Replacing Roof Tiles – How to Easily Replace a Broken Tile with a New One

Did you notice a broken tile on the roof, or is an entire tile missing from a row? No worries, in this article we’ll tell you how easy it is to replace it with a new tile – and why replacing a broken roof tile with a new one is so important.

Why Do Roof Tiles Crack?

Although tile roofs are a Finnish favorite and familiar to everyone, they aren’t eternal either. Like all other roof types, tile roofs require maintenance. The most important maintenance tasks for tile roofs are ensuring the coating remains intact, cleaning debris and moss, and replacing broken tiles.

It’s important that the tile roof has adequate coating that hasn’t worn away. Typically, tile roofs need recoating every 10–15 years. When the tile coating starts to wear, the porous surface of the tile becomes exposed. Water can settle in this porous surface, which is also an ideal growing environment for moss. Moss absorbs water like a sponge.

When water in the tile’s pores alternately expands and contracts as it freezes and thaws, the tile becomes brittle and eventually breaks or cracks. This deterioration is called frost damage.

The coating’s important function is therefore to create a smooth surface on the tile from which water runs off immediately.

Why Should Tiles Be Replaced Quickly?

Roof tiles are the house’s outermost layer, forming what’s called the water roof. The most common materials for water roofs are metal and felt.

A tile roof protects the home from rain and other weather stresses, and when properly constructed and well maintained, it directs water through the rainwater system – gutters and downspouts – away from the house structure and foundation. Beneath the tiles is an underlayment, which is typically a fabric-like structure. The underlayment is the final safeguard ensuring that rain and condensation stay out of insulation and other places where moisture doesn’t belong.

If there are cracks and breaks in the roof tiles, water can penetrate to the underlayment. If there are even minor defects in the underlayment, water continues deeper into the structure, and then we’re talking about major problems, such as actual water damage.

It’s worth regularly inspecting the tile roof and also checking the condition of the underlayment. It’s ultimately less trouble than undertaking a major roof renovation.

How Is a Roof Tile Replaced?

Replacing roof tiles isn’t rocket science – it’s actually very easy and quick.

First, remember safety when moving on the roof. Generally, it’s safest to step on the end of the tile, not the middle. Remember that even slight moisture, along with debris and moss, makes tile roofs extremely slippery. The smartest approach is to wear a harness suitable for roof work, secured to a roof truss or, for example, around a sturdy chimney or to roof safety products.

A broken tile is easy to lift out by pushing the upper tile slightly inward. Then the new tile is positioned in place, and the tile above is pulled back into position. Roof tiles rest on battens. You can see how from the neighboring tiles.

Where Do Old Roof Tiles Go?

Old roof tiles can be used for various garden projects, or they can be disposed of according to local guidelines. For example, HSY (Helsinki Region Environmental Services) advises that small quantities can be placed in the property’s mixed waste container, and larger quantities should be taken to a Sortti station as mineral waste.

If your tile roof needs maintenance, we’re happy to do the work for you with the confidence that comes from years of experience.

Request a FREE assessment visit from our expert: we’ll inspect the tile roof’s condition and if we see maintenance work as necessary, we’ll calculate a quote for the work.

Watch the video below to see how smoothly our team handles tile roof coating work: