Reclaimed tiles on a new roof

[88v8]

Garage, going to happen at last. Appalled by the quotes from four builders, all £50k+ for a small double & smaller workshop, I have had a fit of the meanies and decided to use a local chap plus my own DIY. Didn't really want to tie up my time on the job, but it's the usual story, you work or you pay.

Roof - hipped, intended to use reclaimed tiles. Nothing special, clay Rosemarys, need 3-4,000 depending on the size, but can I find matching tile & halfs?
Can I fiddle.
This can't be an unusual problem. I guess they break easily, and being at the verge are often cemented.

Is it feasible to use reclaims, or am I wasting my time?

These new tiles look as if they might be OK.
http://www.monier.co.uk/products/product-catalogue/product-range/product/rosemary-clay-craftsman-1.html
I don't have a price yet.

Our local TP stocks a Redland Cotswold plain at about 50p, but it's concrete, yuk.

Any recommendations for new plain clay tiles that look old?

Ivor

 

[Lime]

Erm? matching tile & halfs?
Do you mean a tile that has been cut in two?
Why not use an angle grinder?

 

[stuart45]

I think he means a tile 1.5 times the width of the normal tiles. Half tiles are more of a risk on the verge.

 

[88v8]

I think he means a tile 1.5 times the width of the normal tiles. Half tiles are more of a risk on the verge.

Yes, shown here as Gable Tile (12)
http://www.tudorrooftiles.co.uk/prodrange.html

Ivor

 

[middi]

I wouldn't use tile and a half ( ie - larger than one tile) for gable ends etc. I would use half a tile cut with grinder and mortared in position. The larger tile and a half make the roof look as if it was " zipped " onto the structure at the gable ends.
Tile and a half application is a relatively modern invention and misguidedly used on historic buildings.

Middi

 

[Lime]

I wouldn't use tile and a half ( ie - larger than one tile) for gable ends etc. I would use half a tile cut with grinder and mortared in position. The larger tile and a half make the roof look as if it was " zipped " onto the structure at the gable ends.
Tile and a half application is a relatively modern invention and misguidedly used on historic buildings.

Middi

Agreed.

 

[Feltwell]

Sorry to contradict Middi, but I would and have used tile and a halves. Not sure when they first came into use but my 1899 house had them.

They are however like the proverbial rocking horse s**t secondhand, as you've found - as they are used on the verges and are usually mortared on they seem to suffer from the weather and break when removed.

Using new ones creates an unpleasant "zip" effect on the edge of a roof. Persistence is the key, they are hard to find but I did manage to find some, from a yard close to where plasticpigeon lives - that was 3 years ago but I'd definitely try them again, pp has their contact details, a very scruffy yard but they specialise in roofing materials and had plenty of stock.

Apparently occasionally a roof was done entirely in tile and a halves - no idea why - and if one of those comes down there is suddenly a load available!

Alternatively use new clay tiles throughout and wait for them to weather in. I used reclaims on my garage, a mixture of Rosemary's and other brands, it looks really good but I did have to replace quite a few tiles after the first winter where the frost got the weaker ones. Since then they've been fine.

Ebay is well worth a try for reclaimed tiles - I got a load for a bargain price, direct from a demolition site, they crated and delivered them for me.

 

[eezageeza]

You'll be very lucky to find reclaimed tile and a halfs - we've done a couple of jobs using reclaimed blue Rosemarys (rebuilt much of the front elevation of our house, and added a tiled verandah on the side) and on both occaisions we had to use new tile-and-a-halfs. They're a pretty good match, and after a year or two weathering, you won't notice!