Reclaimed clay plain tiles are often cheap per tile to buy from a salvage yard, but that is only the material cost. Reclaimed is not always cheaper than new. Matching the tiles and paying for the roofer's labour usually matter more to your final bill. Checks from the ground or from inside the loft are fine, but you should never climb on a roof or use ladders at height yourself.
Understanding your roof and the materials involved
To make sense of a roofing quote, it helps to know how a roof is built. Pitched roofs are angled to let rain run off. The framework is covered with an underlay, often called felt or membrane, which provides a waterproof barrier. Over this sit timber battens, which are the wooden strips that the tiles fix onto.
Common coverings include clay, concrete and slate. Concrete and clay tiles are moulded shapes, while natural and fibre cement slate provide a flat, overlapping finish. If you have an extension, it might have a flat roof. The base layer is the timber deck on a flat roof, which supports the waterproofing.
Flat roof systems include built-up felt, which is usually torch-on, EPDM rubber, GRP fibreglass, single-ply and liquid coatings. Roofs also feature specific edges and joints. The ridge is the horizontal peak at the top, while the hip is a sloping external corner. A valley is the internal angle where two roof slopes meet. The verge is the outer edge of a roof above a gable end, and the eaves are the bottom edges where water drops into the guttering.
The roofline is finished with fascias, soffits and guttering, which are the boards and pipes that protect the roof edges and carry rain away. Lead flashing is the metal used to seal joints against walls and chimneys. You should never attempt leadwork or torch-on felting yourself. Finally, a warm roof has insulation above the deck, while a cold roof has it between the joists.
Are reclaimed roof tiles worth it?
Homeowners choose reclaimed tiles to preserve the character of an older property. Clay plain tiles are small, flat and rectangular, and they weather naturally over decades. Reclaimed roof tiles are simply old tiles salvaged from demolished or re-roofed buildings. Many owners of older homes want the new work to sit well with the existing roof.
Manufacturers do offer alternatives if you want the look without the salvage process. Machine-made finishes offer an authentic appearance without a premium price, while handcrafted tiles are used for heritage style projects. The choice often comes down to your budget and the planning rules in your area.
What reclaimed clay tiles cost
Buying old tiles individually is often inexpensive. Most reclaimed clay plain tiles at one reclaim yard cost between 48p and 84p each. This includes VAT and covers various styles, such as handmade, machine-made and eaves tiles.
The table below shows typical material prices for old clay plain tiles from a salvage yard.
|
Item |
Typical price per tile |
|---|---|
|
Most reclaimed clay plain tiles, including VAT |
48p to 84p |
|
Types the range covers |
Handmade, machine-made and eaves tiles |
|
Larger orders |
Priced on request |
Treat these as a rough guide. These figures cover the materials only. Prices vary depending on the exact type of tile, the quantity you need and the stock available at the yard on the day.
What new clay tiles cost for comparison
New tiles are priced differently because roofers usually quote for supplying the materials and fixing them to the roof. New clay plain tiles typically cost £60 to £90 per square metre, supply and fix. You must ask the roofer how many tiles are required and how much they will charge for fixing them.
The table below shows the cost of new materials including the roofer's labour to fit them.
|
Item |
Typical price per square metre |
|---|---|
|
New clay plain tiles (supply and fix) |
£60 to £90 |
|
Reclaimed clay plain tiles |
No separate price given |
|
Reclaimed tiles matched to a local brick colour |
Can cost more than new |
These are typical 2026 prices, and local quotes will vary. The per tile prices above and the per square metre price here are in different units, so the two sets of figures should not be combined or compared directly.
Why reclaimed tiles are not always cheaper
Reclaimed clay plain tiles can cost more than new ones if the client specifies a matching local brick colour. Matching a local brick colour is a specific request, and it is the point at which reclaimed tiles can cost more than new ones.
Labour costs also push the price up. Small repairs are usually a fixed price or a day rate. Larger work is priced per square metre plus access, and prices are higher in London and the South East. Scaffolding is often a separate and significant line on your quote.
Waste removal and VAT may or may not be included, so you must ask. Nobody can see rotten timber until the old covering is off, so a good quote says how extras will be priced. A proper written quote contains specific details to protect you from unexpected costs, and a good quote includes:
- A clear breakdown of whether you are paying a fixed price or a day rate.
- The price of the tiles and the fixing, and how it is worked out.
- Scaffolding hire, delivery and removal as a separate line.
- Waste removal and skip hire.
- A clear statement on whether VAT is included.
- An explanation of how extras will be priced if rotten timber is found.
Matching tiles on an older roof
A successful repair blends the new work into the old, which covers the shape, texture and colour of the tile. Mid Suffolk Council advises that replicating existing detailing is often most appropriate for traditional buildings.
Ask your roofer how they will match the new work to your existing roof, and ask to see what is proposed before you commit.
Reusing the tiles you already have
Before ordering materials, look at what is already on your roof. Mid Suffolk Council states that salvageable materials should always be reused where possible. Ask your roofer which of your existing tiles can be reused.
The same council's guidance says patch repairs amounting to no more than 50 per cent of one roof slope in materials to match the existing generally do not need consent. Larger areas do. Stripping a slope and re-laying needs consent. This is Mid Suffolk Council's guidance and other councils differ, so always check locally.
Listed buildings and conservation areas
Protected buildings may come with extra rules, so ask the council's conservation officer before work begins. Mid Suffolk and Babergh councils advise people to contact the Heritage team before starting work and to contact Building Control to see whether an application is needed. They also advise consulting an ecologist if protected species such as bats could be affected.
In England, repairing or re-covering a roof does not normally need a building control application if less than 25 per cent of the building envelope and less than 50 per cent of the roof is affected. Above that, approval is needed and the insulation may have to be upgraded. Approval is also needed for structural alterations, where a new covering performs significantly differently in fire, or where it adds 15 per cent or more to the weight.
CompetentRoofer is a government-authorised competent person scheme run by the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC). Registered roofers can self-certify roof refurbishment in England and Wales, and the customer should receive a building regulations compliance certificate. Otherwise the work goes through council building control or a registered building control approver. Rules differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, so ask your council rather than guessing. Always ask the roofer for the consent reference in writing, and read the guide on re-roofing a listed building or a house in a conservation area.
Avoiding common roofing scams and mistakes
The roofing trade attracts rogue traders who exploit homeowners. You should never attempt structural or electrical work yourself when trying to save money on a roofing project. Watch out for these common scams:
- Cold callers who have spotted a loose tile or moss from the street.
- Pressure to decide today and pay a big deposit in cash.
- Vague one-line quotes with no fixed address for the business.
- Being sold a whole new roof for a local fault.
- Roof coating and painting claims.
- Pressure washing sold as maintenance.
- Guarantees that are worthless if the firm folds because they are not insurance-backed.
Going without the building regulations certificate is another serious mistake. TrustMark is the government-endorsed quality scheme for work in and around the home. Check the scheme's own register to verify a firm's credentials. Membership is a good sign, not a guarantee.
Understanding your consumer rights
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 work must be done with reasonable care and skill, and if it is not the customer can ask for it to be put right or for money back. A quote is a fixed price, an estimate is not. Always insist on a detailed written quote before allowing anyone onto your property.
Contracts agreed at home, by phone or online normally carry a 14-day cooling-off period. If the customer asks for work to start inside that period they must pay for what has been done. Paying by credit card gives Section 75 protection on purchases over £100 and up to £30,000. Citizens Advice is the place to send readers with a dispute.
Common questions
Do I need building regulations approval for a conservatory roof?
Replacing a glazed or polycarbonate conservatory roof with a solid one takes the conservatory out of its exemption, so building regulations apply to the new roof. If you are unsure, ask your council or a registered building control approver.
Are reclaimed roof tiles guaranteed?
Ask the seller what, if anything, is covered. Your roofer should provide a guarantee for their workmanship. Always check that this workmanship guarantee is insurance-backed so you are protected if the firm ceases trading.
Can I just replace the broken tiles?
Small repairs are usually a fixed price or a day rate, and a roofer can tell you whether a repair is enough or whether more is needed.
What happens if the roofer finds a problem under the tiles?
Nobody can see rotten timber until the old covering is off. A good quote says how extras will be priced if the battens or roof timbers need replacing once the roof is open.
Next steps before you order tiles
Take these steps before you agree to any roofing work:
- Ask the council's conservation officer before work begins on a listed building.
- Ask the roofer for the consent reference in writing.
- Get three written quotes from local roofers.
- Ask the roofer how many tiles you need and how much fixing will cost.
- Check that scaffolding, waste removal and VAT are itemised.
- Ask for proof of insurance-backed guarantees.
- Agree to a staged payment plan and make a final payment only when the job is finished.
Taking the time to check credentials and compare quotes will protect your home and your budget. You can find a roofer near you to start gathering written prices and advice for your property.
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