Roof tiling and tiled roof repairs
The post-war housing round here is mostly under concrete interlocking tile, and those roofs are now at an age where things start going.
Concrete tiles are tough but they aren't permanent. They get porous, they go soft at the edges, and the ridge bedding that holds the top of the roof together gives up long before the tiles do.
- Covering
- East Lancashire & Craven
- Quotes
- Free, no pressure
- Ring or text
- 07840 031508
What we do
- Replacing cracked, slipped and delaminating tiles
- Re-bedding and re-pointing ridge and hip tiles
- Dry ridge systems, mechanically fixed rather than mortared
- Full strip and re-tile with new battens and membrane
- Valley repairs and replacement
- Verge repairs, including dry verge systems
What goes wrong with tiled roofs
- Ridge bedding.
- This is the big one. Ridge tiles were traditionally bedded on mortar, and mortar cracks. Once it has, wind gets underneath and ridges start to lift. If you can see gaps along the ridge line from the street, that wants doing before it turns into a ridge tile in somebody's garden.
- Porous tiles.
- Old concrete tiles soak water up instead of shedding it. You'll see moss growing thickly and the surface going rough and flaky. Once a whole roof is like that, it's nearing the end.
- Slipped tiles.
- Usually a broken nib on the tile itself, or a batten that's rotted.
- Nail sickness and batten failure,
- exactly as on a slate roof.
A word about moss and pressure washing
Moss on a tiled roof is common round here and mostly cosmetic. What isn't harmless is having somebody pressure wash it off.
A pressure washer strips the surface off a concrete tile, takes the bedding out of the ridge, and forces water up under the laps. Plenty of roofs we're called to have been finished off by a jet wash rather than by weather.
If moss is genuinely causing a problem, usually by blocking gutters, it can be removed by hand or scraped. Anyone offering to blast your roof clean for a modest sum is selling you damage.
Repair or re-tile?
Tiles can be replaced individually all day, so the question is whether enough of them have gone, and whether the battens beneath still hold a nail.
If the ridge has failed but the tiles are sound, re-bedding or a dry ridge system is a fraction of a re-tile and buys years.
The things people ask us
Ridge tiles clamped down mechanically with screws and a sealing strip instead of bedded in mortar. It costs more initially, and it doesn't crack, come loose, or need redoing in fifteen years. On an exposed roof it's usually worth it.
Salvage is often available. Failing that, the usual approach is to take sound tiles from a less visible elevation to make the front good, and use new ones where they show least.
Yes, with weather delays built into the plan. A roof isn't left open overnight, and we won't strip a section we can't get watertight the same day.
Only if it's blocking gutters or holding water against the tiles. Moss on its own isn't damaging a sound roof, and removing it badly does more harm than leaving it.
What people said about the work
Read the reviews, then ring us and see if we match up.
Very pleased indeed. Alex was responsive, helpful and, as chance would have it, was able to do the repair to the guttering at our daughter's bungalow, promptly. The charge was minimal for two tradesmen. Would certainly use again and have no hesitation in recommending him to others.
Alex and Luke have pointed our chimney and replaced pots. All the ridge tiles have been removed and replaced. Nothing has been too much trouble for these guys. We are more than happy with the end result. Totally reliable and trustworthy. Very friendly lads. I would 100% recommend their services.
Alex and his team did a first class repair job on my roof. Excellent value for my money. Kept me informed at all stages of the job, clean and tidy on completion.
Alex has just repaired chimney (putting right someone else’s bad work mainly) and ridge Used Alex before after storm in 2022 brought guttering down on my 300 yr old cottage. Measured, made and fitted within about a week thankfully after months of others roofers either not showing or making out how difficult the job was
First class conscientious and speedy roof repairs and re-roofs, worked all daylight hours to complete my new roof in late November. Went out of their way to get everything right. Highly recommended.
Prompt service and tidy workmanship when we had gutters cleaned and also some minor repairs including repairing continuous dripping when raining. Would use again.
Very happy with the quality of the repair work carried out on our roof. Reliable, and competitively priced. Professional and friendly service. Thanks.
Prompt service overall a good job and price ! Many Thanks would recommend.
Alex replaced our leaking guttering. The guttering was measured, ordered and all replaced within a week! The job was done very professionally and at a great price! Great guys, who left the area spotless, when finished. Fantastic job! Great, honest, genuine tradesman. We would highly recommend to all!!!!!
Alex did our roof when it needed some repair. Was great, advised what was needed once he was up there (and could see the state of things) and fixed everything up. The roof looks good as new and also spruced up the guttering whilst he was up there. Will definitely use him again if needed in the future.
Alec did an excellent job on my roof I would recommend him to anyone wanting a good workman at a competive price
Alex replaced my guttering, did an excellent job, no mess, reasonable price, would highly recommend.
Alex did a brilliant job, explained everything, very reliable, left no mess, would definitely use him again and would recommend to anyone.
Alex did a fantastic job at a very reasonable price. Honest and trustworthy from the first minute he came to look at my roof, was the only roofer who took the time out to actually go up on the roof before talking me through what was needed.
Quality work completed at competitive price, turned up and completed work time
We met Alex by chance one rainy afternoon on the local canal towpath. We were both sheltering from the rain under the same bridge. My husband and I had, earlier, been discussing our garage roof which was new a few years ago, but which had been leaking for some time. We think our chance meeting with Alex was meant to happen as, for some reason, I mentioned our leaky roof to him. We have always had difficultly finding reliable…
Excellent job, lovely people, very good roofers and sensible prices
Absolutely brilliant service from start to finish. The work was completed to a really high standard they were reliable, professional and tidy throughout. It’s clear they take pride in their work, and the finished roof looks fantastic. Would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for a trustworthy, hardworking roofer. Thank you to Alex, Jeff, Ryan & Junior Kath & Eric at Number 6
Great job done by Alex, Jason and Alfie on our chimney stack and roof. They provide a very professional friendly, service and are a pleasure to work with. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend their services. Thank you so much.
Professional job from start to finish. Polite, tidy and cleaned up after themselves. Would highly recommend.
Alex replaced our guttering, reset all the ridge tiles on the roof and capped the chimney properly. Alex and Luke were a breathe of fresh air to deal with. Alex was very friendly, he kept us informed of progress and what they were doing. He attended at the specified time and always kept everything clean and tidy. Quotes were accurate and were stuck to. Quality work throughout so if you want half a job doing don't call him. Personally…
Can’t recommend Alex highly enough , we got in contact on Saturday explaining we had some issues with lead flashing around chimney , leaking gutter etc and he responded straight away and then called Sunday to discuss . Made an appointment for Monday after work where he explained the issue and the cost . Today he came round and sorted all the problems as discussed , Alex is a great guy who you can tell cares about his work and his…
Excellent work done by a superb team. Alex, Geoff and Luke have done an incredible job on my roof and front of house. The roof no longer leaks (when living in Preston that's an important thing!) and the front of the house appearance has been transformed from an old tired look to a clean and more modern feel. They provide great advice, give you a quote detailing what they are going to do and then crack on and do a brilliant job…
Alex and Geoff took great care inspecting the roof and deciding on a plan of action. Geoff and Luke worked seamlessly together to repair the numerous faults they discovered. They were cheerful and courteous at all times and were always ready to explain how the work was progressing and the issues they were dealing with as they arose. Jason and Alfie did a good job with the rendering. Photographs were provided, documenting their…
Alex came to our rescue and quickly repaired my elderly mother's damaged roof. The work was completed within 2 days and we are very happy with the quality of the work provided. Thank you Alex and your team for a fast and friendly service at a reasonable price. What a brilliant job! I can highly recommend Alex and his hard-working team.
We had a leak in the living room, which we didn’t know where it was coming from, but we thought it was the gutter. We called Alex after he was recommended to us, the same week on the Saturday he came and had a look diagnosing where the leak was coming from and giving everywhere a good look, letting us know we also had 3 tiles slipped on the kitchen roof which he’d sort for us too. Two days later the work started and we couldn’t be…
Other things we do
Roof slating
Welsh blue slate and Yorkshire stone slate. Individual slates, patch areas, and full re-slates on the stone terraces round here.
Read moreFlat roofs
Extensions, dormers, garages and porches. Repairs where a repair will hold, replacement where it won't.
Read moreFlat to pitched roof conversions
If you're tired of patching the same flat roof every couple of years, this ends it.
Read more