature tile-hanging and timber framing.
Bungalows commonly suit loft conversions and extensions; new-town homes often take window, roofline and cladding renewal. Flint and stone properties need lime repointing, and coastal homes may need external decorating more often.
Coastal towns face salt-laden south-westerly winds, while Wealden clay inland can shrink and swell with the seasons.
Do you need permission in West Sussex?
Planning law differs across the UK. For a home in West Sussex, it is the England rules below that count, and we check them with the council ahead of any quote.
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.
The four stages
Survey and measure
We begin by looking at the job in person. During the free survey we discuss options, materials and budget for a new roof, and photograph or measure anything the quote needs to reflect.
Written quote
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.
Booking the work
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 West Sussex property.
Finish and handover
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
Frequently asked questions
How much does a new roof cost?
Re-roofing a typical 3-bed semi costs £7,800–£17,000, 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.
How long will a new roof take?
On a typical home, allow 1–2 weeks on site, plus scaffolding time. Larger projects, older buildings and extra work found once things are opened up can extend that, while simpler jobs may be shorter. Your quote includes an estimate of time on site, and your point of contact keeps you updated on the programme as the work progresses.
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.
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 West Sussex 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.
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.
Towns in West Sussex
These are the towns in West Sussex where you can book a free survey for a new roof. Each has its own page with guide prices and coverage details.