informative posts, Reclaimed Slates
Know Your Roof Slates | A Guide to Slates New and Old
Aug
Roof slates guide
Roof Slates | A Practical Guide to Slate Types, Uses and Value
Roof slates have protected buildings for centuries because they combine durability, visual quality and long service life. This guide explains the main slate types used in roofing, the difference between diminishing-course and tally slating, where reclaimed slates fit into the market, and why The Reclaimed Company remains a useful place to buy or sell quality second hand slates.
Why Roof Slates Still Matter
Roof slates continue to hold a special place in roofing because they offer both performance and character. Traditionally quarried or mined, slate provides a durable weatherproof covering that can last for generations when correctly selected and installed.
Slates are produced around the world, and each type brings its own colour, texture, sizing habits and laying tradition. As a result, understanding slate means understanding more than one product. It means understanding a family of roofing materials with very different visual and technical qualities.
This guide covers: diminishing-course slates, tally slates, common Welsh varieties, reclaimed slate stock, selling routes and the factors that influence second hand slate value.
Diminishing Courses | Random Width Slates
Some of the most traditional slate roofs are laid in diminishing courses. In this method, the largest slates are placed at the eaves and the slate lengths reduce progressively as the roof rises towards the ridge. The widths are often random too, so careful sorting is essential before laying begins.
Common slate types used in this style include:
- Westmorland
- Burlington
- Welsh tonners
- Stone slates, including Yorkshire stone roof slates
Spanish and some Canadian alternatives can also appear in this category. However, the traditional British examples remain the most closely associated with prestigious buildings and high-status historic work.
Importantly, when these slates are laid, the side lap must still be properly maintained. On traditional work, that often means allowing for a minimum side lap of around 3 inches, subject of course to project-specific requirements and roof design.
Diminishing-course slate roofs rely on larger slates at the eaves, smaller slates towards the ridge and careful planning of widths across each course.
Westmorland, Burlington and stone slates are among the most recognisable materials used in traditional diminishing-course work.
Tally slating uses uniform slate sizes laid at consistent gauge, creating straight bonds from eaves to apex.
Tally Slates | Regular Slating
Tally slating is much more common in everyday roofing work. In this system, all slates are of the same size and the roof is set out using a consistent batten gauge from eaves to ridge. When installed correctly, the vertical bonds should run straight and the roof should look controlled and balanced.
Traditionally, tally slating was closely associated with Welsh slate. Today, however, other countries including Spain and China supply large volumes of uniform-sized slate to the market. Those alternatives often provide a lower-cost route, while new Welsh slate has increasingly become a premium roofing material.
As a result, projects that specify new Welsh slates today are often high-end residential or commercial buildings, especially where listed status, heritage value or architectural authenticity matter.
Welsh slate remains a benchmark material for quality slating, especially on heritage, listed and high-specification roofing projects.
Welsh Slates | Common Types
Welsh slates still sit at the top of the slate market in terms of reputation. Their colour, density, durability and long history in British architecture make them especially desirable. In broad terms, the most familiar Welsh slate types used in roofing today are linked to a relatively small number of quarries, most notably Penrhyn and Cwt-y-Bugail, with Ffestiniog remaining an important historical reference point.
Each Welsh slate variety has its own appearance. Penrhyn is especially known for its distinctive heather blue and purple tones, while Cwt-y-Bugail carries a darker, blue-grey character. Those differences matter, particularly when matching existing roofs or planning sensitive repair works.
Slate Stock at The Reclaimed Company
Buying and selling reclaimed slates forms a major part of what we do. We regularly hold stocks of reclaimed Welsh slates in a range of sizes, together with diminishing-course materials such as Welsh tonners and Westmorland slates. We also often carry Burlington slates and second hand stone slates, depending on availability.
Because reclaimed material is influenced by strip work, salvage opportunities and incoming yard stock, availability changes constantly. We work hard to keep our online stock current, but there can still be a short delay between slate arriving in the yard and that same slate appearing online.
Reclaimed Welsh slates
Ideal for repairs, extensions and conservation work where matching existing roofs matters.
Diminishing-course stock
Often includes Westmorland, Burlington, tonner and stone slate material for traditional roofs.
Changing availability
Because reclaimed stock is dynamic, early enquiry is always the best route for larger or specialist jobs.
Need slates for a repair, extension or reroof?
Our stock changes quickly, especially with reclaimed Welsh slates and diminishing-course materials. If you need help identifying a slate, matching a roof or checking likely quantities, get in touch before your project starts.
Selling Reclaimed Slates | Where to List Them
Second hand roof slates can hold real value, especially when they are sound, properly sorted and located within reasonable reach of an end user. Transport costs, however, often affect what they are worth in practice. Heavy materials quickly lose value if haulage becomes excessive, which is why local selling is often the best route.
General marketplaces such as eBay, Gumtree or other classified sites can certainly be used, but they often charge either meaningful commissions or listing fees. They are also not focused specifically on salvage and second hand building materials.
For that reason, The Reclaimed Company .Com was built as a more focused route to market. It is designed for second hand goods only, not new stock, and gives reclaimed slates and similar materials a clearer audience of likely buyers.
If you are unsure of value, auction-style listings can also make sense, especially for unusual slate types or difficult-to-price batches.
Business Listings and the Reclaimed Directory
Selling single lots of slates is one thing, but businesses often need a broader platform. That is why the Reclaimed Directory exists. The long-term aim is to bring together salvage yards, reclaimers and second hand specialists into a more coherent ecosystem where buyers can source materials more intelligently and sellers can present their stock more clearly.
Over time, that kind of connected platform should make reclaimed trade easier, more local and more efficient for everyone involved.
How Much Are Reclaimed Roof Slates Worth?
Value is always shaped by demand, supply, transport cost and slate type. In simple terms, something is only worth what somebody is prepared to pay for it, and reclaimed slates are no exception. Some batches are common and reasonably priced. Others are scarce, visually distinctive or difficult to replace, which pushes values up.
It is also important to remember that prices discussed in the trade are often trade values rather than end-user values. A middleman will need margin, and haulage will reduce what can sensibly be paid.
| Slate Type | Typical Basis of Sale | Indicative Trader Value | Key Driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westmorland slates | Usually per tonne | Approximately £600 to £1,350 per tonne | Scarcity, quarry cost and strong demand for traditional diminishing-course roofing |
| Reclaimed Welsh slates | Per slate or per tonne, depending on type | Approximately £0.20 to £1.50 each, with tonner material sometimes around £400 per tonne | Size, type, condition and demand for conservation or matching work |
Westmorland slates have become increasingly scarce, which is one reason reclaimed examples often command strong values.
Welsh slate values vary significantly depending on size, format, visual quality and whether the material is sold by unit or by tonne.
Looking to Sell Reclaimed Slates?
We are always interested in quality second hand roofing materials. Even so, haulage and environmental impact do place practical limits on direct buying. That is precisely why the wider listings platform exists. The aim is to bring buyers and sellers of salvaged goods together more locally, so that reusable materials can find a second life without travelling unnecessary distances.
By placing an advert on The Reclaimed Company, you help keep valuable materials out of landfill and in circulation. The model is deliberately simple and intended to support reuse rather than penalise it with escalating final value charges.
