REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE

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When correctly installed the finished roof should give trouble-free performance for the guaranteed life of the product.

Basic precautions

A regular visual inspection of the roof should be undertaken to ensure that tiles have not been damaged and that moss and lichen growths that could affect the flow of water off the roof are removed. Any openings or ventilation grills should be checked and cleared if blocked. Gutters should be cleared of debris and leaves.

Access to roof

Care should be taken to avoid access to the roof by window cleaners, aerial installers, etc. without adequate access equipment.

If ladders are used for temporary access to the roof, the ladders should not rest against the tiles without a suitable packing material to protect the tiles against breakage.

Mobile access platforms are suitable where the repair work is not extensive. All mobile tower platforms should be constructed to the requirements of BS 7171 : 1989 (power operated) or BS 1139 : Part 3 : 1994 and BS 1139 : Part 5 : 1990 (mobile working towers).

Scaffolds should be used where the repair work is extensive. All independently tied scaffold should conform to BS 5973 : 1993.

Repair and replacement of broken tiles

To repair damaged tiling raise the tiles with a trowel. Where the tiles are nailed carefully remove the nails using a ‘slaters rip’. The damaged tiles can then be removed and replaced.

Major repairs

Where the condition of the roof of a historic building is poor enough to warrant stripping and re-tiling, it is acknowledged that English Heritage and local authority conservation officers like to see sound tiles salvaged and re-used on the same roof, with any deficiencies made up with new tiles which match the existing.

Members of CRTC are in the unique position of being able to assist in the provision of new tiles to match historic patterns and thereby ensure the success of such projects.

When recovering, it is advisable to photograph the roof prior to stripping, to ensure that the existing details are properly followed. Stripping should be carried out carefully to ensure that any sound existing tiles remain undamaged so that they can be sorted according to type, size, and thickness and stored for re-use. When assessing existing tiles for re-use, their likely further life should be carefully considered.

Retiling should be carried out using sound tiles salvaged from the roof, with any deficiencies made up with suitable replacement tiles, matching the existing ones in type, size, thickness, colour, and texture. The selection of existing tiles for reuse should be carried out with great care to ensure that they will have a significant life in relation to the new material. If the direct equivalent of the original tiles are not readily available from stock, member companies of CRTC can supply to order specially made tiles for such projects.