Tiles roof moving and falling off - Why?

Kalimocho · 03-04-2025 01:39PM #1

Hi,

During the last 2 years or so, roof tiles have been falling off after strong winds and storms. Other properties around have not been affected as much as mine. Tiles didn't fall off before that and not sure what it might be the reason.

The roof has been checked and it doesn't seem to have anything bad or unusual.

The attic is not converted and it's being used as storage. Sometimes I see black birds inside (not sure if it is normal or not). Maybe there is a hole inside creating a void? (Not sure neither).

Any idea?

SuperBowserWorld · 03-04-2025 01:48PM

You might be in location that gets unusual wind strengths or turbulence or funnelling, or maybe higher up.

You may have tiles with shorter lips on them or overlaps. Or maybe even laid poorly.

Every other tile should be clipped/nailed down, and based on your location maybe all of them. If it's mostly along the eves you can get those ones clipped down.

Birds have gotten access. So maybe their is some uplift happening. You can block up the holes before they start nesting. But they should not be easily able to get in anyway.

Kalimocho · 03-04-2025 04:49PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123323375#Comment_123323375

Thanks for your input. Therefore, is it normal to have holes in the attic or else it should be completely isolated from the exterior?

SuperBowserWorld · 03-04-2025 05:21PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123324078#Comment_123324078

Not an expert - but It should not be possible for birds to get into the attic from outside. Narrow gaps for ventilation, but not for birds. They might be able to build nests outside under eaves, but not get in. Maybe there are holes somewhere.

10-10-20 · 04-04-2025 09:37AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058404954/tiles-roof-moving-and-falling-off-why

The general rules with tile nailing that I can find are:

All tiles at perimeters to be nailed - ie those around the edges of of roof.
Roof pitches over 55 degrees, all tiles to be head nailed for all exposure types.
Roof pitches between 45 and 55 degrees, on normal exposure roofs each tile to be head nailed; for exposed and severe exposure then each tile to be head nailed.
Roof pitches of less than 45 degrees, on normal exposure roofs tiles in every second courses to be head nailed, and each tile to be head nailed exposed and severe exposure types.

Few reasons why tiles might be coming off - one is that the nails are failing (or wrong), or that the tiles are cracking and coming away from the nail, or that wind is dislodging them due to the incorrect nailing for the exposure type. Best look at the failed tile and the location from where it came from, and then determine whether it was nailed or not, or did the head of the tile fail (crack and come away from the nail) or did the tile just lift.

You can roughly work out the roof exposure by looking at the driving rain map here:

https://www.met.ie/distribution-of-driving-rain-in-ireland

Mr321 · 04-04-2025 11:38AM

Agree with what @10-10-20 says. Any tiles I usually have to replace for people there is a rusted out nail lieing on the felt or over time the winds keep moving a tile bit by bit that the tile lifts and slides in a major just of wind.

I've noticed with interlocking tiles this is more common as 5 or so tiles could be moving at one time by just millimeter or two over an amount of years leaving an unnailed tile or broken nail tile to come off it's batten and slide down in a gusty storm etc.

I'd guess the tiles your having problems with are north facing side of your roof OP not knowing what part of the country your in where the elements might even be worse to that side.

Mr321 · 04-04-2025 12:46PM

Also in relation to the birds in the attic they aew getting in somewhere like a broken air vent or a hole in the felt when your tiles are off for a period.