Concrete Interlocking Tile
The correct and appropriate choice for the 1970s–80s Bedgrove, Quarrendon, and Southcourt estate stock. Concrete interlocking tile replaced the original profiles — Redland 49, Marley Modern, Sandtoft Double Roman, and their equivalents — matches the original appearance, and meets planning requirements for standard residential properties outside the conservation area.
Modern concrete tile from established manufacturers (Marley, Redland, Sandtoft) carries a 30–40 year product warranty and is a significantly better product than the original 1970s tiles. The surface finish is harder and more resistant to moss colonisation than the original aggregate-faced tiles. Cost: £8–£18 per m² in standard profiles.
Clay Plain Tile
The correct material for Victorian and Edwardian properties and for the conservation area and AONB villages in our coverage area. Clay plain tile has a completely different visual character to concrete interlocking — smaller, thinner, with a handmade or early machine-made texture that gives a property its period character. The planning requirement in conservation areas is effectively mandatory: changing from clay to concrete on a visible elevation is unlikely to gain consent.
Modern machine-made clay plain tile from suppliers such as Dreadnought, Keymer, and Marley Eternit is a quality 60-year+ product. Hand-made clay plain tile is available for listed buildings and conservation area properties where the original tile quality is part of the listing or character. Cost: £25–£50 per m² for machine-made; £50–£120 per m² for hand-made.
Natural Welsh Slate
The traditional roofing material for Victorian and Edwardian properties in many parts of the UK, including some Aylesbury town centre properties. Natural Welsh slate has the longest lifespan of any roofing material — correctly fixed, it lasts 80–150 years. It requires more skilled labour to fix than interlocking tile and is more expensive per m², but the lifecycle cost over 100 years is comparable to or lower than concrete tile.
Conservation area and listed building properties may have a specific requirement for natural Welsh or Cornish slate rather than reconstituted slate. Reconstituted slate (Marley Eternit, Cembrit) is an acceptable substitute for non-listed properties outside the conservation area at significantly lower cost. Cost: £35–£65 per m² for natural Welsh slate; £18–£30 per m² for reconstituted.
The Aylesbury Decision Matrix
| Property Type | Correct Tile | Conservation Required |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s–80s estate (Bedgrove etc.) | Concrete interlocking | No |
| Victorian terrace (town centre) | Clay plain tile | Usually yes |
| Edwardian semi (conservation area) | Clay plain tile / natural slate | Yes |
| Modern new build | Concrete interlocking or modern clay | No |
| Listed building (any era) | Match original exactly | Listed building consent |
Free surveys, no call-out fee, 10-year guarantee on all work across Aylesbury and Buckinghamshire.
Roof Replacement Aylesbury →