Overview
Slate roofing is sold by the spec and the source, and the slate provenance is the line the heritage customer cares about
Slate roofers work on the long-life end of the pitched-roof trade. The customer is a homeowner with a slate roof needing repair or full replacement, a heritage property where the original Welsh, Cumbrian, or imported Spanish slate has to match, or a new build where the architect specified slate for the look and the longevity. The slate spec is the conversation: Welsh slate has a 100-year design life and a Welsh slate price tag; Spanish slate is more affordable and varies in quality; Brazilian or Chinese slate is cheaper still and is often the wrong call on a heritage property. A flat 'slate roof, $24,000' quote without naming the slate source, the size, and the fixing system gives the customer no view on the heritage match or the lifespan.
QuoteGenio gives slate roofers a quoting shape that surfaces the spec and the source. Survey and slate-source recommendation as the first line, slates by quarry, size, and grade with the lifespan estimate, battens at the right gauge for the slate, fixings (copper nails for heritage, stainless for general), underlay and breather membrane, ridge and hip work with the fixing system named, flashings in lead or alternative, scaffolding and access, and labour by day. Send via WhatsApp or email to the homeowner with photos of the existing roof, take a deposit at booking, raise progress invoices through stripping and laying, and the final invoice closes with the slate provenance documentation the customer keeps.
Who it is for
Who uses QuoteGenio
Built for every kind of slate roofing business, from solo repair specialists to small heritage roofing teams.
The problem
The quoting headaches every slate roofer knows
Slate work is access-heavy and material-heavy. Without a clear written quote with slate source, lath spec, and scaffold cost, the access burden swallows the labour rate and reclaimed slate orders are mis-managed.
Scaffolding absorbs labour rate
Without scaffolding as its own line, the labour rate has to cover three weeks of scaffold hire. The job stops being profitable.
Verbal slate-source promises
Welsh, Spanish, and reclaimed slate all look similar but cost very differently. Clients expect the slate source on the quote in writing.
Slow quotes lose listed work
Listed-building slate roofs go to whoever quotes first with proper conservation language and slate provenance.
The fix
QuoteGenio makes it simple
A clean workflow for slate roofing. Quote slate supply, lath, felt, fixing, ridge, lead flashings, and scaffolding as separate lines. Send via WhatsApp. Convert to deposit and progress invoices on signing.
The payoff
What you get with QuoteGenio
The everyday wins that add up across a year of quoting and invoicing.
Built for slate roofs
Line items for slate per m², lath and felt, fixing labour, ridge and hip work, lead flashings, and scaffolding hire. Reuse heritage and reclaimed templates.
Works from the scaffold
Quote a slate repair from the scaffolding, or send a re-roof proposal from the loft. Branded PDF on every send.
Quote in under 10 minutes
Build templates for slate repair, full re-roof, ridge replacement, and reclaimed-slate work. Each survey is a few tweaks away from sent.
Track deposits and progress
See which deposits have landed (locking the slate order) and which progress claims are still outstanding before completion.
Built for your trade
Quoting calibrated to how slate roofers actually work
Pick your trade in Settings and the entire quote flow switches to fit. Line item presets, compliance fields, on-the-quote calculators, and per-m² / after-hours pricing all change to match your industry.
Trade-specific line items
Quick add picker pre-fills the common items your trade quotes. Skip the blank rows.
Brand-specific catalogues
Pylontech, Hikvision, Canadian Solar, Sunsynk and others pre-named. Pick the brand, the description writes itself.
Compliance fields built in
IOPSA, ECASA, PIRB, PSIRA, NHBRC, SAQCC. Set once. Every quote prints them under FROM.
Registration expiry alerts
Dashboard notification 60 days before your PSIRA, CoC or any dated registration lapses.
Per-m² / hour / day billing
Unit selector on every line item: m², hr, linear m, days. Stop doing the maths externally.
After-hours and emergency
1.5× and 2× multipliers as a one-tap toggle. Customer sees the breakdown on the quote.
Quote-flow calculators
Solar size, battery backup, cable run cost. Compute on the spot, drop straight onto the quote.
Staged payments
Deposit on acceptance + balance on completion as two separate amounts on the quote PDF.
Scope-of-work checklist
Structured Included / Not included lists. Client acceptance = signing the scope.
Site-survey mode
Log a location per line item: camera positions, fixtures by room, sensors by zone.
Regional rate hints
Pricing ranges per item per currency shown as you quote.
Free on every plan
All of the above included on the free plan. Premium is for capacity, not the trade tooling.
Why QuoteGenio
Why Slate Roofers choose QuoteGenio
The tools that matter most when you are quoting on-site, under pressure, and between jobs.
Quote from your phone
Most Slate Roofers build and send quotes directly from the job site. No laptop, no office, no delays.
Win more jobs, faster
The first professional quote a client receives usually wins. Respond in minutes, not hours.
Quote to invoice in one click
When the job is accepted, convert to an invoice instantly. No retyping, no double entry.
Pricing guide
Typical Slate Roofers job pricing
A rough guide to what slate roofers charge for common work. Pricing varies by slate source (Welsh, Spanish, reclaimed), roof pitch, lath specification, and scaffolding access. Listed-building work and reclaimed slate sit at the top of these ranges.
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Slate roof repair (per slate, individual replacement) | $ 28 - $ 95 / slate |
| Full slate re-roof (Welsh / Spanish, supply & fix) | $ 240 - $ 580 / m² |
| Reclaimed slate re-roof (supply & fix) | $ 380 - $ 850 / m² |
| Ridge tile replacement (per linear metre) | $ 95 - $ 220 / m |
| Lead flashings (per linear metre, code 4 or 5) | $ 145 - $ 320 / m |
| Lath, felt, and breathable membrane (per m²) | $ 38 - $ 95 / m² |
| Scaffolding hire (per week, per lift) | $ 280 - $ 580 / week |
Pricing shown in USD as a rough benchmark. Rates vary significantly by country, region, currency, and market.
Call-out fees
Slate source is critical on every quote. State whether the slate is Welsh (Penrhyn, Cwt-y-Bugail, Ffestiniog), Spanish (CUPA, Bernardos, Del Carmen), or reclaimed Welsh / Westmorland. Each has different price points and warranty terms. Listed-building consent often specifies the slate source, and a quote that names the slate type wins listed work over a generic 'natural slate' quote.
Hourly vs fixed pricing
Use per-square-metre pricing for full re-roof and lath/felt work. Use per-slate pricing for individual repairs. Use per-linear-metre for ridge, hip, and lead flashings. Use weekly scaffold hire as a separate fixed line. Hourly is appropriate only for fault-finding and unknown-scope storm-damage repair.
See it in action
Example quote breakdown
Here's what a clean slate re-roof quote looks like. Strip, lath, slate, fixing, ridge, lead, and scaffolding each on their own line. Slate source named in the description. Clients accept faster when they see the slate provenance and the scaffold cost split out from labour.
Try it yourself
Job size
Region
Sample quote
Welsh slate re-roof, 95 m² semi-detached, scaffolding included
Strip existing slates and dispose
New treated lath and breathable membrane
Welsh slate (CUPA Heavy 3, supply only)
Slate fixing labour (nailing, double-lap)
Ridge tile replacement (12 m, mortar bed)
Lead flashings around chimney (code 4)
Scaffolding hire (4 weeks, 2 lifts)
| Description | Qty | Rate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strip existing slates and dispose | 95 | $ 18.00 / m² | $ 1,710 |
| New treated lath and breathable membrane | 95 | $ 65.00 / m² | $ 6,175 |
| Welsh slate (CUPA Heavy 3, supply only) | 95 | $ 145 / m² | $ 13,775 |
| Slate fixing labour (nailing, double-lap) | 95 | $ 95.00 / m² | $ 9,025 |
| Ridge tile replacement (12 m, mortar bed) | 12 | $ 145 / m | $ 1,740 |
| Lead flashings around chimney (code 4) | 8 | $ 220 / m | $ 1,760 |
| Scaffolding hire (4 weeks, 2 lifts) | 1 | $ 2,400 | $ 2,400 |
| Subtotal | $ 36,585 | ||
| Tax (10%) | $ 3,659 | ||
| Total incl. tax | $ 40,244 | ||
Totals recalculate as you change the controls above. Tax rate inferred from the sample quote.
Items often forgotten
Scaffold extensions for chimney access, lead saddles and step flashings, additional ridge bedding mortar, gutter renewal during scaffold-up, and reclaimed-slate sorting time. Add these as standard or provisional lines so they stop being unbilled.
Peer snapshot
How Slate Roofers actually use QuoteGenio
Indicative activity for Slate Roofers on the platform. Use it as a benchmark for how often to quote and how fast to respond.
34
Quotes sent per month
52%
Average quote acceptance
4 min
Median time to send quote
$ 40,244
Typical quote value
Figures are indicative platform averages for this trade segment.
Start quoting Slate Roofer jobs like this, free
Build your first quote in under 2 minutes. No credit card, no setup fee, no contract.
Avoid these
Common quoting mistakes
We talk to a lot of slate roofers. The same slate-source, scaffold, and provisional-sum mistakes come up project after project. Fix these and your day rate will reflect the work involved.
Mistake: Generic 'natural slate' on the quote
Better: Name the slate source: Welsh (Penrhyn, CUPA), Spanish (Del Carmen), or reclaimed (Westmorland, Welsh second-hand). Listed-building consent often specifies.
Mistake: Scaffolding bundled into labour
Better: Quote scaffold hire as its own weekly line. The labour rate cannot absorb three to four weeks of scaffold without losing margin.
Mistake: Missing breathable membrane spec
Better: State the breathable membrane brand (Kingspan Nilvent, Klober Permo, Tyvek) and lath spec (treated, 38x25mm). Roofing inspectors and warranty providers check these.
Mistake: No deposit on slate supply
Better: Take 30 to 50 percent deposit on slate orders because Welsh and Spanish slate is shipped to spec with non-refundable delivery costs.
Mistake: Hourly rate for full re-roof
Better: Quote re-roof per square metre. Hourly is only appropriate for fault-finding and unknown-scope storm repair.
Mistake: No allowance for hidden timber damage
Better: Add a provisional sum line for rotten rafter feet, fascia replacement, and hidden timber repair found on strip. Send variation quotes in writing.
Mistake: No expiry on the quote
Better: Set a 30 day validity. Slate prices move with currency and shipping; an old quote can bind you to outdated material costs.
Mistake: No follow-up after sending the quote
Better: Most quotes that don't close, don't close because nobody followed up. Send a polite check-in 48 hours after the quote lands, and a second nudge at day 7. Two of every three accepted quotes get there because someone followed up.
Step by step
How to quote slate roofing work
Always survey the roof before quoting a re-roof. Look at the slate condition, lath spec, fascia and rafter feet, ridge, hip lines, lead flashings, and chimney work. Take photographs and note any sagging, slipped slates, or open joints. Quote based on what you saw, not on what a homeowner described from the loft. Old roofs almost always have hidden timber damage that becomes visible only when the slates come off.
Itemise strip, lath, slate, fixing, ridge, lead, and scaffold as separate lines. State the slate source (Welsh, Spanish, reclaimed), the lath specification (treated 38x25mm), and the breathable membrane brand. List ridge work and lead flashings per linear metre. Quote scaffolding as a weekly line at hire-rate plus erection cost. Add a provisional sum for hidden rafter or fascia damage so a variation can be raised in writing once the strip exposes the structure.
Take a deposit on slate supply and full re-roofs. Repair work usually invoices on completion. Full re-roofs need 30 to 50 percent deposit because Welsh and Spanish slate is shipped to spec and non-refundable. State the deposit clearly on the proposal. For longer re-roofs (over 4 weeks), structure as deposit, mid-job progress claim, and final on completion.
Send via WhatsApp and follow up. Roofing clients often need to share the proposal with insurance assessors or mortgage surveyors. The branded PDF makes that easy. Share via public link, follow up after 48 hours, and once accepted raise the deposit invoice and order the slate. Set a 30 day validity to protect against slate price moves with shipping and currency.
FAQ
Common questions from slate roofers
Everything you need to know before getting started.
List it on the description line: 'Welsh slate (CUPA Heavy 3)', 'Spanish slate (Del Carmen)', 'Reclaimed Welsh slate'. Listed-building consent usually requires the slate source to be specified in writing.
Yes. Once your proposal is ready, share the public link via WhatsApp. The client opens a branded PDF on their phone, accepts online, and you have a time-stamped acceptance on file.
Yes. Quote scaffold hire per week and erection as its own line. The labour rate should not absorb three to four weeks of scaffold; the margin disappears.
Per slate at your standard rate ($ 28 to $ 95 with scaffold). Add a per-visit call-out fee if scaffolding is not already in place. List the slate source and any tingles or hooks on the description.
Yes. Quote lead flashings per linear metre with the code stated (code 4, code 5, code 6). Saddles, step flashings, and chimney aprons each as their own lines on listed work.
Yes. The free plan gives you 5 quotes and 2 invoices per month with no credit card. Upgrade to Premium for unlimited quotes during busy roofing seasons.
Yes. 30 to 50 percent deposit on Welsh, Spanish, and reclaimed slate because shipping and supply are committed once the order is placed. State the deposit clearly on the proposal.
Per square metre at a higher rate than new slate, with the slate source named (Westmorland, Welsh second-hand). Add slate sorting and grading time as a paid line because reclaimed lots vary.
If you are tax registered, yes. Show tax as its own line on the proposal. Some heritage and listed work may have reduced VAT rates depending on jurisdiction; state clearly.
30 days. Slate prices move with currency and shipping. State the validity on the proposal so an old quote does not bind you to outdated material pricing.
Still have questions? We would rather answer them now than after you have signed up.
Explore more
Related trades in Roofing & Waterproofing
QuoteGenio is built for a whole family of trades. Explore other pages that might fit how you work.
Reviews
Trusted by tradespeople
Real feedback from people who quote for a living.
"Clients love how professional the quotes look. Feels like I upgraded my whole business overnight. The mobile app is a lifesaver."
Jessica Martinez
HVAC Contractor · Austin, TX
"Roofs are not cheap. Having itemised quotes with labour and materials split helps clients trust my pricing. My acceptance rate has gone up noticeably."
Marco Davids
Roofer · Cape Town
"My quotes look a lot more professional now. Clients take them seriously and I spend less time formatting documents."
Megan Daniels
Interior Designer · Birmingham
Guides
Guides for Slate Roofers
Practical advice to help you quote better, get paid faster, and grow your business.
Free forever plan
Start quoting faster. Win more jobs.
Create professional quotes in minutes, send instantly, and stay on top of your work without the admin slowing you down.
Free to start. No credit card required.