Can old roof tiles or slate be reused?
Sound tiles or natural slate can sometimes be salvaged and reused during re-roofing, particularly where matching the existing appearance matters. Each piece needs to be assessed, and additional compatible material is usually required to replace damaged or unsuitable units.
When reuse works
Natural slate is the material most often reused, because sound slates can outlast the battens and nails holding them. Reuse depends on how many survive stripping, whether they are consistent in size and thickness, and whether they are delaminating.
Some units are lost during removal whatever care is taken, so a reclaim job normally needs additional matching material sourced to make up the shortfall.
What to check before assuming reuse
Ask for an honest assessment of the covering's condition rather than a plan built on best-case survival rates. Sorting, cleaning and stacking reclaimed material also takes time, which forms part of the job.
Where the original covering cannot be matched, a contractor should discuss the appearance of alternatives before work starts, particularly on older or terraced properties.