Crafting a slate legacy

By Jesse Sanchez. 

Compass Roofing’s second-generation leader leans into slate tradition and Scottish weather. 

Compass Roofing Limited has built its name on slate in one of the world’s most slate-heavy cities, and director Lewis Miller, who spoke on this episode of the Roofing Road Trips® podcast, is carrying that legacy into a new generation from the company’s base in Edinburgh. The family-owned firm operates primarily in the Scottish capital, where slate roofs dominate the historic skyline and surrounding suburbs, supported by partnerships with suppliers like READYSLATE®.  

Their work is overwhelmingly pitched slate roofing, supported by tiles and flat systems tailored to Scotland’s harsh climate. Lewis shared, “Pitch roofing, certainly slating, is taken up by 90% of it, with the other 10% probably being tiled roof, which is concrete and clay. And then the other side of our work is flat roofing and we use a product called Alvitra VSK.” 

Edinburgh provides the perfect backdrop for a slate specialist. “If you've ever seen photos or videos or anything of Edinburgh, you will see that the city centre and the surrounding areas is just filled with slate roofs and sort of 100-year-old, 150 plus year old buildings,” Lewis said. Beyond the historic tenements, Compass Roofing also installs slate on early 20th century bungalows on the city’s outskirts, matching both aesthetics and performance to the building stock. 

The company uses Scotch slate on older tenements in the city center, while premium Spanish slate from READYSLATE is reserved for many bungalow projects where consistency and durability are paramount. That matters in a region where cold, wet days are the norm rather than the exception. Lewis added, “Yeah, we can get to about three degrees Celsius, and I'm sure a lot of people know Scotland is a very wet place.” 

For Lewis, the appeal of slate is both visual and practical. The material aligns with Edinburgh’s architecture and stands up to relentless rain and wind, reinforcing Compass Roofing’s commitment to high-quality, long-lasting roofing solutions. 

Listen to the podcast to learn more about Compass Roofing Limited, READYSLATE and their slate roofing expertise!