Slipped or missing tile
A tile that has slid out of its course, or gone altogether, leaves the underlay exposed to direct rain and UV. Scottish underlay rarely lasts long once it is uncovered, so a single slipped tile is a small job that turns into a big one if it is ignored over a winter.
What it looks like from above
- A dark gap or a visible line of underlay felt in an otherwise even course
- One tile sitting lower than its neighbours, often resting on the tile below
- Fragments of tile lodged in the gutter run beneath the gap
- A shadow line that breaks the regular pattern of the roof when viewed from above
What happens if it's left
- Rain hits the underlay directly and finds any pinhole or tear
- Wind gets under the surrounding tiles and lifts more of them
- Battens and rafters below start to take moisture, which is a far costlier repair
How it's normally fixed
Usually a single-tile replacement and re-clip, and a check of the tiles either side that have lost their support. It is a short job for a roofer once they know exactly which tile and which elevation — which is what the photographs in the report tell them.
Common questions
How urgent is one missing roof tile?
Not an emergency, but not something to leave over a Scottish winter. The underlay beneath is the only thing keeping water out, and it degrades quickly once exposed to sunlight and driving rain.
Can you see a slipped tile from the ground?
Sometimes, from the right angle. Slips on rear elevations, on hidden slopes or high up near the ridge are routinely missed from ground level, which is why we photograph every elevation from the air.
Think you've got this on your roof?
We photograph every elevation, circle each defect and grade it by severity — £99 residential, £149 commercial, report within 24 hours.