When reclaimed tiles make sense
A few broken tiles rarely mean a new roof. Monier, a major tile maker, says damaged tiles can be replaced one at a time, and lists cracked, broken or slipped tiles among the common causes of leaks. The hard part on an old roof is finding a tile with the same shape and colour.
Colour is easier with terracotta, whose fired-in colour doesn't fade. Concrete tiles fade as their colour coat weathers, according to Monier, so a brand-new concrete tile can stand out on an old roof where a weathered second-hand one may blend in.
On a heritage home, matching matters more. The NSW Government's heritage schedule advises against replacing original roofing unnecessarily, and against mixing materials that react with each other.
Make sure an old 'tile' is clay or concrete
Not every old tile is what it seems. ASSEA, the federal asbestos agency, lists asbestos cement slates, shingles and bitumen-coated imitation tiles among roofing products used in Australia, and only a NATA accredited lab test can confirm asbestos. Queensland's asbestos authority says asbestos products must never be reused, stored or recycled. If salvaged 'tiles' look like thin cement sheet, leave them alone.
Other ways to get a match
Reclaimed tiles aren't the only option. Bristile, another tile maker, says it can source tiles to match an existing roof through its distributor network if you bring in a photo or a sample.
A roofer may also shuffle tiles around, moving good originals to the slope people see and putting the odd ones somewhere out of view.
What to ask the roofer
- Where are the replacement tiles coming from, and are they the same profile?
- Will you check each one for cracks before it goes up?
- Can you leave me a few spares for next time?
- If they're not an exact match, where will you put them?
Your part
You can
- Look for spare tiles left in the garage or under the house from the original build
- Keep any spares stored flat and dry
Leave to a roofer
- Taking a tile off the roof to identify it
- Fitting replacements and checking salvaged tiles for hidden cracks
How we'd handle it
For a handful of broken tiles on an older roof, we'd ask the roofer to source reclaimed tiles of the same profile and leave a few spares with you. We wouldn't buy salvaged tiles ourselves before the roofer has seen them, and we'd turn down anything that might be cement sheet. If the roof is losing tiles all over, that's a different conversation, and our restore or replace tool is a good place to start.
Want a roofer to take a look?
Tell us the job and your postcode. We match it with a Find My Roofer certified roofer who specialises in that kind of work, and they call you to quote. Your number goes to them alone.