Crafts / Heritage Roofing

Heritage Roofing

Every historic roof tells a story - of the geology that produced its slate, the woodland that grew its timber, the regional tradition that shaped its profile.

About Heritage Roofing

Every historic roof tells a story - of the geology that produced its slate, the woodland that grew its timber, the regional tradition that shaped its profile. Heritage roofing encompasses natural slate, stone slate, clay tile, lead and hard metal roofing, and thatching - each with its own techniques, qualifications and regional traditions. With an estimated 500,000 listed buildings in England alone, the demand for skilled heritage roofers consistently outstrips supply.

Thatching is one of Britain's most visually distinctive and urgently endangered crafts. Over 100,000 thatched properties exist in the UK - many of them listed buildings requiring like-for-like replacement - yet fewer than 1,000 working thatchers remain nationally. In 2018, UNESCO inscribed traditional thatching on its Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Typical earnings

Entry level: £18,000–£22,000 | Qualified (NVQ L3): £30,000–£45,000 | Lead/specialist contractors: higher

Practitioners in this craft

Practitioner interviews are in production. At least one practitioner featured in each craft will be a woman working in that trade. If you know someone still practising this craft, or would like to be featured, get in touch.

office@craftgate.org

Career pathway

Roofing Apprentice

Preparing materials, stripping roofs, learning safe working at height

CSCS card, working at height, hand tool use

Roof Slater / Tiler

Fixing slate, stone slate or clay tile to historic roofs

NVQ L2 Roof Slater and Tiler, like-for-like matching, lime bedding

Heritage Roof Slater and Tiler

Listed building conservation work - sourcing matched materials

NVQ L3 Heritage Skills Roof Slating and Tiling

Lead and Hard Metal Roofer

Lead, copper and zinc on complex historic roof forms

NVQ L2/L3 Hard Metals, SAP Heritage Lead Roofing Specialist

Apprentice Thatcher

Preparing bundles, learning material handling, assisting on roof sections

Physical stamina, working at height, tool familiarisation

Heritage Thatcher

Re-thatching listed buildings on like-for-like basis

Conservation requirements, regional styles, liaison with conservation officers

Master Thatcher

Leading complex contracts, advising on materials and heritage compliance

Full craft mastery, project management, fire safety and heritage legislation

Getting qualified

✓NVQ Level 2 in Roofing Occupations
✓Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Heritage Skills - Roof Slating and Tiling
✓Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Heritage Skills - Lead and Hard Metal Roofing
✓Level 2 Apprenticeship in Thatching
✓Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Heritage Skills - Thatching
✓SAP routes for conservation work

Find a placement

Ready to try Heritage Roofing for yourself? Browse available placements with verified hosts.

View Heritage Roofing placements ← All crafts

Ready to learn?

Start the Heritage Roofing Foundation Pathway - 6 modules covering conservation philosophy to career qualifications.

Start Learning →