What types of roof tile can you remove with a wrecking bar?

13th August 2021


What types of roof tile can you remove with a wrecking bar?


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		What are roof tiles?
		A tile is defined as a piece of durable material which is manufactured to cover roofs, floors, and walls. In the following three pages, we will be focusing on roof tiles. For information on how to remove wall tiles, see: How to remove wall tiles without breaking them

		Roof tiles have been used to cover roofs since as early as the 3rd millenium BC, where they were used in Lerna, Greece, on the House of Tiles. These tiles were made of terracotta, and each weighed about 30kg (66lb).

		The majority of modern roof tiles weigh an average of 4.3-5.4kg (9.5-12lb), and are made of concrete, slate or clay, but some styles are still produced in terracotta!

		What are the different types of roof tile?
		The types of tile most commonly used in the UK, and which this guide will teach you to remove, are:

		Interlocking roof tiles Interlocking roof tiles are also known as ‘pantiles’. Each interlocking roof tile is overlapped by the tile above and the tiles on either side of it, creating a watertight join. The ‘interlocking’ between tiles is created by manufacturing each tile with a wave pattern of ridges and valleys; these slot into one another, making it impossible for the tile to move side to side.

		Interlocking tiles are usually made of concrete, and coated with paint or textured using a mixture of paint and sand; this is called ‘sand facing’, and the tiles are called ‘sand faced’.

		Plain tiles Plain tiles don’t incorporate any interlocking or waterproofing features. Each plain tile is overlapped twice by the tiles above it, and the roof beneath protected with felt and flashing.

		Plain tiles are usually made of concrete or clay, but may be slate. However, to remove slate plain tiles, you must use a slater’s ripper; a wrecking bar is not suitable for this task. If you need to remove slate tiles, see our guide: How to use a slater’s rippe

		Hanging tiles Hanging tiles are used to cover exterior walls, rather than roofing, but are still classed as roofing tiles. This type of tile is always nailed to the timber lath beneath, as, unlike roof tiles, there is simply no way to keep hanging tiles which are unnailed from falling.

		Hanging tiles can be made of a variety of materials including clay, terracotta, or concrete.

		Feature tiles Feature tiles are available in a number of highly decorative designs, which may sometimes be mixed or matched to create visual interest and variation.

		The methods for removing feature tiles are the same as the methods for removing other tiles, but replacements may be harder to find. If you need to replace a feature tile, try visiting a reclamation yard or roofing yard.

		Why would you need to remove a roof tile?
		You may need to remove a roof tile for several reasons, including if:

		The tile doesn’t match the rest of your roof tiles and needs to be replaced.

		The tile is broken and needs to be replaced.

		You need to access the joists, lath, or roofing felt beneath the your roof tiles.

		You want to perform general maintenance on your roof tiles, such as removing lichen or moss.

		You need to remove or install a section of flashing, and a roof tile or multiple roof tiles are in the way.

		Which wrecking bar is best for removing roof tiles?
		Because you will be penetrating between tightly fastened tiles, and need to be gentle while doing so, the best type of wrecking bar to use for this task is one with a thin, flat shaft.

		For greater control over your wrecking bar – enabling you to work with precision – choose one which is shorter rather than longer.

		Note that this does not mean you should use a mini wrecking bar for the task – this would not be long enough to give you any leverage when lifting tiles.

		Though the name of the roofing bar suggests that it should be the tool much preferred for this task, most tiles can easily be removed with a smaller, less expensive wrecking bar design. There is no need to spend the additional money on a roofing bar, unless you feel strongly that you will require the ability to fasten arrest equipment to your wrecking bar.

		Only roofing bars feature a hole for attaching arrest equipment.

		What else will you need?
		For removing roof tiles, you won’t require any tool other than your chosen wrecking bar.

		If you choose to use arrest equipment, you will need a tool lanyard and either a wrist strap or harness.

		Removing nailed vs. unnailed tiles
		In the UK, it is traditional to nail every third row of tiles to the timber lath, leaving two rows unfixed between each nailed row. However, some roofs may have tiles which are fully nailed on every row.

		The guides on the following three pages will walk you through the process of removing both nailed and un-nailed tiles – simply pick the appropriate guide for your roof and tile type.