Ridge tile repair in Exeter
Professional ridge tile repair services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£160-£310
Typical Duration
3-6 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Loose or damaged ridge tiles lifted and re-bedded in fresh mortar. Secures the roof apex properly and stops water getting into the roof space.
Before They Blow Off In a Storm
Ridge tiles sit at the highest point of your roof, exposed to weather from both sides. When the mortar fails, they rock in the wind. Then they lift. Then they blow off in a storm, land on your car, and suddenly you've got water pouring into your roof space and a tile-shaped dent in the bonnet.
💡 Pro tip: If one ridge tile is loose, the others are probably not far behind. They're all the same age, getting the same weathering. Often worth doing the whole ridge run while access is set up.
Re-point or Re-bed? Here's the Difference
Not all ridge work is the same.
| Re-pointing (Minor) | Re-bedding (Proper Fix) |
|---|---|
| Tiles still solid | Tiles rocking or loose |
| Just surface mortar gone | Bedding mortar failed underneath |
| Quick repair, few years life | Proper job, decades of life |
| £160-£210 | £210-£310 |
What You Get
🔧 Ridge Tile Repair Service
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Assess | Check how loose tiles are, what work is needed |
| Lift | Remove loose tiles carefully (or all if re-bedding full run) |
| Clean | Strip old mortar, clean tiles and roof surface |
| Re-bed | Fresh mortar bed, tiles reset firmly and weatherproofed |
📦 You're Left With
- Secure ridge tiles
- Weatherproof roof apex
- No more water getting in
- Professional finish
Pricing Guide
| Work Required | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Re-point a few loose tiles | 3 hrs | £160 |
| Re-bed section of ridge | 4-5 hrs | £210-£260 |
| Full ridge run re-bedded | 5-6 hrs | £260-£310 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Materials (mortar, fixings) included.
Perfect For Your Project If...
✅ Ridge tiles loose - rock when you push them (carefully!)
✅ Mortar crumbling - bits falling off, gaps visible
✅ After storm damage - wind lifted tiles
✅ Before selling - surveyors always check ridge tiles
Why Choose Us for Ridge tile repair in Exeter?
Stops water getting in at roof apex
Securely bedded in fresh mortar
Prevents tiles blowing off in storms
Protects roof structure underneath
What to Expect
Step 1: Safe Access & Assessment
I get up to ridge level safely and check the extent of the problem. Sometimes it's a couple of tiles, sometimes the whole run needs attention.
Step 2: Remove & Clean
Loose tiles come off carefully (they're reusable unless cracked). Old mortar gets cleaned off the tiles and roof surface.
Step 3: Re-bed Securely
Fresh mortar bed goes down, tiles reset firmly with proper pointing. Modern flexible mortar that moves with the roof instead of cracking.
🔧 DIY Tips
This is working at the highest point of your roof - extremely dangerous without proper setup:
🔧 Tools you'll need
- SAFE access to ridge level (scaffold tower, not ladders)
- Roof ladder or crawling boards
- Pointing trowel and hawk
- Mortar mix (3:1 sand:cement with plasticiser)
- Bolster chisel for removing old mortar
- Stiff brush for cleaning
- Someone on ground watching
🪜 Safety absolutely critical
- Never use ladders alone for ridge work
- Hire scaffold tower to work safely at ridge level
- Use roof ladder or crawling boards on the roof slope
- Never work alone at height
- Weather matters - no wind, no wet conditions
- Wear harness on steep pitches
🔨 Re-bedding process
- Remove loose tiles carefully (reuse if not damaged)
- Chip off old mortar from tiles and roof
- Clean everything thoroughly
- Dampen the surface before bedding
- Lay fresh mortar bed along ridge
- Set tiles firmly into mortar
- Point up joints and edges
- Smooth finish, remove excess mortar
- Keep damp for few days while curing
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Dangerous access - this is where serious injuries happen
- Not removing all old mortar (new won't bond)
- Mortar too dry or too wet
- Not dampening surface first
- Tiles not bedded fully (voids underneath)
- Working in hot sun (mortar dries too fast)
- Breaking tiles during removal
💡 Pro trick: Use mortar with plasticiser added - makes it more flexible so it doesn't crack when the roof moves slightly with temperature changes. That's why modern ridge work lasts longer than the old lime mortar did.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🏠 Whole roof needs re-ridging? If you're having the roof re-tiled, ridge tiles all get re-bedded as part of that work. But if just the ridge has failed and tiles are fine, re-bedding the ridge alone makes sense.
Mechanical ridge fixings? Modern systems use clips and dry fix systems instead of mortar. More expensive initially but basically maintenance-free. If you're doing a full re-ridge, worth considering - I'll explain the options.
Hip tiles loose too? Hips (the angled ridge where roof slopes meet) use similar tiles and fail the same way. If ridges are loose, check hips too. Often worth doing both while access is set up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do ridge tiles come loose?
The mortar underneath deteriorates over time from weathering and frost. Ridge tiles get hammered by weather from both sides - they're the most exposed part of your roof. Eventually the mortar fails and tiles rock or lift.
Can you just re-point ridge tiles or do they need re-bedding?
Depends how bad they are. If they're just slightly loose with sound bedding underneath, re-pointing might work. But if they're rocking or the mortar's gone, they need lifting off and re-bedding properly. I'll tell you which after looking.
Do all the ridge tiles need doing or just the loose ones?
If some are loose, the rest aren't far behind - they're all the same age and condition. Often makes sense to do the whole ridge run while access is set up. I'll advise honestly what's needed vs what's sensible.
How long does ridge tile repair last?
Properly re-bedded with modern flexible mortar should last 20-30 years. Much longer than the original lime mortar on old roofs. It's a proper fix, not a temporary bodge.
What happens if a ridge tile blows off?
Rain pours straight into your roof space at the highest point. Water runs down both sides inside, soaks insulation, damages ceilings. Plus a falling ridge tile from height can seriously hurt someone or damage property below. Get loose ones fixed.
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