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Roofing

Re-roofing

Stripping and replacing a roof covering, felt and battens.
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Whether this needs a licence in Ireland

Ireland

No licence required

Taken from the statute below; not yet reviewed by a lawyer

Irelandwww.cru.ieChecked

Re-roofing: what the job involves

Stripping a pitched roof back to the rafters and re-covering it: new breathable membrane, battens, flashings, ridge and slates or tiles. It is the answer when slates are slipping everywhere or the felt has perished, and usually lasts for decades.

Also asked for as: new roof · roof replacement · re-slate roof · reroof house · roofing contractor

How the job is usually done

  1. Survey the roof from outside and from the attic: covering, felt, battens, rafters, chimneys, valleys and ventilation.
  2. Agree the covering, the membrane, what happens to the chimney and gutters, and how the house will be kept dry each night.
  3. Erect scaffolding with edge protection and a debris chute or skip.
  4. Strip the old slates or tiles, felt and battens one section at a time, checking for bats and asbestos before and during.
  5. Repair or replace rotten rafters and fascia, then lay the breathable membrane and new treated battens to the correct gauge.
  6. Fix the new slates or tiles, with new lead flashings, valleys, ridge and eaves ventilation.
  7. Make good gutters and fascia, clear the site and inspect from the attic with the homeowner.

Re-roofing: what is included

Usually included

  • Stripping and disposing of the old covering, felt and battens
  • New breathable membrane, battens, flashings and ridge
  • The new slates or tiles, fixed to the manufacturer’s specification
  • Scaffolding for the duration, when agreed in the quote
  • Daily weather protection of the open roof

Usually not included — agree it separately

  • Replacing more than a few rotten rafters, or structural repairs
  • Insulating between the rafters or upgrading attic insulation
  • Rebuilding a chimney stack, unless agreed
  • New gutters, fascia and soffit, unless agreed
  • Removing asbestos-cement slates, which needs a specialist

Materials and who supplies them

  • Slates or tiles: natural slate, fibre-cement slate or concrete tile — usually supplied by the roofer to the agreed specification
  • Breathable roofing membrane and treated timber battens
  • Code 4 or 5 lead for flashings and valleys, or a GRP valley
  • Ridge and hip tiles, dry-ridge kit, eaves vents and fixings
  • A skip, which the roofer normally arranges

How long it takes

Usually one to three weeks for a house, depending on size, complexity and weather; timber repairs and a chimney rebuild add days.

When to book

Late spring to early autumn gives the longest dry days; book well ahead, as good roofers are busy all summer.

Re-roofing: the rules in Ireland

What the official sources say, checked against them on the date shown. A summary, not legal advice — follow the link to read the rule itself.

  • Roof work must be planned so nobody can fall from the edge or through the roof: scaffolding or edge protection, roof ladders, and covers or nets over fragile sheets and roof lights. The HSA code of practice sets out what that means in practice.

    Applies to: the roofer, as employer or self-employed contractor

    Health and Safety Authority — Code of Practice for Safety in Roofwork; Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007, Part 4 (work at height) · hsa.ie · Checked 9 October 2026

  • A homeowner who has construction work done must check the contractor is competent, and must appoint project supervisors in writing where there is more than one contractor, a “particular risk” such as roof work where somebody could fall, or work lasting more than 30 days. One competent person can hold both roles.

    Applies to: the homeowner, as client

    Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013, as explained in the HSA’s guide for homeowners · hsa.ie · Checked 9 October 2026

  • All Irish bat species and their roosts are protected, and roof voids are a common roost. Work that would disturb a roost or destroy it needs a derogation licence from the National Parks and Wildlife Service before it starts; if bats are found mid-job, work on that part stops.

    Applies to: the homeowner and the roofer

    European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011, Regulations 51 and 54; Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2021 — National Parks and Wildlife Service · npws.ie · Checked 9 October 2026

  • Re-slating or re-tiling on its own is not a “major renovation” under Part L. Replacing the roof structure itself, if it affects more than a quarter of the house’s envelope, is — and then the whole house’s energy performance should be brought to the cost-optimal level as far as is feasible.

    Applies to: the homeowner and the designer or builder

    Building Regulations Part L — Technical Guidance Document L, Dwellings (2019), section 2.3 and Table 7 · gov.ie · Checked 9 October 2026

  • Asbestos-cement slates, common on houses from the 1970s to 1990s, must not be stripped by an ordinary roofing crew where workers could be exposed above the limit; removal is planned and, where required, notified to the HSA at least 14 days before it starts.

    Applies to: the roofer or asbestos contractor

    Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Exposure to Asbestos) Regulations 2006 to 2010 — Health and Safety Authority · hsa.ie · Checked 9 October 2026

  • Re-covering a roof in a similar material generally needs no planning permission. Changing to a noticeably different covering, altering the roof shape, or any re-roof of a protected structure or a house in an Architectural Conservation Area can need permission, so check with the council first.

    Applies to: the homeowner

    Planning and Development Act 2000, section 4(1)(h) — explained by Citizens Information · citizensinformation.ie · Checked 9 October 2026

  • Old slates, felt, timber and gutters must go to an authorised facility in a vehicle covered by a waste collection permit. Ask for the permit number if the roofer is taking the waste away.

    Applies to: the roofer, and the homeowner who hands the waste over

    Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations — National Waste Collection Permit Office · nwcpo.ie · Checked 9 October 2026

What re-roofing costs, and why

What jobs on Talqero came to

Not enough comparable jobs yet to publish a range here. Talqero shows a price range only once at least five comparable jobs, agreed prices or offers exist — a range from fewer would describe a handful of jobs, not the market. Post your job and compare the offers you get.

What affects the price

  • Roof area, pitch and complexity: hips, valleys, dormers and chimneys
  • The covering chosen: natural slate, fibre-cement slate or concrete tile
  • Scaffolding for the whole job and its hire period
  • Timber repairs and new fascia found once the roof is open
  • Lead work on chimneys, valleys and abutments
  • Disposal, and whether the old covering contains asbestos
  • VAT: building work on a home is charged at the reduced 13.5% rate by a VAT-registered roofer, unless materials are more than two-thirds of the price (Revenue’s two-thirds rule)
  • VAT: building work on a home is charged at the reduced rate of 13.5% by a VAT-registered business — unless the materials come to more than two-thirds of the price, when Revenue’s two-thirds rule applies the goods rate to the whole job. Ask whether a quote includes VAT.

Paperwork to ask for at the end

  • A written specification of the covering, membrane and battens used
  • The roofer’s workmanship guarantee in writing, and the slate or tile manufacturer’s product guarantee
  • Photographs of the stripped roof, the timbers and the finished job
  • Waste disposal receipts from an authorised facility

Safety

  • Keep children and pets away from the scaffold and skip, and do not climb the scaffold after hours.
  • An open roof is vulnerable overnight: agree how it will be sheeted and checked if the weather turns.
  • If the existing slates are a uniform grey, flat and fibrous, ask whether they are asbestos cement before anybody breaks them.
  • Lofts fill with dust when the roof is stripped; cover or move what is stored up there.

Re-roofing: before you hire

Questions to ask a tradesperson

  • Which membrane, batten and slate or tile are you pricing, exactly?
  • How will you handle rotten timbers you find — a rate, or a fixed allowance?
  • Is scaffolding included, and for how long?
  • What guarantee do you give on workmanship, and what guarantee comes with the materials?
  • Do you carry public liability and employer’s liability insurance?
  • Is VAT included?

What you can do yourself

Not a DIY job; you can clear the attic, photograph the roof and get the chimneys swept before the roofer arrives.

What to put in your task

  • What type of house is it?
  • What is on the roof now?
  • What would you like on it?
  • How many chimney stacks are on the roof?
  • Do you want anything else done while the scaffold is up?

Photos that help

  • Each roof slope from the ground, as square-on as you can
  • Close-ups of slipped slates, sagging areas or moss
  • The attic: felt, battens and rafters, with a torch
  • Chimney stacks and where they meet the roof
  • Access around the house for scaffolding and a skip

Re-roofing by county

Choose your county for re-roofing close to home.

Roofing

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Questions about re-roofing

Does re-roofing need a licence in Ireland?

No licence is required for this work in Ireland (source: www.cru.ie). Ask instead for references and photographs of similar jobs.

Natural slate or fibre-cement slate?

Natural slate lasts far longer and suits older houses, but is heavier and slower to lay. Fibre-cement slate is lighter, uniform and quicker, and is common on Irish houses from the 1970s onwards. In a conservation area or on a protected structure, the council may require natural slate.

Do I need planning permission to re-roof?

Generally no, if the covering looks similar and the shape of the roof does not change. Changing to a very different material, raising the roof, or any change to a protected structure or a house in an Architectural Conservation Area can need permission. Ask your council if in doubt.

Should I insulate while the roof is off?

It is a good moment to look at it. Most Irish houses are insulated at ceiling level in the attic, which the roofer does not touch; insulating between the rafters is a different design that needs ventilation thought through. Talk to a BER assessor or designer before deciding.

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