Reclaimed Roof Tiles

Reclaimed roof tiles or slates, and can have a multitude of benefits both to a homeowner as well as the environment and worth considering for a roofing project, particularly when dealing with older properties.

This blog aims to explore the benefits of using reclaimed roof tiles or slates, and the things that should be considered when using reclaimed tiles or slates for a roofing project.

The benefits of reclaimed roof tiles and slates

There are many advantages in opting for reclaimed roof tiles or slates for a roofing project, including:

Benefits to the environment: When opting for reclaimed roof tiles, this prevents tiles from going to landfill, and instead, they are recycled.

In keeping with older style architecture: Many opt for reclaimed roof tiles to match the style of a period property. Heritage building projects in sensitive planning locations often require a roof to blend with surrounding properties, which can usually mean reclaimed tiles are the only option.

Long lasting: Even though a tile may be 50 years old or more, they may have another 50 years of life, provided they are in good condition. Clay roof tiles and natural slates in particular are incredibly durable and long lasting.

Price: Depending on where the reclaimed tiles or slates are purchased from and how rare they may be, reclaimed tiles can often work out cheaper overall to new tiles.

Things to consider

When deciding to use reclaimed tiles or slates for a roof project, there are some important to consider the following:

How many tiles or slates are required to complete a project?  It’s all well and good using reclaimed tiles or slates, provided there is enough of the same style to complete a project. As may reclaimed tiles are discontinued by their brands, this can limit how many of the same style are available and matching these from different suppliers can be tricky.

Do they meet current building standards?  As tiles were traditionally laid onto tile battens without fixings, some tiles such as the old traditional clay pantiles were made without fixing holes. These would not be accepted under todays roofing standards as building standards require tiles to be fixed securely to resist the wind.

How watertight are they?  As traditional, old clay pantiles were made by hand, the consistency of the dimensions were not accurate. This means in fitting the tiles, inaccuracy of size and dimensions could risk the tiles not fitting together accurately causing gaps, meaning the roof may not be completely watertight.

How old are they?   As it is impossible to guess a tiles age just by looking at it, unless a supplier knows the age of the tiles or slates, nobody will ever know how old they are, and how long they could last.

Make time to check the condition  Many reclaimed material suppliers will not offer refunds or returns on reclaimed goods. As the reclaimed market can be very bespoke and unique to each customer’s requirements, many suppliers will insist on the customer checking off all quantities and condition. Make sure you visit reclamation yards equipped with samples so you can ensure a good match in colour and size.

How can we help?

If you need reclaimed materials for a upcoming roof project, then we can help.