Tiled roof in Auderghem

What does tiled roof work involve

A tiled roof is a covering made of terracotta or concrete pieces, laid in rows on battens fixed to the structure. There are two big families: flat tiles (a finer look, often on more recent houses) and barrel or Roman tiles (a rounded, more Mediterranean profile, but also found in some residential neighbourhoods of Brussels).

The work ranges from replacing a handful of broken tiles to replacing the entire covering. In between, there are often interventions on the ridges (the top row), on the flashings and zinc junctions, and on the underlay if it's damaged. A good tile replacement isn't just taking the old one out and putting the new one in: the state of the battens and what's underneath must be checked.

When should you look after your tiled roof

Some signs are visible from the garden: a shifted tile, a loose ridge, thick moss holding moisture. Others are less obvious: a damp trace on a ceiling, an attic that smells wet after rain, or simply a roof past 30 or 40 years without a serious inspection.

Terracotta tiles last a long time if laid carefully, often 50 to 80 years. Concrete tiles age less well: they lose their surface coating, become porous and let water through more easily. On a concrete roof over 30 years old, a check is due even if it isn't leaking yet.

Why tiles get damaged

Frost is the number one cause on Belgian roofs. When water seeps into a small crack in a tile and freezes, it bursts the plate. After a few winters, apparently solid tiles can be weakened from the inside.

Loose ridges are another frequent cause. The mortar holding the top row ages, cracks, and lets water in exactly where the roof is most exposed. It's often the first thing to check on an old roof.

Moss and lichens hold moisture against the tiles, which accelerates their degradation. Regular cleaning slows this process. Our roof cleaning and demossing page has more detail.

What makes the price of a tiled roof vary

The main factor is the scope of the work. Replacing 10 broken tiles is a short intervention. Redoing a whole covering on a two-facade house is a multi-day job with two craftsmen.

Access matters a lot: a steep roof on a two-storey house needs more safety measures and time than a roof easily reached from a terrace.

The choice of tiles also shapes the budget. Terracotta tiles cost more than concrete ones, but last longer and age better visually. If we need to match an existing model for a partial repair, sometimes the model is no longer made, which can complicate sourcing.

The state of the underlay and battens often determines the rest of the quote. If the battens are rotten or the underlay needs replacing, it's better to do everything at once rather than lay new tiles on a failing structure.

Repair or replace your tiled roof

If the damage is localised (a few broken tiles, a ridge to repoint, a flashing to redo), a repair is enough and that's what we recommend. No need to redo everything for 5 tiles.

But if the covering is old, the tiles are porous or cracked en masse, the underlay is damaged, or the battens no longer hold well, a complete replacement is more honest financially. Patching a tired roof sometimes costs more in the long run than a clean replacement done properly once.

We tell you frankly what we see.