Refurbing clay roof tiles

Cleaning and restoring a clay roof

Clay is a popular roofing material, which has been used for centuries. Refurbing clay roof tiles is essential for prolonging the life of the roof, maintaining structural integrity and keeping it looking good. We look at the steps needed to clean and refurb clay roof tiles.

Durable and long-lasting, clay roof tiles have a timeless aesthetic appeal, and can be found on both modern and historic buildings. However, this type of tile comes with challenges. Over time, clay tiles can become dirty and lacklustre. The surface can become porous and water permeable through weathering. Moss and lichen can grow in between the tiles. In frosty conditions, organic matter can expand, cracking the tile and damaging the clay roof.

As clay tiles can be fragile, always use a professional roof cleaning company who specialises in clay roof refurbishment. Our team will never walk on your roof; we use specialist equipment and CAT ladders to clean and restore your clay roof tiles.

How to refurb a clay roof

Below are the five steps required when you refurb a clay roof:

1. Inspect the roof – Before starting any work, we will carry out a full inspection of the roof to identify any damage. We check for any cracked or missing tiles, and areas needing to be repaired.
2. Clear the roof – Our team will carefully remove any debris, such as leaves, branches and old bird nests from the roof. This helps to prevent clogging of the gutters and downpipes and ensures our cleaning process reaches every area of the roof.
3. Clean the roof – First, we apply a fungicidal wash to kill any moss and lichen. We gently work in small sections, cleaning the clay roof tiles thoroughly with water before moving on to the next section. We never use high-pressure power jets as it can damage the tiles.
4. Fix the roof – Missing or damaged clay roof tiles are sourced and replaced after cleaning the roof. We have a vast supplier network that helps us to find and match clay tiles. Sometimes ridge tiles need to be re-cemented where mortar has cracked, along with areas surrounding chimneys to help prevent water penetration and further damage.
5. Treat the roof – Once the clay roof has been thoroughly cleaned, it’s treated with two coats of RENOTEC® Roof Coating. This strengthens the structural integrity of the clay roof tiles, protecting against weather conditions for up to 10 years.

The RENOTEC® Roof Coating comes in several colours so you can easily match to your existing clay roof tiles. Although the coating is based on an organic formula, it has been specially designed to repel micro roots, such as lichen, moss and algae. It’s also water repellent, offering superior protection against wet, icy and sunny conditions.

Repointing chimneys and ridge tiles

As well as roof cleaning and restoration expertise, our professional team have the skills to also repoint your ridge tiles and chimneys. When our team inspect a clay roof, we will also check your chimney and ridge tiles. As these areas of the roof are continually exposed to the elements, they can also become damaged over time.

Repointing is the process of repairing the mortar joints between the bricks or tiles, which helps to prevent water penetration. This type of repair can be carried out at the same time as your clay roof tile restoration and will help to maintain the roof’s structural integrity. We can often refurbish a clay roof within a matter of days. Read our case study about a historical clay roof refurbished by our team, Restoring a Clay Tile Roof for a Listed Building.

Whether you have a modern home or historical property, refurbishing and cleaning clay roof tiles will help you maintain a healthy roof. You will prevent damage and water leaks, prolonging the life of the roof, and helping it to look aesthetically pleasing for years to come.