Natural slate is woven into the fabric of County Clare's built heritage. From the older terraced properties in Ennis town centre and the period farmhouses of East Clare to the traditional stone cottages of the Burren and the exposed rooflines of the West Clare coast, slate roofs are a defining feature of the county's residential landscape — and one of the most demanding roofing materials to repair correctly when problems arise.
At Doherty Roofing, slate roof repairs are one of our core specialisms. We carry out professional slate roof repairs and re-slating work for homeowners across all of County Clare — from individual slate replacement and nail sickness assessment to large-scale re-slating projects on older properties throughout the county. Every job is assessed individually, materials are sourced to match as closely as possible, and all work is carried out to the standard that Clare's slate roofing heritage deserves.
We are based in Limerick — immediately across the Clare border — and we are fully insured and Safe Pass certified. We provide free, no-obligation quotes on all slate roof work across Clare with no call-out fees and no pressure to proceed.
County Clare has a deeper connection to slate roofing than most Irish counties — and understanding that heritage helps explain both why Clare's older slate roofs are as good as they are and why getting the repair right matters so much.
Killaloe, just across the Clare border from County Tipperary, was historically one of Ireland's own slate quarrying areas. Killaloe slate was used extensively on properties throughout the Midwest for generations — and it can still be found on older buildings throughout East Clare, along the Shannon corridor and on period properties in Ennis and the surrounding area. While the original Killaloe quarries are no longer producing, their legacy lives on in the older roofs of Clare's towns and rural areas — and repairing these roofs correctly, with appropriately matched materials and genuine understanding of the original construction, is something that matters to the character and value of the properties involved.
Beyond Killaloe slate, Clare's older properties feature a range of natural slate types — Welsh slate on period properties where the best available material was specified, Spanish slate on properties re-roofed from the mid-twentieth century onwards, and fibre cement slate on newer properties and recent re-roofing projects. Each type has its own characteristics, failure modes and repair requirements. A roofer who cannot distinguish between them — or who treats them all the same — will not carry out the right repair for your specific roof.
How do I know if my Clare slate roof has nail sickness?
The most common signs are slates that are slipping or falling despite being undamaged, multiple slates failing in a short period, and slates that move when gently tested. A professional inspection will confirm whether nail failure is isolated or widespread. Jim will assess your roof specifically for nail sickness during the free inspection and give you an honest recommendation.
Can I use any slate to replace broken ones on my Clare roof?
No — and using the wrong replacement slate is one of the most common mistakes made on Clare slate roof repairs. The replacement slate must match the existing covering as closely as possible in type, size, thickness and colour. On older properties with natural Welsh or Killaloe slate, finding a close match requires knowledge and the right suppliers. Jim will assess the existing covering and source the most appropriate matching material before any repair is carried out.
My West Clare coastal property has natural slate — does the salt air cause additional problems?
Yes. Salt-laden Atlantic air accelerates surface erosion and deterioration of natural slate on exposed coastal positions significantly faster than on sheltered inland roofs. It also corrodes standard ferrous fixings faster — another reason why non-ferrous copper or stainless steel fixings are essential on any slate roof work carried out on West Clare coastal properties.
How long does a natural slate roof last in Clare?
A well-installed natural slate roof using quality Welsh or premium Spanish slate can last well over a hundred years with proper maintenance. The slates themselves are often not the limiting factor — it is the nails, battens, underlay and flashings that determine the practical lifespan of the roof as a whole. Regular inspection and prompt repair significantly extend the life of any Clare slate roof.
Do you carry out slate roof repairs on older heritage properties in the Burren and Ennis?
Yes. We carry out all slate roof work on older and heritage properties throughout Clare — including stone cottages and farmhouses in the Burren, older town properties in Ennis, and period properties across the county. We source appropriate matching materials and carry out all work with the care these properties deserve.
Understanding why your slate roof is failing is the first step towards the right repair decision.
Nail Sickness — The Most Common Cause of Slate Roof Failure in Clare
The most common cause of slate roof failure on older Clare properties is not the slates themselves — it is the nails that hold them in place. Traditional iron or steel nails corrode over time, and as their grip weakens, slates begin to slip, slide or fall. This process — known as nail sickness — is gradual at first, with isolated slates failing one by one, before accelerating as corrosion spreads across the roof. The critical distinction is this: a roof suffering from nail sickness does not have failing slates — it has failing fixings. Replacing individual slates on a nail-sick roof is an ongoing cost that never resolves the underlying problem. The correct solution is a full re-slating using modern non-corrosive copper or stainless steel fixings.
Jim will assess your Clare roof specifically for nail sickness during the free inspection and give you an honest recommendation on whether targeted repairs will genuinely serve you or whether a full re-slating is the more cost-effective long-term decision.
Frost Damage and Delamination
Natural slate is a porous material that absorbs small amounts of moisture. During cold spells — which Clare experiences regularly — that moisture freezes and expands within the body of the slate, gradually forcing the layers apart in a process known as delamination. Once a slate begins to delaminate it loses structural integrity and its ability to shed water. Lower-quality Spanish slate is particularly susceptible to this — the metallic inclusions found in cheaper Spanish slate cause surface staining and cracking that accelerates deterioration significantly. On exposed West Clare rooflines, frost action is more pronounced than on sheltered inland properties and delamination progresses faster.
Storm Damage
Atlantic storms displace, crack and remove slates from Clare roofs every year — particularly on exposed west-facing rooflines in Kilrush, Kilkee, Lahinch and across the Loop Head peninsula. Even properties in the more sheltered eastern parts of the county experience significant slate displacement during named storms. When storm damage occurs, prompt repair is essential — even a small number of missing slates allows significant water ingress if Atlantic rainfall continues.
Coastal Salt Air Exposure
Properties on the West Clare coast face an additional challenge that inland properties do not. Salt-laden Atlantic air penetrates the surface of natural slate over time and, combined with the freeze-thaw action that Clare's coastal climate generates, accelerates surface erosion and structural deterioration significantly faster than on sheltered inland roofs. For coastal Clare properties, specifying the right quality of replacement slate — and non-ferrous fixings throughout — is essential to achieving a lasting repair.
We offer a comprehensive range of roofing services in Clare and the surrounding counties. Whatever your roofing needs, Doherty Roofing has you covered.
Doherty Roofing is a fully insured, family-run roofing company based in Limerick. Led by Jim Doherty, we provide expert roof repairs, new roof installations, flat roofs, guttering and more across Limerick, Clare and Tipperary. Call us today for a free, no-obligation quote.
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