New Roofs Dún Laoghaire
Heritage Slate & Complete Roof Replacements
A complete roof replacement is an essential structural investment for any home, but in Dún Laoghaire, it requires specialized coastal craftsmanship. Situated directly across from Dublin Bay, properties along Royal Terrace, Corrig Avenue, Tivoli Road, and York Road endure punishing conditions: severe wind uplift from easterly maritime gales, persistent salt humidity, and driving rain.
When an older roof reaches the end of its structural life, patch repairs become an expensive distraction. Perished bitumen underlay, nail sickness on original slates, split valley metal, and rotted timber battens will allow water to keep finding new paths into your property, quietly weakening rafters and ceiling structures.
At AD Roofing, we deliver complete, high-performance roof replacements across Dún Laoghaire. Managed and installed directly by Augustine Doherty and our experienced team, we replace failing roofs with authentic natural slate, premium tiles, and marine-grade flat roof systems. Every complete new roof installation is backed by our 15-year written guarantee.
When Does a Dún Laoghaire Home Require a Complete Re-Roof?
Dún Laoghaire features an architectural mix of 19th-century Victorian terraces, Edwardian villas, and mid-century family homes, many of which have reached the end of their original roofline lifespan:
Widespread Nail Sickness on Victorian Slate Roofs (Corrig Avenue, Royal Terrace, Crosthwaite):
Many historic homes across Dún Laoghaire still feature original natural stone slates. While the slate itself can endure for over a century, the original iron or light galvanised fixing nails have long since corroded from decades of salt-air exposure. Slates continually slide out of position, leaving exposed holes that cannot be securely repaired without a complete strip and re-nail.
Degraded Bitumen Underlay & Rotted Timber Battens (York Road, Mounttown, Glenageary Borders):
Homes built in the mid-20th century were installed with traditional tar-based bitumen felt under the tiles. After decades of attic heat and coastal humidity, this felt turns brittle and shreds to dust. Once wind-driven rain forces its way past aging tiles, there is no secondary waterproof barrier to protect your ceiling plasterboard.
Failed Lead Valleys on Complex Victorian Rooflines:
Substantial period properties often feature complex roof designs with multiple hips, gables, dormers, and intersecting valleys. When aged lead valley channels split from thermal movement and marine salt exposure, water tracks unseen along rafters, rotting structural timber framing. Where patch fixes have failed repeatedly, stripping the flanks and re-roofing is the only permanent solution.
Failing Flat Roofs on Coastal Extensions & Dormers:
Dún Laoghaire features many period properties with rear return extensions, townhouses with mansard roofs, and contemporary dormers. Traditional mineral felt flat roofs struggle with coastal temperature swings and standing water, typically blistering and cracking within 10 to 12 years. Upgrading to a seamless, marine-grade GRP fibreglass system provides permanent weatherproofing.
Why Dublin Chooses Us For Re-Roofs
The AD Roofing Advantage: Augustine Doherty On Site
With AD Roofing, Augustine Doherty works on your roof. Augustine carries out your initial physical survey, writes your itemised quote, and works on-site alongside his own uniformed crew until the final ridge tile is locked in place. You deal directly with the business owner at every stage of the project, with no middleman or call-centre runarounds.
Material Options for Dún Laoghaire Homes: Slate, Tile & Flat Roofing
Natural Welsh Slate (Blue Bangor):
The ultimate choice for heritage residences and Protected Structures across Dún Laoghaire. Blue Bangor slate offers unmatched natural density, complete resistance to frost and salt air, and a proven lifespan exceeding 100 years.
High-Grade Spanish Slate (A1-S1-T1 Grade):
A durable, top-tier natural slate delivering a clean, rich blue-black appearance and exceptional resistance to maritime weathering, offering an ideal balance of authentic character and value.
Concrete Interlocking Tiles:
The reliable, heavy-duty choice for family homes throughout Mounttown and surrounding residential avenues. Cost-effective, tough, and engineered to interlock tightly against driving rain and high winds.
Marine-Grade GRP Fibreglass (Flat Roofs):
The premier waterproofing solution for rear returns, flat-roof extensions, dormers, and balconies along the coast. It forms a seamless, joint-free surface that will not degrade under standing water or marine salt spray.
What Our Dún Laoghaire Roof Replacement Package Delivers
We never cut corners by overlaying old materials or skipping modern ventilation standards. Every complete roof replacement we undertake in Dún Laoghaire includes:
Engineered Scaffolding Setup: Safely erected and dismantled in full compliance with Irish HSA standards, designed to respect your garden, stone walls, and driveway access.
Complete Strip-Down to Rafters: Total removal and legal disposal of old slates, tiles, rotted battens, and perished felt down to the structural timber framework.
Structural Timber Inspection & Restoration: Augustine personally inspects every rafter, purlin, and wall plate, replacing any water-damaged timber with structural, pressure-treated wood.
High-Performance Breathable Membrane: We install heavy-duty vapour-permeable underlay (such as Tyvek Supro) that repels driving rain and sea spray while allowing attic humidity to escape naturally.
Treated Counter-Battens: Pressure-treated timber battens spaced with precision to guarantee correct tile overlap and structural rigidity against high coastal winds.
Natural Slate or Premium Tile Installation: We install authentic Blue Bangor Welsh slate, high-grade Spanish slate, or premium concrete tiles, secured using non-corrosive copper or marine-grade stainless-steel nails to prevent future nail sickness.
Maintenance-Free Dry Fix Systems: Mechanically secured dry ridge and dry verge systems that clamp edge tiles firmly against gale-force winds, eliminating cracked sand-and-cement mortar.
Code 5 Milled Leadwork: Heavy-gauge lead hand-dressed to all chimney aprons, step flashings, roof valleys, and abutments for long-term waterproofing.
Spotless Site Clearance: All old materials and site debris cleared into our own skips, leaving your driveway and grounds clean.
15-Year Written Guarantee: A direct, personal guarantee covering materials and workmanship, signed by Augustine Doherty.
Photos Of Our Recent Roofing Jobs
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need planning permission to replace my roof in Dún Laoghaire?
In the vast majority of standard residential cases, replacing an existing pitched roof like-for-like is classified as "Exempted Development" by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, provided you keep the original roof profile and do not alter the height or pitch. If your property is a Protected Structure or situated within an Architectural Conservation Area (such as Crosthwaite Park or Royal Terrace), specific heritage regulations apply regarding slate selection and leadwork detailing, which we can review during your physical survey.
Why do you specify copper or stainless-steel nails in Dún Laoghaire?
Standard galvanised nails corrode rapidly in coastal salt air, causing "nail sickness" where perfectly good slates slip down the pitch because the fixings have rusted through. We fix our natural slates using heavy-gauge copper or marine-grade stainless-steel nails that will never corrode, ensuring your roof remains intact for decades.
How long does a full roof replacement take on a period Dún Laoghaire home?
Depending on roof size, pitch complexity, and weather conditions, a complete strip and re-roof on a large period townhouse in Dún Laoghaire typically takes between 5 to 8 working days. We work in tightly managed sections to ensure your home remains completely dry and weatherproof every night of the project.
Any Questions?
Ask Us
Request Your Free Roof Replacement Survey in Dún Laoghaire
If your roof is leaking repeatedly, shedding slates, or approaching its 40th year, contact Augustine Doherty today for straight, honest advice and a detailed written quote.
Additional Roofing Services We Offer
Looking for more than a new roof? From emergency leak detection and chimney repointing to complete slate and flat roof replacements, we're the Dublin Roofers that handle everything from start to finish.
