Tiled roofs: new roofs and re-tiling in concrete, clay and plain tiles
Most houses across London and the South East are tiled, and most of the re-roofs we do are tile. We strip, re-batten and re-tile in the tile that suits the house, with dry-fixed hips, ridges and verges that do not need repointing every few years.
The tiles we lay most
We name the exact tile on your quote. The ones we fit most often:
- Redland 49 and similar concrete interlocking tiles: the standard on 1930s semis and post-war houses, strong and good value
- Mini Stonewold and other flat interlocking tiles: a slimmer, cleaner line that suits loft conversions and modern extensions
- Plain tiles in clay or concrete: small double-lapped tiles for period houses, porches and bays
- Clay pantiles and reclaimed tiles where a house or street needs them to match
What goes under the tiles
The tiles are the part you see. What keeps a tiled roof dry for decades is underneath: a breathable membrane, new treated battens gauged to the tile, and every tile nailed or clipped to today's fixing standard rather than just hung on the batten. On a re-tile we renew all of it, and replace rotten rafter ends or fascia boards while the roof is open.
Dry hip, ridge and verge
The old way is to bed ridge and hip tiles and verges in sand and cement. Mortar cracks as the roof moves, falls out, and leaves ridge tiles loose in the next gale. We fit mechanically fixed dry systems instead, clipped and screwed, with nothing to crack. It is now the standard on new work and the usual fix for a ridge that keeps losing its pointing.
Repairing a tiled roof
A few slipped or cracked tiles, a lifted ridge or a leaking valley is a repair, not a new roof. Most concrete tiles can still be matched new, and reclaimed tiles can usually be found for older profiles. If the battens behind have rotted so tiles will not stay put, we tell you, because that is when a re-tile becomes the better money.
Questions
Which tile should I choose?
Usually the one that suits the house and the street. Concrete interlocking tiles are the best value, flat profiles look cleaner, and plain tiles or clay suit older houses. We bring samples to the quote visit.
Are concrete tiles heavier than my old ones?
Sometimes. If a lighter or heavier tile changes the load on the roof, we check the timbers and tell you before quoting.
Will my roof match the neighbours?
If matching matters, on a terrace or semi for example, we choose a tile and colour to match and show you before ordering.