Most houses across the country make use of tiles on their roof because of durability and strength. There are a number of different types of roof tiles made from different materials with styles and colours that vary from one range to another. This means that when a roof is finished, it is the exact selection that a homeowner wants.
Roof tiles are also at the front line of the battle of house versus weather and takes the worst of the onslaught €“ rain, snow, hail, frost, sunlight and high winds. All of these batter the roof tiles for long periods of the year and whilst these materials are designed to combat the weather, sometimes they fail. This is often through extreme weather such as high winds or heavy and prolonged snow.
The most common reason that roof tiles fail in their duty however, is that something has caused a weakness in them. It could be that a long period of ice has caused a tiny chip in a tile that heavy rains can get through. Or a period of high winds has loosened a tile and another storm pulls it off the roof. Looking after the roof tiles on your home is important and can save a lot of money.
Basics
A simple visual inspection is the first step to making sure everything looks on the roof as it should. If you can get a good angle to be able to see most of one side of the roof then you should be able to see if anything looks out of place. Grab an inexpensive pair of binoculars for a really good inspection.
Inspecting from inside will also tell you if there are any gaps in the tiles anywhere. Once up in the loft, turn out the lights and have a look around €“ if there are any spots of daylight coming through this is a tile that has a crack in it or a piece chipped away.
Going up on the roof
Firstly, going onto the roof isn't something to be done unless you are confident about it. Don't force yourself up the ladder but if you can do the job, remember never to climb directly onto roof tiles. This can cause them to crack and come loose, defeating the object of the trip. Typically, experts recommend using a plank around 200cm long, 25cm wide and about 2.5cm thick to spread a person's weight across 10 tiles at a time.
Changing tiles
If you find a tile that needs replacing, this can often be done yourself. If you need to go onto the roof during warm or hot weather, it is best to cool the tiles first to avoid burning yourself. Spray some cool water onto them before climbing to the roof should do the job.
Firstly, pull out the tiles around the one that is cracked €“ normally two above, one to the left and one to the right should do the job. Remove the broken tile and replace it with another of the same make and design then fit back the ones around it, ensuring the fitting is solid. The tile with often have pre-drilled holes if nails are required then a sealant to apply to ensure no water can get in. It can also be worth adding the sealant to the tiles removed to replace the broken one too, ensuring they don't leak either.
Getting rid of moss
When up on the roof, it can be worth removing moss from the tiles while you are there. Moss spoils the look of the house and can even weigh down the tiles, making them vulnerable to bad weather conditions.
Take a bristly brush and brush the tiles that have moss on them. Then take a mixture of non-toxic bleach and water and apply with a paint brush, away from where you are standing. Leave it for around 20 minutes then brush again with the bristle brush. Don't forget to examine small crevices between tiles to make sure no build-up of moss is starting there, as this can push the tiles apart.
Conclusion
Generally, maintaining the roof tiles on your house will involve watching out for problems from outside and inside. Watch out for accumulations of other debris in autumn such as leaves from the trees as this can plaster onto roof tiles and also clog up guttering, making it susceptible to the winter weather when it arrives. By keeping on top of these problems, you have a better chance of not ending up with a major repair or a leak somewhere on the roof when the bad weather does show up.
