Dunkeld is one of the most protected townscapes in Perthshire — a conservation area with a cathedral, listed buildings and a distinctive character that its roofs are a large part of. Working here means doing things sympathetically, and knowing what you’re not allowed to do
Dunkeld and Birnam sit either side of the Tay under wooded hills, and the built character of the place is closely protected. Much of the town lies within a conservation area, and there are numerous listed buildings, including properties in the care of the National Trust for Scotland around the cathedral and the Little Houses.
Nearly all of the historic stock is roofed in traditional Scottish slate on sarking, frequently laid in diminishing courses — larger slates at the eaves reducing toward the ridge. A great deal of it is original. That’s remarkable, and it’s also why the work here has to be approached differently from a reroof on a modern estate.
You may need consent before anyone touches the roof. On a listed building, works affecting character require consent, including roof covering. Conservation areas have additional controls that must be sorted prior to work.
The material may be specified for you. Replaced original Scottish slate must match visually. Since original quarries are closed, reclaimed Scottish slate is used, which is highly in demand.
The coursing may be specified too. If original slate was in diminishing courses, it usually must go back that way — skilled, traditional work ensuring an authentic street appearance.
The mortar matters. Modern hard cement damages soft traditional stone, causing spalling. Lime-based mortar is required on traditional Dunkeld stacks and verges to prevent costly long-term damage.
Lead, not cement fillets. Cement fillets on historic chimneys cause leaks and look wrong. Proper leadwork is critical for traditional detailing. See chimney and leadwork.
We will survey the roof properly, tell you what we think it needs, tell you honestly where we think consent is likely to be required, and point you to Perth & Kinross Council before you commit to anything.
We won’t quietly carry out work on a listed or conservation-area property that should have been consented. It exposes you to enforcement action, affects resale value, and damages a historic building.
We’re minutes away. Four miles, and we’re through the village regularly.
We look at the whole water path, not just the roof covering — gutters, downpipes, and where the water actually ends up.
Free survey, photographs, written price. Same as everywhere. No difference because it’s a small village.
Yes, and carefully. Depending on the work, listed building consent may be required first — we’ll tell you honestly where we think that applies and point you to Perth & Kinross Council. We won’t do consented work without consent.
Not new — the Scottish quarries are effectively closed. Reclaimed Scottish slate is available and it’s what conservation work generally requires. We’ll source and match it.
On soft traditional stone, hard modern cement is stronger than the masonry, so the stone decays instead of the mortar. Lime-based mortar is usually correct on historic stonework, and it’s a genuinely common thing to get wrong.
Yes — Dunkeld, Birnam, and out toward Bankfoot, Murthly and the Strathtay villages.
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