How Long Does a Roof Last in Ireland?

The coverings

Natural slate is the long-lived option and plenty of Dublin roofs are still wearing their original slate after a century. The catch is that the nails holding it usually give up long before the slate does — that is 'nail sickness', and it is why old roofs start shedding slates a couple at a time.

Fibre cement slate and concrete or clay tile give you decades of service at lower cost and are what most modern Irish estate housing is built with. Old torch-on felt flat roofs are the short straw; modern liquid and single-ply systems do considerably better.

What actually shortens a roof's life here

In Irish conditions, these matter more than the brand on the tile.

• Exposure — coastal salt and wind in places like Howth, Killiney, Bray and Greystones is relentless.
• Ventilation — an unventilated attic rots timbers from the inside out.
• Underlay — the felt often fails long before the covering does.
• Leadwork — poorly detailed or reused lead causes leaks on otherwise sound roofs.
• Maintenance — blocked gutters and valleys back water up under the covering.
• Foot traffic — dish and panel installers cracking tiles they never mention.

Getting the most out of it

Clear the gutters and valleys twice a year, keep an eye on the ridge after storms, and get someone to look properly every few years. Small jobs done early are the cheapest roofing you will ever buy.