How To Repair Roof Tiles

Slates slip naturally because the two nails that hold them in have either corroded, or the end of the slate has broken off where the two nails would have been. This can be caused by wind uplift.

This may indicate more extensive problems, but take a look and check that the problem is localized to one or two slates.

If the slate is broken you will need to purchase more slates, but if the slate is ok but the nails have rusted, you can fix the slate back in place using special wire roofing tile clips.

These can be be purchased from your local hardware store and are made from soft metals either lead, aluminum, or copper. They are about 1" (25cm) wide and 9" (225cm) long, designed to fit along the full length of the the tile. They have a metal lip on the end that is used to bend over the tile to hold it in position.

1) Remove any remnants of the old nails before you begin. A Dremel Rotary Tool is a great way to remove the nail stubs.

2) Next remove the old slate, then take your wire strip and place it over the gap between the bottom pair of slates and using galvanized nails. Nail it into place, making sure that you nail it securely into the roof batten.

3)Place the slate into position, keeping it flat and slowly raising it under the row above and when in position, bend the protecting end of the metal clip up and over the end of the slate to keep it in place.

If you have a broken slate but the nails are still intact, you will have to hire or buy a slate ripper to cut the nails, because they are secured under the slates above and your Dremel Tool. will not be of any use here.

The slate ripper has a long flat blade with a sharp hook at the end.

Slide the ripper under the slates above and hook it around each nail in turn. A sharp pull should cut the nail.

Slide out the damaged slate , then take a wire roof clip and secure it using galvanized nails, then fix the new slate back into place, bending the end of the wire clip over the end.