This job took us to Darlington Crescent in Chester, to a house with a roof of grey concrete interlocking tiles and a run of half-round ridge tiles along the top. From up on the ridge you can see across the neighbouring rooftops, most of them covered in similar tiles.
The two photos record what we were dealing with rather than a before-and-after. One looks down the length of the ridge towards the chimney, where one of our roofers is working at the stack. The other is a close-up of a single tile with a crack running straight down through it.
A crack you can barely see from the ground
The cracked tile is a good example of how small the cause of a leak can be. The split runs from the top lap to the bottom edge of the tile, and it is the kind of thing that is invisible from the pavement. Rain running down the slope finds its way into that line and onto the felt below, and over time it can reach the timbers or the ceiling.
Concrete interlocking tiles like these are hard-wearing, but they do crack, whether from someone walking on the roof, a slipped tile above, or simply age. The good news is that a single tile can usually be swapped out on its own, with the tiles around it eased up to release it and then relaid.
Ridge and chimney
The half-round ridge is heavily coated in yellow and grey lichen and the tiles around it are stained with moss. Black clips are visible at the ridge joints. Lichen on its own is mostly cosmetic, but a ridge in this condition is worth checking closely, because the mortar underneath is often tired even when the tiles look sound.
At the far end the roof meets a brick chimney stack with a terracotta pot, which is where the photo shows the work going on. Where a stack comes through a roof, the flashings and the tiles beside it are common places for water to get in, so they are always part of what we look at on a roof repair. If the stack itself needs work, our chimney repairs page explains what is involved.
- Concrete interlocking tiles with moss and lichen staining
- Half-round ridge tiles running the length of the roof
- A tile split top to bottom, a typical source of a slow leak
Questions About This Kind of Job
Can one cracked tile really cause a leak?
Yes. Water follows the crack onto the felt, and if the felt is old or torn it will carry on into the loft. It may show as a small damp patch long after the tile first cracked.
Do you have to replace the whole roof for a few broken tiles?
No. Individual concrete tiles can be replaced, provided a matching or compatible tile is available. We will tell you if the wider roof is getting to the point where patching stops making sense.
Should the lichen on my ridge be removed?
Lichen does little harm by itself, but it can hide cracked tiles or loose mortar. It is worth having the ridge checked while someone is up there.
How do I book a roof check in Chester?
Get in touch with a short description and, ideally, a photo of where the water is showing, and we will arrange a visit.
