You’ve just noticed a gap in your roof. A tile has blown off during last night’s storm. Your first thought: panic.
But should you drop everything and call an emergency roofer? Or can this wait until next week when you’ve had time to get quotes?
The answer isn’t always straightforward. Let’s examine what really happens when tiles go missing and how quickly you need to act.
What Actually Happens When a Tile Goes Missing
A single missing tile doesn’t immediately spell disaster. Your roof has multiple layers of protection.
Most modern British roofs include:
- The tiles themselves (your first line of defence)
- Roofing felt or membrane underneath
- Battens that support the tiles
- The roof deck or sarking boards
- Insulation in the loft space
When one tile disappears, the felt underneath continues protecting your home. This waterproof layer acts as your backup system.
Think of it like wearing a coat over a jumper. If your coat tears, you’re not immediately soaked. The jumper still offers protection. But you wouldn’t walk around in a rainstorm relying solely on that jumper, would you?
The 24-Hour Window: Immediate Concerns
The first day after losing a tile is critical for assessment, not necessarily repair.
Check for these urgent signs:
- Water dripping into your loft space
- Visible daylight through the roof
- Damaged or torn felt underneath
- Multiple tiles missing in the same area
- Tiles hanging dangerously over the edge
If you spot any of these, you need immediate action. Not next week. Today.
A Norwich homeowner learned this lesson during Storm Eunice in February 2022. She noticed two missing tiles but thought it could wait. By the time she called roofing company Point Roofing three days later, rain had soaked through compromised felt, damaging her loft insulation and staining bedroom ceilings. The repair bill jumped from £150 for tile replacement to over £800 for water damage repairs.
Could you afford that extra £650?
Why Speed Matters More in Some Seasons
The urgency changes dramatically depending on when tiles go missing.
Missing tiles in winter (November-February):
This is your highest-risk period. Britain averages 133 days of rain per year, with most falling between October and January. Missing tiles in December mean your roof faces weeks of potential water exposure before spring arrives.
Temperature matters too. Water that seeps through damaged felt can freeze in your loft, expanding and causing additional damage to timbers and insulation.
Missing tiles in summer (June-August):
You have slightly more breathing room. Britain’s driest months give you a few days to arrange repairs without immediate catastrophe. But “a few days” doesn’t mean “a few weeks.”
Even summer brings unexpected downpours. July 2021 saw London receive a month’s worth of rain in 90 minutes. Your missing tile won’t check the forecast before letting water through.
The Domino Effect: How One Tile Becomes Five
Here’s what many homeowners don’t realise: missing tiles rarely stay as single missing tiles.
Wind doesn’t discriminate. If conditions were strong enough to lift one tile, neighbouring tiles likely sustained stress too. Their fixings may have loosened. Their edges might have chipped.
Within weeks, especially during subsequent storms, those weakened tiles follow the first one off your roof.
A Cromer resident reported losing a single tile during strong winds in March 2024. She planned to fix it “when weather improved.” By May, she’d lost seven tiles from the same section. The repair cost tripled.
Why does this happen? Each missing tile exposes the tiles around it to increased wind uplift. They catch more wind. They experience greater stress. They fail faster.
What Your Insurance Company Expects
Most home insurance policies cover storm damage to roofs. But they include a crucial requirement: you must take reasonable steps to prevent further damage.
If you spot a missing tile and ignore it for weeks, allowing water damage to develop, your insurer may refuse to cover consequential damage. They’ll argue you failed in your duty of care.
The Association of British Insurers clarifies that “storm damage” typically means winds exceeding 55mph. But proving the initial damage came from a storm doesn’t exempt you from preventing additional damage through neglect.
Document everything:
- Photograph the damage immediately
- Note the date and weather conditions
- Contact roofers promptly for quotes
- Keep records of all communications
One Sheffield policyholder lost their insurance claim for £3,200 in water damage because they waited six weeks before addressing missing tiles. The insurer found photos on social media showing the homeowner knew about the damage but chose to go on holiday first.
Would you gamble thousands of pounds on similar assumptions?
Temporary Measures: Buying Yourself Time
Sometimes you can’t get a roofer immediately. Christmas periods, after major storms, or during peak summer months see roofers booked solid for weeks.
What can you do to protect your home while you wait?
Emergency temporary solutions:
- Heavy-duty tarpaulins secured over the damaged area
- Roofing tape applied to felt (if safely accessible)
- Temporary waterproof sheeting in the loft beneath the damage
- Buckets to catch any drips
Never climb onto your roof yourself unless you have proper safety equipment and training. A fall from even a single-storey roof can cause life-changing injuries or death.
The Health and Safety Executive reports that falls from height account for over 30% of workplace deaths in Britain. Your roof repair isn’t worth your life.
Call a roofer to apply temporary weatherproofing. Most charge £80-£150 for emergency callouts to secure damaged areas. This small investment protects against thousands in water damage.
How Much Does Missing Tile Repair Actually Cost?
Price varies based on several factors.
Single tile replacement typically costs:
- £100-£150 for straightforward jobs on accessible roofs
- £150-£250 for higher roofs requiring additional equipment
- £200-£400 if scaffolding is needed
These prices include labour, materials, and call-out fees. Some roofers charge more for emergency same-day service.
Multiple missing tiles reduce the per-tile cost. Replacing five tiles might cost £250-£350 rather than five times the single-tile price. Roofers are already on your roof with equipment set up.
Matching tiles can complicate matters. If your roof uses discontinued tiles, roofers may struggle to find exact matches. You might need to:
- Accept close-but-not-identical replacements
- Source reclaimed tiles from salvage yards
- Replace an entire visible section for colour consistency
A Wymondham homeowner with 1950s Rosemary clay tiles spent weeks finding matches through specialist suppliers. The tiles cost £8 each instead of standard £3 tiles. Her six-tile repair reached £280.
Signs Your Missing Tile Indicates Bigger Problems
Sometimes a missing tile is just a missing tile. Other times, it’s a symptom of underlying roof deterioration.
Watch for these warning signs:
- Tiles crumbling or flaking when touched
- Multiple tiles loose across different roof sections
- Sagging or uneven roof lines
- Excessive moss or vegetation growth
- Nails or fixings visible on the ground
If your roof is over 40 years old and losing tiles, it may be reaching the end of its serviceable life. Standard concrete tiles last 50-60 years. Clay tiles endure 60-100 years. Slate can last over 100 years with proper maintenance.
A comprehensive roof survey costs £150-£400 but provides crucial information about your roof’s overall condition. This investment prevents spending hundreds on tile repairs when your roof needs complete replacement within two years anyway.
The Weather Forecast Factor
Check the upcoming weather before deciding how urgently to act.
Light showers forecasted? You probably have a few days to arrange repairs properly.
Heavy rain warnings issued? Get temporary protection immediately and book the first available roofer.
The Met Office provides detailed local forecasts. Yellow weather warnings indicate potential property damage. Amber and red warnings mean significant damage is likely.
During the February 2020 storms (Ciara, Dennis, and Jorge in quick succession), roofers reported being overwhelmed with emergency calls. Those who’d secured their roofs after the first storm avoided compound damage during subsequent weather events.
Planning ahead saves money and stress.
Questions to Ask When Calling Roofers
Not all roofers respond appropriately to missing tile emergencies.
Essential questions:
- Can you attend today for temporary weatherproofing?
- What’s your availability for permanent repairs?
- Do you carry common tile types on your van?
- Will you photograph the damage and felt condition?
- Can you provide a written quote before starting work?
Legitimate roofers such as Roofing Wimbledon answer these questions clearly. Cowboys dodge them or pressure you into immediate decisions.
One Great Yarmouth resident accepted an on-the-spot offer from a roofer who “happened to be passing.” He charged £400 for three tiles that should have cost £180. When tiles fell again months later, he’d disappeared.
Take time to verify credentials even in emergencies. Check:
- Online reviews on Google and Trustpilot
- Registration with trade bodies like CompetentRoofer
- Valid insurance documentation
- Physical business address
When Waiting Becomes Dangerous
Certain situations eliminate any debate about urgency.
Call emergency services if:
- Tiles are falling actively and endangering people below
- Large sections of roof are lifting or unstable
- Structural damage extends beyond simple missing tiles
- Water is actively pouring into living spaces
These scenarios require immediate professional intervention, not DIY attempts or “let’s see how it goes.”
After Storm Arwen in November 2021, emergency services responded to hundreds of dangerous roof situations. Several people were injured by falling debris. One Durham man died after being hit by wind-blown roofing materials.
Your safety and others’ safety always comes first.
The Bottom Line
So how urgent is a missing tile really?
If you have:
- Just one or two missing tiles
- Intact felt underneath
- No immediate heavy rain forecasted
- Summer weather ahead
You have perhaps 3-7 days to arrange proper repairs without major risk.
But if you have:
- Multiple missing tiles
- Damaged or torn felt
- Heavy rain expected
- Winter conditions
You need action within 24-48 hours maximum.
The safest approach? Treat every missing tile as moderately urgent. Get temporary protection within 24 hours. Arrange permanent repairs within one week.
This balanced response protects your home without unnecessary panic. It prevents minor issues becoming expensive disasters. It gives you time to find reputable roofers rather than accepting the first quote out of desperation.
Your roof protects everything you own. Every person you love sleeps under it. Doesn’t it deserve prompt attention when something goes wrong?
Don’t gamble with false economy. That missing tile might seem small, but the damage it allows could be enormous.