How to bodge cracked roof tile

[Defcon5]

I have extractor fans that vent externally via my roof. One of the roof vent tiles (where the fan exhaust exits) is slightly cracked, causing water to run down the vent pipe work into the bathroom

This is 3 full floors up, and there is no vehicle access to it meaning it would be a full scaffolding job to replace a single tile

This is the view from inside, having detached the vent flexi pipe



I can reroute the vent flexi to another vent tile so that’s not a problem, so can I just seal this up with a blanking plate?

The tile itself is similar to this



The crack is at the back, where the raised bit is attacked to the flat bit.

I was considering trying to use mastic to seal the actual hole from inside, but it’s filthy and mossy so don’t think it would adhere properly.

Another thought was just to remove the pipe and make good the felt - as it’s only a drip would this just run down the felt to wherever it is designed to drain to?

[alangla]

I had a verge tile fall apart in a storm a year or so ago. Roofer wasn t able to find a replacement and disappeared instead of cementing it together as previously discussed. I ended up fixing it myself using copious quantities of bathroom tile adhesive/grout. Admittedly it s white instead of red, but it s held together. If you need a temporary solution it might work.

[wolfracesonic]

Can you see the crack from inside? A wire brush should clean it up I would have thought, if you have an angle grinder widen/enlarge the cut (not too deep!) and bung something like CT 1 in there. after a dry spell would best allowing you to vacuum all the crud out.

[Defcon5]

I can see the crack from inside yes, access is a problem though as it’s only a 4in hole on the inside to fit the pipe.

I’m scared to damage it further my manipulating it and then ending up with an actual hole

[Crumpet]

My roof is now approximately 3% CT1. It doesn’t leak! I’d go with that option.

[Defcon5]

I could probably squirt it through some hosepipe attached to the sealant gun to get it round the bend and straight onto the crack. Does it set solid or is it more sealant like

[Mr Whippy]

There is also leadmate, which is a flexible sealant for lead, mortar and roof tiles.

Or use some DPC (a 50cm wide roll), catch the leak, and send it down and back onto the felt at the next seam.
You might need to do a cutout around the vent pipe and silicone seal?!


I had a slipped chunk of verge pointing on my last place and was quoted £1,400, of which £1,000 was scaffold due to being 10m up, and then £400 to do it all so similar didn t happen elsewhere on the pitched dormer.

I m so glad I have a bungalow now (although that now means the actual roof is flipping huge which comes with other issues)

[Defcon5]

Sticking a sheet of dpc up to catch the drips will be the easiest - is the felt there for that purpose? To catch anything that gets through the tiles?

I’ll pull the plastic pipe out and some dpc can just be hooked over the existing felt

[Pheo]

Cherry picker possibly to replace the tile? You’ve probably thought of that but if you haven’t.

[Defcon5]

Yes unfortunately it’s at the rear of the house, and the front of the house is just an access road so it can’t get in a position to reach over.

I’m currently researching how to use a drone to squirt CT1 but it’s not looking promising

[smifffymoto]

Just get a roofer in with a big ladder.