Clay plain tiles
Classic Sussex character and very long-lived when well fixed.
Brighton · BN1 1
Tiled Roofs in Brighton
Tiled roofs range from handmade clay plain tiles on older Sussex homes to concrete interlocking tiles on more recent ones. Each behaves differently: plain tiles depend on nibs and nails, interlocking tiles on their side locks and minimum pitch. Repairs and replacements need to respect how the original roof was designed.
Signs you may need tiled roofs
- Slipped, cracked or missing tiles
- Ridge or hip tiles rocking or with failed mortar
- Spalling clay tiles with flaking faces after frost
- Moss growth lifting tile edges
- Gaps at verges where mortar has fallen away
How we approach it
What tiled roofs involves
Identify the tile
Clay or concrete, plain or interlocking, size and profile, so replacements genuinely match.
Repair what is local
Individual tiles replaced, ridges re-bedded or converted to dry-fix, verges secured.
Re-roof where needed
If tiles or underlay are failing throughout, a re-roof with new membrane and battens.
Advise on choice
Mike has helped clients choose tile type and size to suit their property, a detail that shapes how the roof looks for decades.
Options
Choices worth understanding
Concrete interlocking
Economical, quick to lay, and suitable for lower pitches.
Dry ridge systems
Mechanically fixed ridges that do not rely on mortar.
Reclaimed tiles
Often the closest match for weathered older roofs.
Your Brighton property
Check before work starts
- If you are switching from clay to concrete, check whether the roof structure and any planning constraints allow it.
- If your roof has a low pitch, tile choice is limited by manufacturer minimums.
- For exposed properties, verge and ridge fixing deserves particular attention.
FAQs
Tiled Roofs questions
- Over 30 years
- Mike Bishop founded the business around 30 years ago and still runs it from Hove.
- 99% priced by Mike
- Mike personally prices almost every job, so the person quoting understands roofs.
- Four vans
- A settled team with four vans working across East and West Sussex.
- GRP and leadwork
- GRP fibreglass trained, with traditional leadwork and Velux installation in-house.
- Drone inspections
- Drone inspection and certification for roofs that are hard or unsafe to reach.
- FMB, TrustMark, Trading Standards
- Member of the Federation of Master Builders, TrustMark registered and Trading Standards approved.
- Insured
- Public liability £5m including heat work; employer’s liability £10m.
Can you match my existing tiles?
We aim to, using new or reclaimed tiles. Weathering means a perfect match is not always possible, and we will say so.
Is a dry ridge better than mortar?
Dry systems avoid mortar failure and are mechanically fixed. Mortar may suit some traditional roofs better.
Do you fit roof windows?
Yes, Velux installation is part of what we do, subject to any permissions your property needs.
Other services in Brighton
Talk to us about tiled roofs in Brighton
Free site visit and written quote. Call 01273 819808, mobile 07956 998 965, or email mbroofing@hotmail.co.uk.