The material needs to suit your roof's slope, supporting structure and exposure, as well as the way the building is used. Once those checks are covered, you can compare appearance, price and maintenance. We'll explain why a covering that works well on one roof may be unsuitable for another.
We work with slate, tiles, EPDM rubber, GRP fibreglass and felt. Here we explain how the materials compare, what your roof needs to support them and what to check in a quote.
What Does Your Roof Need?
Tell us whether you need a repair, a replacement roof or roofing for a new building. Any details about the existing covering, its age, leaks, roof windows or plans for the room below will help us discuss suitable materials with you.
Changing the covering can affect the weight your roof carries and its fire performance. Planning Portal lists structural alterations, significant changes to fire performance and a covering-weight increase of 15% or more among the reasons building control may be involved. We need to consider these points before you settle on a material. [1]
For a historic property, conservation advice may also be needed. Historic England recommends understanding the original roof and keeping sound traditional materials where appropriate. [2]
How the Main Roofing Materials Compare
Here are the main differences we discuss with customers. The best choice depends on your roof; the table is not a lifespan guarantee.
| System | Where it is used | What we need to check |
|---|---|---|
| Natural slate | Suitable pitched roofs and traditional buildings | Slate quality, dimensions, roof pitch, laps, fixings and compatibility |
| Clay or concrete tiles | Suitable pitched roofs with a compatible design | Product profile, weight, pitch range, fixing design and junction accessories |
| EPDM rubber | Suitable flat roofs on homes and commercial buildings | Membrane, supporting surface, joints, edges, outlets and product requirements |
| GRP fibreglass | Suitable flat roofs using a specified resin and reinforcement system | Deck, trims, reinforcement, weather conditions and movement detailing |
| Reinforced bitumen felt | Suitable flat roofs | Felt system, layers, supporting surface, insulation, installation method and junctions |
| Lead and other flashings | Junctions rather than a substitute for the main covering | Correct material, dimensions, support, movement and compatibility |
On small screens, scroll the table sideways to view every column.
When comparing quotes, look for more detail than 'rubber roof' or 'new tiles'. Ask us which product we recommend, how it will be fitted and what preparation or work beneath the covering is included.
Natural Slate: Check Its Condition and Suitability
Natural slates vary in size, thickness, quality and source. We consider your roof's pitch and exposure when discussing the right slate and how it should be fitted.
We also check the fixings on an existing slate roof. A slipped slate may be caused by a failed fixing even though the slate itself is still usable. Some slates may need replacing, but age alone does not tell us that the whole roof has reached the end of its life. [2]
If you need a repair, we look for slate that suits the roof's construction as well as its appearance. Our slate roofing guide explains the questions to ask before a repair or reroofing project.
Roof Tiles: Profile, Weight and Pitch Are Important
Clay and concrete tiles come in different shapes, sizes and weights, with different requirements for roof pitch and fixings. We check the chosen product against your roof and its exposure before recommending it.
If you want to change the covering, the supporting structure needs checking too. A stronger tile is not necessarily a lighter one. Changes to the load or structure may need a structural assessment. [1]
Ridge and verge details also need to suit the chosen tiles. Mechanical fixing does not always mean using a particular dry-fix system; suitable mortar-bedded systems can include mechanical fixings too. [3]
EPDM: Flexible Rubber Roofing
EPDM is a flexible rubber membrane used on suitable flat roofs. We need to check the supporting deck and how the membrane will be fitted around edges, walls and outlets, even where most of the roof can be covered with one large sheet.
Manufacturers publish information about their own membranes, including expected longevity. Elevate's RubberCover is one example. When comparing that information, remember that a claim about the membrane is different from the guarantee offered for your completed roof. [4]
Ask us which EPDM product we propose, whether your existing deck can stay and how we will finish the edges and junctions. Our EPDM guide and EPDM service page explain the material and the work involved in fitting it.
GRP Fibreglass: What Goes Beneath the Finish?
A GRP roof includes a suitable deck, resin, reinforcement and finishing details. The topcoat you see is only one part of it. Preparation and installation conditions need to follow the chosen manufacturer's instructions.
Cure It's guidance, for example, explains the importance of a dry supporting surface, the correct components and suitable weather. We need to follow the instructions for the actual system being fitted. [5] [6]
When comparing GRP quotes, check whether new boards are included and how edges and raised junctions will be finished. A surface coating and a complete new GRP roof involve different work and should be priced on that basis.
Felt Roofing: Check What the Quote Includes
Modern felt roofs use a range of reinforced bitumen systems. Your quote should identify the system, layers, supporting surface, insulation and installation method, so you know what is included.
Edges, adjoining walls and outlets need details that suit the felt system. You should also receive the relevant care instructions when the work is finished. IKO's maintenance guidance, for example, covers inspections and drainage care for its applicable systems. [7]
When we discuss a flat roof with you, we consider what it needs beneath and around the covering as well as the covering itself. Our EPDM, GRP and felt comparison explains the main points to compare.
Include Insulation and Drainage in Your Plans
If the space below is heated, we need to consider insulation and moisture control alongside the roof covering. Warm and cold roofs arrange these layers differently. Adding insulation without checking the construction can create condensation problems. [8]
Flat roofs need a planned slope so water can reach the outlets. The NFRC's summary of BS 6229:2025 gives a minimum finished fall of 1:80 for relevant general roof areas and internal gutters. Your particular roof still needs its own design and checks. [9]
Ask who is responsible for the design and what your quote includes. Allowing for the work beneath the covering at the start helps you compare realistic prices and avoid surprises later.
Leadwork, Roof Windows and Other Junctions
Leadwork needs to suit the junction, the support beneath it and the movement it will experience. Ask us which areas need work and what we propose to replace, so you know what 'new leadwork' includes in your quote. [10]
For a roof window, the flashing must suit the window, covering and roof pitch. VELUX's installation guidance sets out the flashing and supporting products needed; choosing the window itself is only the starting point. [11] [12]
Related work may include leadwork and flashing, roof windows, dry ridge or roofline repairs. We consider these details together so the finished work suits the rest of your roof.
Compare Quotes and Environmental Claims Carefully
Ask us what can stay, what needs removing and how waste will be handled. Keeping sound materials may avoid unnecessary waste, but the decision still needs to reflect the condition of your roof and the work required.
When comparing lifespan, value or environmental claims, look for information about the actual product and how it will be used on your roof. Check the maintenance requirements too. Citizens Advice recommends written quotes and clear agreements before work starts. [13]
For Newcastle, North Shields or Darlington, we can discuss suitable pitched roofing and flat-roof systems. Tell us about your property and what you want to achieve, and we can talk through the options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which roofing material lasts the longest?
There isn't one material that lasts longest on every roof. Product quality, design, installation, joints and maintenance all affect the result. Compare the products proposed and how the complete roof will be built.
Can I change from slate to concrete tiles?
It may be possible. We need to consider the structure, weight change, appearance and any planning requirements before recommending a different covering.
Is EPDM always better than felt?
No. Both can work well on suitable roofs. The shape of your roof, supporting deck, product, installation and future maintenance matter more than choosing by the material name alone.
Does GRP mean no joints or maintenance?
No. Although GRP can have a continuous surface, it still has edges, outlets and connections to the building. These need correct installation and ongoing care.
Should insulation be included with a new flat roof?
It depends on the building and the work proposed. We need to consider insulation and moisture control together. Your quote should make clear what is included and why.
Can old roofing materials contain asbestos?
Some older roofing and roofline materials can. Do not identify them by appearance alone or disturb them to investigate. Obtain competent advice before work affects suspected material. [14] [15]
What information should a material quote include?
Look for the named product, area covered, preparation, fixings, junctions and any insulation or ventilation work. Access, waste removal, exclusions and guarantee terms should also be clear. Ask us to explain anything you are unsure about.
References & Sources
We have linked to the sources used in this guide so you can read more. They were checked on 27 September 2026. Manufacturer guidance applies to its own products, and published prices are examples rather than our quotes. Check the requirements for your project before arranging work. Links open in a new tab.
- Planning Portal Building Regulations: Work to an Existing Roof ↗ Guidance for England on building-control applications, including roof area, structural changes, fire performance and covering weight. Check how it applies to your proposed work.
- Historic England Maintaining and Repairing Roofs ↗ Advice on traditional roof coverings, fixings and repairs. It explains why the condition of the whole roof matters when considering whether slates can be retained.
- Marley Mortar Bedded Security Ridge Kit ↗ A manufacturer's example of mortar bedding used with mechanical fixings. It shows an alternative to a dry ridge system.
- Elevate RubberCover EPDM Residential Roofing System ↗ Manufacturer information on membrane options and expected longevity. We use it as a product example; it does not confirm an installer accreditation or the guarantee for your completed roof.
- Cure It Cure It: Frequently Asked Questions ↗ Guidance on the manufacturer's GRP system, the base beneath it and suitable installation conditions. The instructions for your chosen system should guide the work.
- Cure It Cure It Installation Guides ↗ Information about the components of a GRP roof, helping you check what is included beyond the visible topcoat.
- IKO Roof Maintenance Guidelines ↗ Maintenance advice for the manufacturer's applicable waterproofing systems. Your roof's condition, surroundings and guarantee terms should guide the inspection schedule.
- IKO Flat Roof Insulation ↗ Guidance on insulation within flat roofs. The whole roof construction needs checking; insulation thickness alone does not establish compliance.
- NFRC BS 6229:2025 Update: Key Points ↗ Published on 18 December 2025, this summary covers changes to the flat-roof code, including drainage falls, surveys, design and handover records.
- Midland Lead Lead Sheet: Product Information ↗ Product information about lead sheet and its different thicknesses. Ask which specification suits the junction being repaired on your roof.
- VELUX VELUX Installation Product System ↗ VELUX information on matching the window, flashing and roof, including underlay, insulation and internal connections. The reference explains the products and does not confirm approved-installer status.
- VELUX VELUX Roof Window Flashings ↗ Information on matching the window and flashing to the roof's pitch and covering. Check the exact combination proposed for your installation.
- Citizens Advice Before You Get Work Done on Your Home ↗ Citizens Advice guidance for England on choosing a trader, getting written quotes, checking insurance and agreeing permissions.
- Health and Safety Executive Where Can You Find Asbestos? ↗ Information about materials that may contain asbestos, including some older roofing and roofline products. Appearance alone cannot confirm whether it is present.
- Health and Safety Executive Identifying Asbestos and Its Condition ↗ HSE advice on suspected asbestos. Get a competent assessment before disturbing materials you are concerned about.