Mildenhall Roofers supplies and installs new roofs in Eriswell, helping homeowners choose the right materials for their property with honest advice on what each option actually delivers.
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When a roof needs replacing, most homeowners focus on getting the work done quickly. The choice of covering material often gets decided in a five-minute conversation. But the material you go with affects how the roof performs, what it looks like, how long it lasts, and what it costs to maintain over the following decades. Taking time to understand your options before you commit is genuinely worth it.
This page sets out the main roofing materials used on homes in Eriswell and the Mildenhall area, with a straightforward look at what each one is good for, where it falls short, and what you should ask a contractor before any work starts.
Concrete interlocking tiles are a common choice on homes across the area. They are machine-made, consistent in size, and fix quickly, which keeps labour time down. The material itself is durable and resistant to frost damage when it has been manufactured to a good standard.
Honest pros: Lower material cost than clay or slate. Fast to lay. Widely available so replacements are easy to source if a tile cracks later. Good colour consistency across a batch.
Honest cons: Heavier than plain clay tiles and significantly heavier than slate, so the roof structure needs to be adequate for the load. The cement-based surface can lighten and fade over 20 to 30 years. Not appropriate for low pitches below around 15 degrees without a manufacturer's specific low-pitch product. May not be acceptable on period properties where planning conditions or conservation considerations apply.
Clay plain tiles are a traditional pitched roof covering. They have a smaller format than interlocking tiles and are double-lapped, meaning two tile thicknesses cover every point on the roof. This makes for an excellent weather barrier when laid correctly.
Honest pros: Lifespan is typically quoted by manufacturers at 60 years or more for quality clay. More sympathetic in appearance on older and traditional properties. Lighter than concrete tiles at equivalent coverage. The colour of clay tiles tends to weather gradually to a natural, even tone rather than bleaching.
Honest cons: Higher material cost than concrete, and the smaller format means more tiles per square metre and more fixing time, so labour costs are higher too. Sourcing matching tiles for repairs can be difficult if the batch goes out of production. Minimum pitch is generally around 35 degrees for plain tiles, so they are not suited to shallow-pitch roofs.
Natural slate is quarried stone, most commonly sourced from Wales or imported from Spain and Portugal. It has been used on roofs in Britain for centuries and remains the premium pitched roof material for both performance and appearance.
Honest pros: Very long service life - quality Welsh slate roofs have lasted well over 100 years. Extremely thin and lightweight, putting minimal load on the roof structure. Highly resistant to freeze-thaw cycles. Remains the preferred choice on listed buildings and in conservation areas. Natural variation in colour and texture gives a roof a quality that no manufactured tile replicates.
Honest cons: The highest material cost of the pitched roof options. Fixing requires experience - nail holes must be positioned correctly or slates will slip. Sourcing matching slate for future repairs depends on what was originally used, and some quarries close or change output. Artificially cheap imported slate varies significantly in quality, so the source matters and the cheapest option is not always good value over 30 years.
Reclaimed materials are worth considering on period properties, particularly where planning conditions require a matching appearance. Quality reclaimed Welsh slate is often better than new imported product because it has already proved its durability. The practical challenges are sourcing enough matching pieces of consistent size, and ensuring each piece is sound rather than delaminating.
A contractor supplying reclaimed materials should allow you to inspect a sample and confirm the source. Reclaimed tiles used to patch a roof are common; using them for a full new roof covering is more specialist and the supply chain needs careful management.
Flat or very low-pitch sections on extensions, bay windows and outbuildings need a different approach to pitched roofs. The two main options in common use are traditional built-up felt and EPDM rubber membrane.
Traditional felt: Built up in two or three layers, with a mineral-surfaced cap sheet on top. Lower upfront cost than EPDM. The main drawback is lifespan - felt systems on flat roofs typically last 10 to 15 years before the surface starts to crack and blister, particularly on roofs that get direct sun and experience the freeze-thaw cycle over winter. Repairs are straightforward when caught early.
EPDM rubber: A single-ply membrane bonded or ballasted to the deck. Manufacturer-quoted lifespans for EPDM are typically 20 years or more, and many installations outlast that figure in practice. EPDM does not crack or blister in the way felt does and handles temperature extremes better. The material cost is higher than felt, but the longer interval before replacement can make the overall cost over time more comparable. It is also lighter and easier to work with on awkward shapes.
For most flat roof replacements, EPDM is now the option we would discuss first, but the right answer depends on the size and shape of the roof, the budget and how long the homeowner expects to stay in the property.
The tile or slate you see is only part of the system. Beneath it sits an underlay and a framework of tanalised timber battens. The underlay acts as a secondary barrier if wind-driven rain gets under the tiles. Breathable membrane underlays, now standard on new installations, allow moisture vapour to escape from the loft space without trapping it, reducing condensation on the timbers above the insulation.
Battens need to be the right depth and spacing for the tile or slate being used - manufacturer specifications exist for a reason. When an old roof is stripped, battens should be inspected and replaced where they are soft, split or showing signs of rot. Laying a new covering on failing battens is a false economy that leads to tiles working loose within a few years.
When comparing quotes for a new roof in Eriswell or the surrounding area, including Mildenhall and nearby villages, make sure each quote specifies:
A quote that does not specify these items leaves room for extras to appear once work has started. Ask for a written breakdown before you agree to anything.
We install new roofs on homes and commercial buildings across Eriswell, Mildenhall and the wider Suffolk area, including Lackford, Cavenham, Icklingham, Elveden and West Row. If you want a straightforward conversation about which material suits your property and your budget, call us to arrange a roof survey.
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Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
