Missing Roof Tiles or Slates

A single missing slate or tile leaves the underlay exposed to rain and UV. It's usually a quick repair if dealt with early.

Possible causes

  • Corroded nails (nail fatigue) on older slate roofs
  • High winds lifting loose tiles
  • Broken tile nibs or clips
  • Previous poor-quality repairs

Warning signs

  • Gaps visible from the street or garden
  • Pieces of slate or tile in the garden or gutter
  • Daylight visible in the loft

How it's usually fixed

  • Matching and refixing replacement slates using copper or stainless clips
  • Replacing damaged tiles and fixings
  • Inspecting surrounding areas for further loose units

When to call a roofer

Arrange a repair promptly. If several are missing after a storm, treat it as urgent.

This page describes possible causes only. We can't diagnose your roof without inspecting it.

Further reading

Other roof problems

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