Repair the affected area when the surrounding roof is still serviceable.
A tile roof problem does not automatically mean the whole roof needs replacing. Where damage is localised, the repair can focus on the affected tiles and related roof details while taking the surrounding condition into account.
Check the cause before deciding what needs to be repaired.
Assess
Review the damaged or leaking area, tile condition and the surrounding roof details that may be contributing to the problem.
Define
Identify a practical repair scope, including affected tiles, flashings, junctions or related preparation where required.
Repair
Carry out the agreed local repair and make good the affected area within the defined scope.
Tiles, flashings and roof junctions all need to work together.
Cracked, broken or displaced tiles can allow water entry, but leaks may also involve flashings, junctions or other roof details. Reviewing the affected area as a system helps define the right repair rather than replacing tiles without addressing the actual cause.
Roof leak detectionThe wider roof condition determines how far the repair should go.
Local tile repairs make sense when the surrounding roof remains suitable for repair. Where deterioration is more widespread, a broader repair or replacement scope may provide a more practical result.
Tile roof repairs — common questions
Why does ridge capping come loose or crack?+
Ridge and hip tiles are bedded in mortar and pointed, or fixed mechanically. Mortar cracks and pointing perishes with age and movement. Building requirements call for ridge, hip and barge tiles to be securely fixed, so loose capping should be rebedded and secured.
What damages roof tiles?+
Common causes are hail, falling branches, age, and people walking on the roof. Tiles are brittle underfoot, so walking on a tile roof to check it often creates new breaks. Photos from the ground or a ladder at the eaves are safer.
Can individual tiles be replaced?+
Often, if the tile profile is still available and the surrounding tiles are sound. Replacement tiles must be fixed to meet building requirements and the tile maker's instructions. Weathered tiles rarely match new ones in colour exactly.
What does sarking do on a tile roof?+
Sarking is a flexible membrane under the battens that acts as a secondary barrier against wind-blown rain and dust. It is not a substitute for sound tiles, and tears or sagging can channel water to unexpected places, which complicates leak finding.
Which tile roof details leak most often?+
Valleys, where metal valley irons corrode, and flashings at walls, chimneys and skylights usually fail before the tiles. These are checked with the tiles in the affected area because water follows the lowest path.