Cost of Replacing Roof Ridge Tiles
Last updated 23rd March, 2025
Have you got roof ridge tiles that need replacing? Want to know the cost of repointing ridge tiles?
This article looks at all the costs involved in repairing or replacing roof ridges. We break down the cost of roof tiles, ridge tile fixing, timescales and labour costs.
Let's get started!
How Much to Repoint Ridge Tiles?
The roof ridge repair cost for your home will depend on how much work needs to be done.
Repointing ridge tiles is generally cheaper than replacing them entirely, so it makes sense to address the problem early and prevent costs from spiralling later.
Typically, the roof repointing cost will be between £100 and £400. This will affected by several factors, including how tall the roof is and whether the job will require scaffolding to be in place.
How Much to Replace Ridge Tiles?
Replacing ridge tiles is usually more complicated than repointing them, meaning the costs are higher.
If your roof ridge tiles are damaged beyond repair, replacing them will be necessary. There are other factors that will impact the ridge tile replacement cost such as:
- How many tiles need replacing.
- Whether scaffolding is required.
- Whether you're replacing the tiles with a mortar bed or switching to a dry ridge system.
If the mortar bed is damaged then replacing the ridge tiles may be more effective than simply patching them with fresh cement. It could also be more economical in the long run, preventing another costly repair job in the short term.
The average ridge tile replacement cost is between £140 and £375.
Ridge Tile Prices
The average cost of having a roofer re-cement some ridge tiles is around £100 to £400 depending upon how much prep work is required, how easy the access to the roof is, how many tiles need re-cement and/or replacing, and how tall your roof is.
Roofers tend to work in pairs so per day you're looking at around £250 in labour and the job shouldn't really take any longer than a day to complete. In most cases it should only take a few hours in fact.
Here are a few average costs for re-cementing ridge tiles for a house with easy roof access:
| # of Tiles | Need New Tiles? | Avg. Cost | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 - 3 | No | £125 | 2 hours |
| 3 - 10 | No | £200 | 4 hours |
| Full average roof | No | £300 | 1 day |
| 1 - 3 | Yes | £140 | 2.5 hours |
| 3 - 10 | Yes | £250 | 5 hours |
| Full average roof | Yes | £375 | 1 day |
Table of Contents
What are Ridge Roof Tiles?
Ridge tiles are those roof tiles which are laid onto the very top ridge of the roof. They are designed to keep the water out and to fix the top row of roof tiles (which do not have the weight of overlapping tiles on them) and stop them from blowing off in the wind.
Most ridge tiles are semi-circular or triangle-shaped with a flat edge on the bottom.
The vast majority of ridge tiles are fixed to the roof by cementing them in (but note that since 2015 building regulations have changed so that now all roof tiles need to be mechanically fixed even if cemented), though there are some "dry" ridge tile systems available.
Why Do Roof Ridge Tiles Fail?
Over time the cement on the roof can fail due to constant exposure to high winds and bad weather, but they should last a few decades before needing replaced if fitted properly in the first place.
A professional re-cementing or repointing of the ridge tiles would be expected to lift the ridge tiles, remove all the old mortar, and then re-bed the tiles onto new cement.
Fixing tiles without removing the old cement is not recommended on an exposed roof that is subject to severe weathering over the years as this is unlikely to last more than a few years.
Whenever any job involving roof tiles is to be carried out, expect that you will need some new roof tiles, even if none appear to be broken. Things go wrong once you start disturbing old tiles and sometimes when removing them they can break, or they can simply be dropped, accidents happen!
Always have some spare roof tiles to hand before starting to re-point ridge tiles or any other job which requires the removal or otherwise disturbs the existing roof tiles. With ridge tiles sometimes when removing the old concrete all the ridge tiles will break and need replacing, along with several roof tiles too.
You should also prepare for some bad news if your house is very old and the roof has never been replaced or had routine maintenance carried out on it, no reputable roofer will replace ridge tiles on a roof that is falling apart and needs to be completely replaced.
Though tile roofs with proper maintenance can last up to 100 years, those that have had missing or broken tiles (including ridge tiles) for years will have serious rot problems and need replacing much sooner.
There is no planning permission or other authorisation required, however if working in a public area then licenses may be required.
DIY Ridge Tile Replacement
This job shouldn't be done on a DIY basis, even if you are comfortable working at height.
Tiles are very heavy and can cause serious injury or damage if they fall. Safety nets and/or access towers might need to be erected.
Additional Roof Ridge Repair Costs
There are some extra expenses to consider when thinking about the cost of ridge tiles.
Several of these costs may be unavoidable, with labour and scaffolding prices largely out of your control.
However, it is possible to save money over the long term by having several roofing jobs carried out at the same time. This can be particularly cost-effective if you need to hire scaffolding for work to be carried out safely.
Roofer Prices
Labour costs are a major factor when looking at any type of roofing work.
Repointing ridge tiles or replacing them can take anything from a couple of hours to a full day. If the weather is poor, the job may take longer.
Typically, roofer prices will be around £150 to £250 per day. This will vary depending on where you are in the country and whether your roof requires more complex care (i.e., your home is a listed building or in a conservation area).
Bear in mind that emergency roofer prices can be far higher, so it makes sense to address smaller issues with your ridge roof tiles before they become big problems that require emergency attention.
Do You Need Scaffolding to Replace Ridge Tiles?
Scaffolding may be required when repointing or replacing roof ridge tiles.
While some roofers may use a roofing ladder for small jobs, more extensive work will likely need scaffolding to ensure their safety. If your roof is high or difficult to access, scaffolding gives roofers a stable place to work while they fix your tiles.
The typical scaffolding cost can start from £250 per day for a scaffold tower, rising to around £900 for longer-term use.
As scaffolding can be a major factor in the overall roof ridge repair cost, it's worth checking whether any other roofing jobs need to be carried out at the same time. This will save money on scaffolding hire in the future.
Cost to Replace Roof Tiles
At the same time as repointing ridge tiles, it's worth checking whether any of the regular roof tiles need fixing or replacing.
The cost to replace roof tiles usually starts from about £75 for a small job and can rise to £325 for replacing around 15 tiles when scaffolding is needed.
Roof Valley Replacement Cost
A roof valley is where two sloping roofs meet and channel water down into the gutter. As this area of your roof sees a lot of rainfall, it may need regular maintenance and repairs.
On average, the roof valley replacement cost will be around £300 to £450. It can take 4 to 6 hours for a repair job or 6 to 8 hours if a full replacement is needed.
Replacement Roof Eaves Felt Cost
Eaves felt is an important component of a roof, although it is gradually being replaced with an eaves tray as a more rigid and durable alternative.
The purpose of eaves felt or eaves trays is to stop water from getting into the property at the very edge of your roof. It overhangs into the guttering to ensure water goes down and doesn't go underneath the roof tiles.
On average, the replacement roof eaves felt cost is between £300 and £500, depending on the style of roof and how big your home is.
Roof Replacement Costs
If a roof has been badly damaged or left to deteriorate over a long period, the most effective option may be a full roof replacement.
This is a major home improvement project and can take upwards of a week to complete in some circumstances. Depending on the type of materials used, typical roof replacement costs can range from £3,500 to £7,000.
Cost Calculator Breakdown
Individual costs for hiring a roofer to re-cement 3 to 10 ridge tiles - Total Cost: £200
Materials
£20
Tradesmen
£130
Access Tower
£50
FAQs
Broken tiles are cheap to replace if standard concrete type and should not make a huge difference to the final price, which is good news as they often break when getting removed! Please note that access problems can greatly affect the price, if there is a public pathway below the roof for example then scaffolding will be required along with netting and pedestrian diversions, all of which will need to be applied for and approved before work commences (in this case the work should definitely not be attempted as a DIY job).
Therefore it usually makes sense to do the entire ridge at the same time ensuring a professional job, as there is no easy way to reinforce neighbouring ridge tiles that are already bedded. It may also be sensible to use this opportunity to have all ridge tiles replaced using a modern dry ridge system which is maintenance-free and meets all the latest building regulations.
