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When it comes to changing your roof tiling, it is pretty straightforward, but only if you hire a roofing contractor who knows what they are doing. If your fractured roof tiles are not correctly replaced, you will face several additional issues that are bound to be quite pricey to fix.
Water damage is at the top of the list. When a tiled roof is damaged or missing tiles, it creates an opening for water to enter your roof space and into your home. This might lead to rotting, mildew, and ceiling damage, all of which would be far more expensive to repair than getting a professional to replace a few roof tiles.
This post will run you through the process of replacing roof tiles and the steps that must be taken. Roof repairs pose a safety risk due to the significant occurrence of accidents involving falls from a height.
This is particularly true if your roof is steeply sloped or covered with moss and lichen, making it difficult to stand on. Roofing companies have the necessary equipment and knowledge to traverse these types of roofs. Even if you're repairing a few cracked tiles or leaking metal roofing, it's vital to ensure your safety first.
How To Replace A Roof Tile
Step One: Climb to the roof
Climbing onto your roof to replace damaged or broken roof tiles must be done safely. Therefore, ensure that your ladder is solid and stable, and consider using harnesses and ropes to guarantee your safety, especially if the roof has a high slope or is slippery. If you're not comfortable with heights, get a professional roofer to do the job. Falling from your roof could be fatal.
Concrete and terracotta are two of the most commonly used tile roofing materials. Roof tiles may appear identical; however, they might differ in some aspects, including thickness, length, and form. Consequently, you must get like-for-like tiles for the replacement, or the uniform flow of your tile roof will be broken, which might cause additional damage.
Step Three: Remove the damaged tiles
After safely locating the damaged tile, you'll need to remove the tiles surrounding it and the overlaying tile. After that, the tile you wish to remove should be easy. If your tiles are not lifting, then they are possibly being held in place by mechanical fasteners, including nails or screws. If this is the case, raise the bottoms of the overhanging tiles in the row above, pull the nail out of your tile, and then lift it out.
Step Four: Install the tile underlay
You must install a new tile underlay before installing your new tiles. The type of underlayment depends on what had previously been installed on your old tiles. So confirm that and make the appropriate purchase.
Starting at the base of the roof's peak and moving downhill, the tile underlay should be installed in horizontal rows. You can begin by installing it on the entire roof's perimeter if your roof has a complicated design.
Step Five: Install the new tile
Lift the base of the tile from the row above it and slip your tile back into position. If your tiles were nailed or screwed in, push the appropriate fastener through the tiles notch and into your roof's timber batten. Once all of your tiles are in position, make any minor tweaks needed to secure them in place.
Signs Your Roof Tiles Need Replacement
Algae growth, particularly in one location
Roof algae often have a dark green colour. Algae often grow on concrete and terracotta roof tiles, especially in humid environments with little to no sunshine. Gloeocapsa magma, the most prevalent type of roof algae, could slowly eat away at tile roofs and result in expensive roof damage. Promptly ask your roofer to remove algae and fix any issues contributing to water accumulating on your roof.
Tiles that are cracked or missing
Missing tiles or visible cracks on roof tiles are common in locations with regular rains and storms. In most circumstances, this is an occurrence that could be readily and affordably repaired.
Those issues, though, might be indications that your tile roof is growing old. Leaving it unfixed for an extended duration could expose your tile roof to more roof damage, necessitating costly repairs.
If you discover cracked or missing tiles, call a competent roofing contractor to evaluate the roof and determine if the damage is minor or severe.
Sagging roof
The apex of your roof should be straight and parallel to the ridge. If your roof has a sag in the centre, it might indicate structural problems, which could cause your roof to collapse if not caught and fixed promptly.
A sagging tile roof could be caused by repeated exposure to moisture and a large quantity of water, defective roofing tiles, and incorrect installations despite high-quality roofing materials.
To avoid sagging, ensure your roof is free of rainwater accumulation and that your tiles are of excellent quality and correctly installed by an expert roofer. You should also consider how much weight the roof can withstand.
Falling mortars
Mortars are primarily used for bedding roof joints such as ridges, which are the outside horizontal areas where two roof slopes converge, and verges, which are the roof's outer margins.
You should inspect your mortars regularly because these materials have a limited lifespan. Additionally, you must also be on the lookout for early indicators of degradation caused by significant weather changes.
Roof ridges and verges are prone to cracking due to building movement, heating, and cooling, and finally becoming dislodged and falling off in severe winds. Falling mortars could also be an issue on older roofs when the mortar was used for tile bedding.
Tips For Increasing The Life Of Your Tiled Roof
Perform annual inspections
It's critical to inspect your roof for obvious concerns such as cracks, leakage, water damage, mildew, or severe indicators of weather-induced damage. You will need to hire a competent roofing contractor for a deeper and more complete evaluation of all the concealed problems.
They are well-trained and experienced enough to identify issues that might lead to more significant harm to your tile roof in the future. It's a critical step in roof maintenance and repairs that could save you money.
Remember to clean your tile roof
The roof, like the inside of your home, should be cleaned regularly. If your roof is not cleaned regularly, it will get a greenish colour around the edges. Regular cleaning could keep your roof looking new for many years.
The most convenient approach to cleaning your roof is with a power washer, although the pressure should not be too intense. It is also critical to avoid dangerous chemicals, which could cause more harm and gradually degrade your roof tiles.
Conducting a mild wash with a cleaning solution is preferable for effective and safe cleaning. This will keep your tiled roof clean and prevent any extra damage.
Get rid of any debris
If you live in an area with many trees, your roof will collect a lot of leaves and debris. This will eventually block the gutters and cause flooding on your roof during wet seasons. Overflowing water could seep into your home and compromise the structural integrity of your tile roof. Even if you don't wash your roof, you should clear the debris off it regularly.
Replace any broken tiles
Tile roofs should endure for around 50 years or more if properly installed and maintained. However, mediocre roofers might cut corners during roof installation, like omitting to install flashing, which could cut your tile roof's life in half.
Rainwater could run beneath the tiles if the top flashing is missing, creating fractures, leaks, and degradation. As a result, your tiled roof might begin to leak after only five years and will need to be replaced after around 15 to 20 years.
The good news is that you can add protective flashings at any moment, thereby increasing the life of your tiled roof. In short, roof repairs could help restore your tile roof's integrity and increase its lifespan.
Need Expert Assistance To Replace Your Roof Tiles?
This article has shown you how to take care of your tiled roof and how to replace broken tiles. If you are unhappy with the state of the replaced roof tiles after a DIY attempt, it is crucial to seek the help of professional roofers. To get good advice and service, you could skip the DIY part and reach out to a professional roofing company and let them put your worries to rest.
