When correctly installed the finished roof should give trouble-free performance for the guaranteed life of the product.
Basic precautions
A regular visual inspection of the roof should be undertaken, particularly after the winter months, to ensure that tiles and fittings have not been damaged and that moss and lichen growths that could affect the flow of water off the roof are removed.
Any openings or ventilation grills should be checked and cleared if blocked. Gutters should be cleared of debris and leaves.
Access to roof
Care should be taken to avoid access on the roof by window cleaners, aerial installers, etc. without adequate access equipment that meets the requirements of Health and Safety regulations in addition to providing protection to the roof covering.
If ladders are used for temporary access to the roof, the ladders should not rest against the tiles without a suitable packing material to protect the tiles against breakage.
Mobile access platforms are suitable where the repair work is not extensive. All mobile tower platforms should be constructed to the requirements of BS EN 280:2013+A1 or / and BS EN 1004
Scaffolds should be used where the repair work is extensive. All independently tied scaffold should conform to BS EN 12811-1.
Repair and replacement of broken tiles
To repair damaged tiles lift the damaged tiles carefully with a trowel, supporting adjacent tiles in order to facilitate their removal and the installation of the replacement unit.
Where the tiles are nailed carefully remove the nails using a ‘slaters rip’.
Fit the replacement tile or tiles ensuring each tile is mechanically fixed using an appropriate fixing method as recommended by the manufacturer e.g. nails / screws or clips.
Major repairs
Where the condition of the roof on an historic building is poor enough to warrant stripping and re-tiling, it is acknowledged that English Heritage and local authority conservation officers like to see sound tiles salvaged and re-used on the same roof, with any deficiencies made up with new tiles which match the existing.
Members of the RTA who manufacture clay and concrete products are in the unique position of being able to assist in the provision of new tiles to match historic patterns and thereby ensure the success of such projects.
When re-covering, it is advisable to photograph the roof prior to stripping, to ensure that the existing details are properly followed.
Stripping should be carried out carefully to ensure that any sound existing tiles remain undamaged so that they can be sorted according to type, size, and thickness and stored for re-use. When assessing existing tiles for re-use, their likely further life should be carefully considered.
Re-tiling should be carried out using sound tiles salvaged from the roof, with any deficiencies made up with suitable replacement tiles, matching the existing ones in type, size, thickness, colour, and texture.
The selection of existing tiles for reuse should be carried out with great care to ensure that they will have a significant future life-span in relation to that of the new material. The RTA recommend that old tiles and new tiles are used on separate roof sections so as to benefit from new tile guarantees.
In cases where the direct equivalent of the original tiles are no longer available, some members of the RTA can offer made to order tiles sizes/colour if the quantity is sufficient for production.