By Daniel Weadley
© DanielsRoof.com
The tiles which are cemented to the roof edge of many homes are often called verge or gable tiles and the condition of this cement can deteriorate over time. This is especially true if an incorrect sand/cement mixture was used during the initial construction. Driving rain will frequently splash against this cement and if the cement is too “sandy” it will simply wash out.
Replacing the cement is one option as you can see from my photos on this page but replacing the cement with a plastic dry verge system is also popular. Click here to see a plastic alternative to roof cement.
Below you can find a series of photos that show how the cement was removed and replaced on a recent project of mine that also involved replacing the timber fascia with plastic upvc boards.
Step by Step Instructions
While the photos shown above help to describe the process of renewing the cement, the following steps should help those wishing to undertake the project themselves.
- Remove the cemented roof tiles, starting from the top of the roof.
- Chisel off any cement from the tiles, replace any that break.
- Remove the under-boards that were used to support the underside of the cemented tiles.
- Replace the under-boards with either slate or cement fibre boards, fix directly to batons or timber rafter, not to the barge board.
- Mix sand and cement. 3 parts sand to 1 part cement, include plasticizer additives to reduce chances of cracking.
- Trowel cement onto under-boards (see photo 3) and press tiles down-wards, scrape off excess cement.
- Each tile should be screwed to the timbers underneath (if a screw hole exists) to prevent wind lift. A fixing clip may also be required depending on tile and location of property.
- Allow 30 minutes to pass then point in the cement face to ensure a smooth finish. If the cement starts to slump, wait another 15 minutes and then try again.
Old bargeboard and loose cement
New roofline board and undercloak to support new cement
Cement being laid to roof
Cement pointed in to leave a neat finish
Hints and Tips
Never lay cement when the temperature is likely to drop below 5° in the following 36 hours.
Use a strong mix such as 3-1 sand/cement on all roof work, it prevents wash out.
Cover cement if rain or strong direct sunlight is expected.
Take extra care to ensure that the sand is appropriate.
You can use dye in the sand/cement mix to achieve a darker colour.
Considered Installing a Plastic Dry Verge Instead?
Some people think roof cement should be a thing of the past and there are products made from plastic that designed to replace cement.
Click here to see an alternative to roof cement.
