Tiles and slates on Manchester’s roofs
Houses across Greater Manchester and Warrington have a mix of roof coverings:
- Slate on many Victorian and Edwardian terraces and older semis.
- Clay and concrete plain tiles on a lot of older houses.
- Interlocking concrete tiles on post-war semis, bungalows and many re-roofed houses, like the grey and red roofs in Jon’s photos.
Each fails in its own way, and each needs repairing with the right materials.
Common problems
- Slipped slates where old nails have rusted through
- Cracked tiles from frost, age or someone walking on the roof
- Missing tiles after high winds
- Lifted tiles at the edges and verges, where wind gets underneath
- Porous old tiles that have started to soak up water
How a repair is done
- Access with a roof ladder, tower or scaffold, depending on where the damage is.
- Remove the damaged tile or slate, taking care not to disturb the ones round it.
- Check underneath. The felt and battens are checked, and any that are torn or rotten are replaced.
- Fit the replacement, matched as closely as possible, and fixed securely.
- Check the area around the repair and clear any debris.
When there are too many to repair
If slates are slipping all over the roof, or tiles are cracking across every slope, repeated repairs add up quickly. At that point a new roof may be the better use of your money. A roof inspection will tell you where you stand.
Quotes are free. A photo of the damaged area on WhatsApp helps Jon give you an idea before he visits.
