Cost to Replace Roof Tiles

Roof tile replacement is a critical part of household maintenance. It protects your home from leaks, damp, and structural damage - and even the smallest cracked tile can lead to devastating, expensive consequences.

This guide explains the main cost of replacing roof tiles, considering different roof tile materials, what's involved in the process and what can impact your overall repair costs.

As a quick cost comparison: The cost to replace five broken roof tiles is around £215, while a full roof replacement can cost upwards of £11,000.

MyJobQuote makes it quick and easy to get free, no obligation quotes from local roofers ready to take care of your roof repairs for you.

How Much to Replace Roof Tiles?

It costs approximately £215 to replace five broken tiles, assuming no scaffolding is required.

What are the main tile replacement cost drivers? How many roof tiles you're replacing, the quality and size of the tiles, and the ease of access.

Do My Roof Tiles Need Replacing?

Before we get into specific roof tile replacement costs, here are the tell-tale signs your roof tiles need attention:

• Evidence of water damage around your ceiling
• Moss and mould growth, or a rotting underlay
• Seeing light coming through the roof or being aware of an attic/loft leak
• Sagging or loose roof tiles, or visibly damaged flashing

Replacement Roof Tile Prices

This table outlines the cost of different types of roof tile replacements for clay, concrete, and slate tiles:

What's Included in Roof Tile Replacement Costs?

Your roof tile replacement cost will include:

• An inspection of the damaged roof area
• Removal of loose/broken roof tiles
• Installation of replacement roof tiles in the affected area
• Basic clean-up of surrounding area

Here's what won't be included in your roof tile replacement quote:

• Scaffolding hire (unless previously agreed)
• Full roof tile replacement
• Structural roof repairs
• Work on your gutters

Supply Cost of Roof Tiles

Roof tile prices vary depending on the material used. The better the quality, the higher the supply cost.

Here's what you need to know:

Additional Roof Tile Replacement Costs

When replacing your roof tiles, there are various tasks you may wish to have undertaken simultaneously. Let’s take a look at how much these jobs might cost:

Scaffolding Hire

Depending on the height of your property, it may be necessary to hire scaffolding to have your roof tiles replaced. For the average home in the UK, you'll pay about £4,500 in scaffolding hire costs.

Scaffolding isn't automatically required for all roof tile replacements, but the Work at Height Regulations 2005 stipulate that work carried out at height must be done safely, using the "most appropriate method" to avoid falls.

In the majority of cases, homeowners don’t actually need to contact a scaffolding company themselves, and your roofer will assess the need and then arrange the scaffolding themselves using a reputable company.

Roof Cleaning

To have your roof pressure washed costs around £575, although the price will vary based on a range of factors, such as the size of your roof and the ease of access.

Repairing and Replacing Roof Joists

You may need your roof joists repaired or replaced. These are structural beams, generally wooden, that run horizontally and support the roof and connect opposing walls. It’s not unusual for the joists to weather and rot with time to the point that work will be needed to fix them or that they will need to be replaced entirely.

On average, replacing roof joists costs about £350 to £600 per beam. In the majority of cases, you’ll need the help of a roofing specialist or carpenter.

To replace your entire roof costs £5,250 on average. The structural engineer or roofer you hire will probably offer one of three different options: the use of specialist repair plates, the replacement of the full joist and truss, or repairing beams with the help of timber resin-based materials.

Labour Cost to Replace Roof Tiles

The labour cost of replacing roof tiles will vary significantly depending on the extent of the work.

In the UK, a roofer tends to charge between £200 and £275 per day, although this will depend on where you live in the country.

If you need about 5 to 10 roof tiles replaced, the setup of the scaffold and other equipment may take 2 to 3 hours, while the replacement work itself will also likely take 2 to 3 hours, or perhaps a bit more. To take down the materials/equipment and tidy up, a roofer may take another hour or so.

For more extensive work, the replacement of roof tiles could take days or even 1 to 2 weeks. Replacing a fully tiled roof will generally involve about a fortnight of work.

The length of the job will also depend on how easy the roof is to reach and the nature of the weather at the time. The labour and time scale can also be influenced by the size of the house and the type of roof shingles used.

Ask a Trade

Got a question that only a tradesperson can answer? We have thousands of trades ready to answer any question you may have.

Ask your question

Factors That Impact the Cost of Replacing Roof Tiles

There are a variety of factors that determine how much it costs to replace roof tiles. Here's what you need to know:

Location of Property

Where you live is an essential factor in the total cost because tradespersons/trade companies charge different rates throughout the country.

Roofers in London tend to charge a higher amount in labour costs than those in many other parts of England.

Ease of Access

How accessible is your house roof? This will also shape the total roof tile replacement cost.

If it is a large property, or especially difficult to reach, it may cost you more because of the length of the job, but also because this means that a platform or scaffolding is more likely.

Size and Type of Roof Tiles

How large the roof tiles are and the type used are also important aspects of the job price.

Many roof tiles are generally 265mm x 165mm in size. As for the type, slate, concrete, clay, and Marley are among the most commonly used.

Number of Roof Tiles

Aside from the size and type of roof tiles, perhaps the most significant factor in the total price of a roof tile replacement job is the number of tiles that are being replaced.

A small job may involve just 5 to 10 tiles being replaced, while a larger job could involve 100s or even 1000s of roof tiles being replaced.

Scaffolding Hire

If scaffolding is needed, this will bring up the job's overall cost. This will usually be required unless the job is particularly quick.

Cost of Replacing Roof Felt Under Tiles

If the roof felt also needs replacing, this will add to the total cost of replacing your roof tiles. Of course, the type of roof felt being replaced is an additional factor to consider for the price tag.

What's Involved in Replacing Roof Tiles?

While it's possible to replace a few roof tiles yourself, working at height carries a high risk of injury if done incorrectly.

If you're unsure of anything, then you should always hire a professional roofer to take care of the work for you.

Let's take a look at what replacing roof tiles involves. This method can vary depending on the extent of the job, the type of property, and the roof tiles used:

Before the Job Starts

The roofer will start by assessing the site. Small jobs may just need a ladder, but larger jobs will need scaffolding.

If required, the scaffolding contractor will assemble the scaffold frame, lay down the wooden planks, and attach access ladders and guardrails. The roofer will then attach their harness before getting started on the roof.

During the Job

To take the old roof tiles off, the roofer will lift the tiles that overlap the ones being replaced (two pieces of timber can be used to hold these tiles up). They'll then use a brick trowel to pull up the tile that needs to be removed over the batten beneath, then slide it down and out to remove it.

The new tile should be placed onto the brick trowel, and the steps should be reversed to fit the new tile in position. The overlapping tiles must then be correctly and safely put back in place.

After the Job

Once the roof tiles are safely in place, the scaffolding contractor will take down the scaffolding equipment. The roofer will then tidy up, disposing of the old tiles in the process.

What Type of Roof Tiles are There?

There are differences between the various roof tiles available. Let's explain what each type is, how they’re made, when they’re used, as well as list their pros and cons:

Clay Roof Tile Cost

These traditional roof tiles remain particularly popular to this day. They can add a beautiful finishing touch to the roof of any home. They are durable and environmentally friendly.

To make clay tiles, sand is added to the surface of the clay before the tile is moulded and pressed so that any excess clay may be removed using a wire. This ultimately involves baking moulded clay. Clay tiles are generally used regardless of the location due to their properties.

Clay roof tiles cost £0.80 to £2.50 per tile.

Pros

• ✔ Durable, capable of lasting over 100 years
• ✔ Environmentally friendly
• ✔ Low maintenance
• ✔ Various styles available

Cons

• ✖ Heavy, may require a reinforced structure
• ✖ Brittle and can crack if struck
• ✖ Can be tricky to install
• ✖ Costly

Concrete Roof Tile Cost

These roof tiles are a mixture of cement, sand and water. These tiles are created by moulding the materials mentioned above under high pressure and heat. Sometimes, concrete is finished with a material similar to paint being added to its surface.

Concrete tiles feature extra waterlocks or interlocking ribs along their edges to prevent water from seeping through. Due to their qualities, concrete roof tiles are suited to virtually any home.

Concrete roof tiles cost £1 to £3.50 per tile.

Pros

• ✔ Durable, lasting up to 60 years
• ✔ Requires minimal maintenance
• ✔ Resistant to fire
• ✔ Verstatile options available

Cons

• ✖ Colour can fade over time
• ✖ Not entirely resistant to the wind
• ✖ Can break if damaged
• ✖ Typically has a shorter lifespan than clay or slate roof tiles

Slate Roof Tile Cost

Slate roof tiles consist of metamorphic rocks, which are taken from sedimentary-type rocks of volcanic clay and ash. Slate is usually a long-lasting product. Slate roofs are known as ‘hundred-year-old roofs’.

These tiles are fire-resistant, water-resistant, and durable, and each piece has a unique look due to being a natural product. Slate tiles are often used for both interior and exterior uses.

Slate roof tiles cost £3 to £5 per tile.

Pros

• ✔ Long-lasting, over 100 years
• ✔ Low maintenance
• ✔ Gives a premium, natural appearance
• ✔ Can increase the value of a property

Cons

• ✖ Heavy, requiring structural reinforcement
• ✖ Can be expensive
• ✖ Skilled installation
• ✖ Can break if handled incorrectly

Building Regulations & Planning Permission for Replacing Roof Tiles

There are various building regulations which apply to roof work. Thankfully, planning permission is rarely needed for roof tiling.

The relevant exceptions are if:

• The work involves structural alterations.
• You plan on replacing or repairing the entire roof.
• You want to improve your roof's thermal insulation.
• The performance of the new covering will be substantially different should a fire occur.

Standard planning application costs can vary, and it may take around eight weeks for planning permission to be approved. The Planning Portal provides all of the information you’d need to access regarding planning permission guidelines.

Benefits of Replacing Roof Tiles

There are many advantages to replacing your roof tiles. Let’s take a look at some of them:

Structural Integrity

If the roof tiles of your home need repairing or replacing, installing new ones is important for the upkeep of the property. The structure itself could deteriorate and suffer damage over time if broken or damaged roof tiles are kept on the roof in such a condition.

Having healthy and robust roof tiles is essential to roof maintenance.

Weatherproofing

Adding new roof tiles that are more weather-resistant can help weatherproof your roof. Beyond that, even if you have the same type and quality of roof tiles added as the replacements, new roof tiles will be better able to resist the elements than worn and damaged ones.

Appearance

Adding new roof tiles can give your roof and home a new lease of life. Roof tiles can discolour and fade with time, so replacing them with new, fresh and colourful shingles is a great way to improve the aesthetics of your house.

Increase Value of Property

Slate roof tiles can bring up the value of your home, but any new roof tiles will likely help with this since the newer the roof tiles are and the fresher they look, the more your property will be worth. This is because of the advantages of new, sturdy roof tiles.

Reduce Maintenance/Repair on Roof in the Future

By keeping on top of the strength and durability of your roof, you can reduce the need for maintenance and repair work in the future. By allowing aged and worn roof tiles to remain present, problems can accumulate with time.

As a result, replacing old roof shingles can really help in the long term. This can, as a result, save you both time and money.

Stops Leaking

Broken, damaged or worn-down roof tiles are more susceptible to water infiltration. As a consequence, having new roof tiles added can prevent water leaks from making it into your attic and other areas of the home.

Removing Roof Tiles Cost

You may wish to have roof tiles removed because you are having new ones installed.

Assuming about 2 hours of work to remove five roof tiles, you’ll probably be looking at a labour cost of £200 in total.

You can perform this work DIY, but you should once again consider what is needed and any necessary safety steps (e.g. wearing a safety harness).

Checklist: Hiring a Roofer to Replace Roof Tiles

Hiring a professional roofer is a big decision, and one that shouldn't be taken lightly, as your home's integrity depends on their workmanship.

Here are a few points you’ll need to consider when searching for a local roofer:

• Are they qualified? Check your roofer's experience, and make sure they have proof of working with your exact tile type (e.g., slate, clay).
• Are they insured? Roofing is an inherently dangerous trade, so you must ensure your roofer has public liability insurance.
• Do they provide written quotes? Ensure all quotes are written and itemised to avoid any hidden costs or missing charges.
• Are scaffolding/access costs included in your quote? Be sure to ask this question at the quotation stage to make sure everything is clear before work begins.
• What are their reviews like? Look at the roofer's customer reviews. Do their past clients' comments align with what you're looking for in a trader?
• Is there a guarantee on their work? Most reputable traders will offer free repairs within a certain timeframe.

Aim to get at least 3 quotes from different local roofers to compare their costs and credibility, enabling you to make an informed decision.