Dry-fix vs mortar-bedded ridges
Cracked mortar along the ridge is one of the most common defects we photograph. The question is whether to re-bed it or convert to a dry-fix system.
Concrete Interlocking Tile
Concrete interlocking tile covers most 1930s-onwards stock locally — fast to lay, economical, but porous and noticeably tired by 40 years old.
Lifespan
40–60 years before face lamination and colour loss become obvious.
Cost / m²
£50–£90 supplied and laid
Category
pitched
Best for
Inter-war and post-war stock, where matching the original cover is the priority.
Where it fails
- Surface lamination once the protective coating wears off
- Heavy moss growth on north slopes
- Brittle nibs failing at the eaves course
- Colour drift between original and replacement batches
Our repair approach
We match by profile and weather where possible, and on full re-roofs we recommend stepping up to a coated or clay tile if the budget allows.
Concrete tile by area
Our guides on this
Roof battens and nail fatigue: the hidden clock in every old roof
Nail fatigue is the rusting through of the original tile nails, typically 60–90 years after installation, and it's the most common reason old roofs start shedding tiles. Once tiles are slipping in several places each winter, the nails have generally failed across the whole roof and patch repairs will keep repeating.
Full re-roof vs overlaying an existing covering
Overlaying is faster and cheaper, and occasionally it's a reasonable engineering decision. More often it postpones the real work while making it more expensive later.