Why roof tiles slip or break
- High winds lifting tiles that were never nailed or clipped
- Nails and tile nibs corroding or breaking with age
- Frost cracking tiles that have absorbed water
- Rotten battens that no longer hold the fixings
- Foot traffic from aerial, solar or other trades
Is one missing tile urgent?
The roofing felt under the tiles is a second line of defence, not a roof covering. It keeps out the odd drop of water but breaks down quickly once exposed. A missing tile should be replaced within days, not months, and sooner if rain is forecast.
How a tile roof repair is done
A roofer lifts the surrounding tiles, checks the felt and battens underneath and replaces anything damaged. The new tile is matched to the existing roof as closely as possible, by profile first and colour second, then nailed or clipped so it cannot slide again. On older roofs reclaimed tiles are often the best match.
When a few tiles point to a bigger problem
If tiles are slipping across a whole slope, the fixings or battens are probably failing everywhere, and patching one area at a time gets expensive. A roofer should show you photos of what is under the tiles so you can judge whether a repair or a larger section of re-tiling makes more sense.
Can I replace a roof tile myself?
Working at height on a pitched roof is dangerous without the right access equipment, and walking on tiles often breaks more of them. For anything above a single-storey roof it is safer, and usually cheaper in the long run, to use a roofer.
