Slipped or missing tiles
Look for gaps in the roof line, or tiles lying in the garden after a storm.
Moss holds the rain against your tiles
Answer a few questions about the job. It's free and there is no obligation.
Slipped tiles after a storm, a leak above the bedroom, a flat roof that keeps failing or a full re-roof to plan? Describe the job in a few clicks and get a free, no-obligation quote from a roofer near you.
Enter the width and length of the house and the slope of the roof. You get the roof area, the height of the ridge and a rough number of tiles or slates, which is what a roofer sizes a job from.
Roof shape
A guide only, for a plain roof. Tile numbers allow about 10% for cuts and spares and depend on the exact tile, the lap and the batten spacing. Dormers, valleys, chimneys and a second roof slope change the real figures, so a roofer measures on site.
The covering tells you how long a roof can last and what usually goes wrong. These are typical figures: a well laid roof that is looked after lasts longer, a poor one less.
Swipe sideways to see every column.
| Covering | Typical life | Common faults | Usual fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete interlocking tiles | About 50 to 60 years | Moss and algae, cracked or slipped tiles, faded surface | Replace broken tiles, clean the roof, refix or replace the ridge |
| Clay plain tiles | 60 years and more | Slipped tiles from failed nails, flaking or delaminated tiles | Strip and refix the area, reuse sound tiles, match the rest |
| Natural slate | Often a century or more | Slipped slates when the nails fail, cracked slates, worn leadwork | Fix slipped slates, replace broken ones, renew flashings |
| Flat roof, felt | About 15 to 25 years | Blistering, splits at the edges, ponding water | Patch small areas, or recover the whole roof |
| Flat roof, rubber (EPDM) | About 30 to 50 years | Lifted edges, punctures, failed seams around upstands | Repair the seam or patch, or lay a new sheet |
| Flat roof, fibreglass (GRP) | About 25 to 30 years | Cracks from movement, worn top coat, weak edges | Repair cracks and recoat, or renew the laminate |
Most roof problems show before the water arrives. Look from the ground or from inside the loft, never from the roof itself.
Look for gaps in the roof line, or tiles lying in the garden after a storm.
A bright pinpoint or a damp patch on the underside of the roof means water can get in.
Brown rings or peeling paint below the roof, especially after heavy rain.
A thick green coat holds water against the tiles. A little is harmless, a lot is not.
A dip along the ridge can point to rotted timbers or a weakened structure.
Lifted lead, cracked mortar around the chimney, or gutters that overflow.
Stay safe and keep the damage small until a roofer can get to it.
Roofers work in Hinckley and across the villages of south-west Leicestershire. Type your postcode in the quote form to check yours.
A few slipped tiles or one leak is usually a repair. A roof with many failing tiles, a sagging line or repeated leaks may need renewing. A roofer can tell from the roof itself, and a good quote explains which and why.
Not for most people. Falls from roofs cause serious injuries every year. Look from the ground with binoculars, take photos from a safe place and leave the climbing to a roofer with the right equipment.
Often, for anything more than a small repair. Scaffolding or edge protection keeps the work safe, and a quote should say who arranges and pays for it.
Yes. Moss can be brushed or cleaned off, and a treatment can slow its return. Pressure washing on old tiles can damage them, so ask how the roofer plans to do it.
The area of roof, the covering and the materials, the repairs to flashings, ridges and gutters, scaffolding, waste removal, the price and the timing, and the guarantee that comes with the work.
Replacing a roof covering like for like is often fine, but renewing a large part of a roof usually has to meet the rules on insulation and ventilation. Ask the roofer and your council, which in Hinckley is Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council.