How Much Does it Cost to Fit/Replace Hip and Ridge Tiles?

Job Costs

job	Description (these prices include all materials)	labour
1	To repoint the two hips and the short top ridge on a 1930’s semi. This will take two men (roofer and labourer) a day. It will need scaffolding (we assume full access and no conservatories etc and only a handful of normal roof tiles broken in the process). The scaffolding will only reach the eaves (guttering) level.	£325
	Plus scaffolding for the above	£550
2	To replace 5 slipped hip tiles and a hip iron all at the bottom of the hip slope: This will take 1 man half a day and it can be done from a ladder. We assume any old mortar comes off the tiles easily so no new ones are needed (they’re about a fiver each).	£145
3	To replace two missing ridge tiles. He will charge for half a day and it can be done from ladders.	£155
	To repoint the ridge on an ‘up and over’ Victorian house. This can be done by one man in one day from a roof ladder and a ladder fixed to the fascia board. We assume full access and no conservatories etc and only a handful of normal roof tiles broken in the process.	£235

“Labour” at £175 a day (tradesman) £100 (labourer), includes incidental fixings etc. and tipping. “Materials” if mentioned, are larger things (a boiler) and stuff only you can choose (tiles etc). Also VAT must be added all round.

Ridge Tiles

Most pitched (sloping) roofs have ridge tiles where the front and rear pitches meet at the top of the roof.

If the roof is tiled they will be the same colour as the tiles, probably have rounded tops and be either clay or concrete. If the roof is slate they will probably have an angled top edge, be black or red and be made of clay.

All types will have been fitted last to cover the tops of the tiles or slates, which cover the two pitches and they will be set in mortar.

Hip Tiles

Hip tiles are just the same but they aren’t found at the very top of the roof. These cover the diagonal sloping bit which joins the end of the top ridge to the front and back corners of a semi detached house.

There are two main problems which develop with both types.

1. They blow off in gales.

2. They slip out of position. This happens because the mortar holding them deteriorates, or because it hasn’t adhered to the underside of the tiles properly or because the curly bit of steel at the bottom of a hip (called unsurprisingly, the hip iron) has rusted away.

There is another “problem” which develops and this is the favourite excuse for those fine gentlemen the “I was working in the area and I saw a serious problem with your roof” mob…….. (look for the dead giveaway 4×4).

Bedding Scare Stories!

When hip or ridge tiles are laid, if they are laid properly, an amount of mortar should squeeze out on both sides from underneath, this should then be trowelled flat in what looks like a long 1” (25mm) line where they meet the roof on each side. Over time, this sometimes wears away but its disappearance has no effect on the tiles ability to stay stuck to the roof! If the mortar underneath is ok, so is the tile.

However these gentlemen will do their hardest to terrify you into believing every hip and ridge tile will soon be nestling among your hydrangeas unless you give them £600 now to save the day. Don’t worry Lee will take you to the bank in the flash motor, while Darren and Jason get on with the job, swarming all over you roof like a couple of human flies.

When you get back you’ll be amazed! They will be almost finished. What they will in fact have done is smear a bit of weak mortar on with their thumbs. And they can’t take a cheque because this “pointing” will all be in your guttering before it clears.

Top Tip…

So remember – if the mortar has fallen out, nine times out of ten the tile is still safely secured in position. Only if the tile has actually moved or slipped, will it need first re-bedding and then re-pointing.

Re-pointing hip and ridge tiles is purely an aesthetic exercise, if you must do it, do it on your terms with a roofer you trust!

Questions to ask the roofer during his quotation visit.

Will he provide a written quotation? Try and get one. Look, I know he’s a roofer but he should at least try now and again to pretend he’s running a proper business.
Will he replace all the tiles or slates he accidentally breaks as a result of the work? It might be prudent to make a mental note of any tiles, which are broken before he goes up there and get him to quote for replacing them as well.
What will he be replacing them with, new or “matching” second hand ones? He can only fix what the local secondhand yard can supply so take “matching” with a pinch of proverbial.