Cost to Replace Roof Tiles
Last updated 17th April, 2025
Are your roof tiles damaged?
This article discusses all you need to know about replacement roof tiles. We talk you through the process of tiling a roof, the supply costs and the labour fees a roofer would charge you.
Continue reading for more information!
How Much To Replace Roof Tiles?
Roof tiles or shingles are easily the most common type of roof covering in the UK, they are long-lasting and effective, but being exposed to the UK weather 24/7 means that they will ultimately get damaged.
The average cost of replacing broken roof tiles is usually in the range of £75 to £300 depending upon whether the tiles are nailed down, the type of tile, whether the roofline has easy access, and whether your house is single or 2-storey.
Most roofline workers operate in pairs and will usually charge around £200 to £300 per day.
Replacing some broken roof tiles takes very little time and can be completed within an hour quite easily. Also, most roofline workers are happy to do this job by themselves so you shouldn't have to pay for both roofers.
It makes sense that while you have someone on the roof, you should carry out a full inspection of the roof and check for other related jobs that may need doing.
Colour Matching Roof Tiles
Before replacing any broken roof tiles, the job will look much better if you colour-match the new tiles with the old.
This will usually mean visiting a merchant and digging through the reclamation section to find used tiles to match those on the roof - it doesn’t have to be a perfect match, as long as you get it close some light weathering will take care of the rest.
If you cannot source tiles to match, you cam always try removing tiles from the rear, or the bottom row which are not normally noticed, then using them to replace any broken tiles, while fitting the new replacements to areas which from the ground are almost undetectable.
Table of Contents
Roof Tile Replacement Prices
Here are a few average costs for replacing roof tiles:
| # of Tiles | Scaffolding? | Avg. Cost | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| less than 5 | No | £75 | 1 hour |
| less than 15 | No | £125 | 2 hours |
| less than 5 | Yes | £250 | 2 hours |
| less than 15 | Yes | £325 | 3 hours |
Additional Roof Tile Replacement Costs
Typically, additional jobs may include replacing fascia/soffit boards, lead flashing and guttering. The bottom row of roof tiles will rest on the fascia boards and the guttering is also fixed to these boards.
If the tiles on the bottom row are broken or missing, this may have led to damp and rot damaging the fascia and even the roof joists themselves.
Roof Tile Replacement Cost Breakdown Calculator
Individual costs for replacing less than 10 roof tiles, with no scaffolding required and the tiles are easy to source - Total Cost: £100
Materials
£20
Tradesmen
£80
Waste Removal
£0
How Are Roof Tiles Fixed?
When fitting tiles it was common practice to fix every third row of tiles using clout nails made of galvanised steel, aluminium, or copper. The other two rows of unfixed tiles in between these rows rely on lugs underneath the tile to keep them in place and hang them from the timber roofing batten, with the weight of the overlapping tiles on top keeping them in place.
This helps when gaining access to replace any broken tiles as you can simply slide the non-nailed tiles out of position.
However, if you are in an area with high winds, or have bought an ex-council house, you may find that every tile has been nailed on every row. In addition since 2005 the regulations changed and all roof tiles now have to be nailed or otherwise mechanically fixed on roofs.
Can I Replace Roof Tiles Myself?
Replacing broken roof tiles is something that can be done as a DIY repair under certain conditions:
- You're comfortable working at height.
- You understand the process of replacing roof tiles.
- You have the right equipment.
The key point is that working on a roof is dangerous, so if you don't have enough experience or have any doubts about your skills, it's important to engage a professional for even the most straightforward roof tile replacement.
If you do decide to replace roof tiles yourself, bear in mind that you will likely need more tiles than just the ones you expect to replace.
Often, adjacent roof tiles can crumble or break during the repair, so replacing a single roof tile can soon become a larger job. Roofing contractors will usually have extra tiles available in anticipation of this, but it's easy to forget when you approach this as a DIY project.
Always buy more tiles than you think you will need for the job. You should have 2 to 3 extra tiles on hand at least, especially if you have sourced older tiles which are a perfect colour match for your roof.
Another common mistake made during DIY roof work is damaging the tiles and waterproof membrane while you're repairing the roof. This can occur if you're not completely confident about fixing the tiles to the roof and employ too much pressure.
Again, if you're in doubt, it's better to pay a professional for a broken roof tile repair than risk exacerbating the problem and potentially increasing the costs of the job.
FAQs
That being said, on average replacing a small patch of broken roof tiles (up to 5), would typically cost anywhere from £100 to £150. These figures assume easy access, standard height and shape roof, and easy-to-find replacement tiles. A smaller local firm could charge a little bit less, while a large national company could charge slightly more. If access is difficult, for example, if there is a conservatory in the way so ladders cannot be used and therefore scaffolding is required, add £200 to £300 to the total cost.
Many of these companies will have a large variety of old roof tiles so that more often than not a match can be found. Of course, you should be prepared to pay extra for this if you expect a roofing company to source the tiles on your behalf. If matching tiles cannot be found, clay tiles can actually be reproduced, failing that tiles can be taken from less visible parts of the roof, or as a last resort, replacing all the tiles with new ones is the final option.
So, when replacing roof tiles, it's unlikely you or your roofer will need to use cement unless the tiles are at the top or side of the roof.
Similarly, if you need roof tile replacement on vulnerable areas of the roof such as the ridges or valleys where a lot of water can congregate, getting this done as soon as you can may prevent further problems.
