Ridge/hip tile repairs advice

[danlightbulb]

Hi all,

Ive known about this need for a year or so now. Most of the ridge and hip tiles have mortar missing and there are some new gaps forming all the time.

I think Im going to need to bite the bullet and get it all done. I wish it was a job I could try myself, Im sure I could mix up some mortar and re-bed some ridge tiles, but the extent of the work and the height makes it difficult for me to attempt.

I think the tiles and rest of the roof structure is ok. It could do with new guttering and fasicas but that's not essential. I fear the ridge tiles are now essential maintenance.

Here's a few photos of the roof. I'd appreciate any opinions and if anyone knows of any reputable people local to Birmingham that would be great.

 

[accelerator]

I fear the ridge tiles are now essential maintenance.

Why is that? Is the roof leaking anywhere?

 

[aveatry]

Why is that? Is the roof leaking anywhere?

A few years ago mine looked like that -- just before the wind blew a section off that's why they need re doing.

 

[danlightbulb]

Why is that? Is the roof leaking anywhere?

No it isn't leaking at all, yet.

Its just clear there is no mortar left hardly. I could leave it and wait till it leaks or a tile falls off in the wind, is that what you think is the best option?

I could potentially buy a set of ladders or a scaffold tower and be able to repair a small number of ridge tiles myself in the first picture. But I don't think I could do the whole roof?

 

[aveatry]

No it isn't leaking at all, yet.

Its just clear there is no mortar left hardly. I could leave it and wait till it leaks or a tile falls off in the wind, is that what you think is the best option?

Not leave it and wait until it leaks - it wont really but it will blow off at some point.

 

[accelerator]

Yes I agree it looks in poor condition and needs doing, I was just wondering if it was leaking. E.g. the bottom of the left ridge above the window in the first pic is pretty bad.

OP, have you thought about doing the work yourself? I'm not an expert, but to do it safely I think you would need scaffolding and roofing ladders. The actual work of adding mortar would probably not be that difficult.

 

[accelerator]

No it isn't leaking at all, yet.

Its just clear there is no mortar left hardly. I could leave it and wait till it leaks or a tile falls off in the wind, is that what you think is the best option?

No I think it's bad enough to need repair.

 

[aveatry]

Yes I agree it looks in poor condition and needs doing, I was just wondering if it was leaking. E.g. the bottom of the left ridge above the window in the first pic is pretty bad.

OP, have you thought about doing the work yourself? I'm not an expert, but to do it safely I think you would need scaffolding and roofing ladders. The actual work of adding mortar would probably not be that difficult.

Buttering up is pointless (see what I did there ) they need taking off and re-bedding IMO.

 

[danlightbulb]

It is a job I would love to have confidence to try myself. The mortar is mostly missing so I don't think I'd have a problem getting the original tiles off. And I can mix up some stiff mortar by hand a bit at a time and re-bed tiles Im sure. I could save a fair bit of money if I did.

The issues though are:
* Access
* Time

I could try and do it from a scaffold tower I could buy (c.£800) or hire. Obviously this would involve climbing onto the roof, by myself, and working my way along it. A bit at a time at weekends maybe.

I don't know, maybe I could do this myself, its just having the confidence to get up there, and if something goes wrong eg I break something or can't re-fix the ridge tiles for some reason and I get a leak.

Whereas if I get a professional in, probably 3 days and done.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Obviously this would involve climbing onto the roof, by myself, and working my way along it. A bit at a time at weekends maybe.

You shouldn't even consider working totally alone, at height. Always have someone around, just in case.

 

[danlightbulb]

If I did it myself it might take me several weekends doing a bit at a time. That's continually up and down on the roof, moving my scaffold tower around, clambering across the roof, mixing up small batches of mortar etc.

The roof pitch is 45 degrees, so quite steep and I wouldn't be able to balance any buckets etc on the slope at that pitch.

Im sure I could do it, is it worth the hassle or just pay £2-3k and get it done professionally with guarantee. The easy option.

Honestly I don't know.

Maybe I just get the worst patches done and leave the rest.

Do you think there will be a big price difference between just rebedding the existing tiles with mortar or fitting a whole dry ridge system? For a pro the bulk of the cost in either option is probably scaffold and labour so it might not make much difference.

 

[danlightbulb]

I think its easy to think I could do this job, and I probably could but at much greater risk and hassle than a professional who does this for a living.

I think I have to draw a line and say that as someone with absolutely no roofing experience nor the right safety equipment, on quite a complex roof structure (multiple ridges and hips) I shouldn't really be thinking of doing this job myself.

I don't want it to be a cop out but I have to be realistic, will I ever really be mentally ready to start this job. I don't think so in all honesty.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

The roof pitch is 45 degrees, so quite steep and I wouldn't be able to balance any buckets etc on the slope at that pitch.

Faced with a similar problem, I devised a solution. A little platform, with legs, so the platform sits level at the angle of the roof. Attach a rope, with a bag of sand, to the end. Counterbalance the platform, with the bag, dropped over the apex, and the platform will stay put, or slide it up, or down to suit. For the platform, I simply made use of an old rubber bin-lid, using scrap timber bolted on in a V as the 45 degree support.

 

[danlightbulb]

Faced with a similar problem, I devised a solution. A little platform, with legs, so the platform sits level at the angle of the roof. Attach a rope, with a bag of sand, to the end. Counterbalance the platform, with the bag, dropped over the apex, and the platform will stay put, or slide it up, or down to suit.

Yep I considered something similar.

But I think we're splitting hairs here - this is a big job for a DIYer to take on and I don't think finding small work arounds to little problems is going to change that.

Can we bring it back up to a higher level please. I need to know how Im going to proceed here.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Can we bring it back up to a higher level please. I need to know how Im going to proceed here.

Simple - if you have decided you will not be doing it, then you need quotes from a roofer.

Cheapest, and likely quickest to finish, might be a roofer willing to work off a ladder. I have one such on speedial for odd jobs, he replaced around a 100 failing tiles, with replacements supplied by me, for £100, last year.