# Cracked and broken roof tiles URL: https://perthroofquotes.com/guides/cracked-and-broken-roof-tiles/ Updated: 2026-10-17 > Cracked roof tiles are usually caused by foot traffic, storms, hail, falling branches or other trades working on the roof, such as solar and antenna installers. Even one cracked tile can let water reach the battens and ceiling, especially on a roof without sarking. Most can be replaced individually if a matching tile is found; widespread breakage needs a wider assessment. A single cracked tile looks like a minor problem, and often it is a quick repair. Left alone, though, it can let water into the roof every time it rains, and the damage below grows quietly until a stain appears on the ceiling. Knowing what caused the crack also matters, because the same cause can break more tiles. This guide covers concrete and terracotta tiles. If you are unsure which you have, our guide to [concrete vs terracotta tiles](https://perthroofquotes.com/guides/concrete-vs-terracotta-roof-tiles/) explains how to tell. ## What causes roof tiles to crack or break? Most cracked tiles are caused by weight or impact, and a smaller number by age and stress over time. The common causes are: - **Foot traffic.** Tiles are designed to shed water, not carry people. Stepping on the unsupported middle of a tile, rather than where it overlaps the batten, can crack it. - **Other trades on the roof.** Solar installers, antenna and satellite dish installers, air conditioner technicians and painters all walk on roofs. Brackets, tile hooks and conduit can also stress tiles if they are poorly fitted. - **Storms and strong winds.** Wind can lift and drop tiles, especially loose ones near the edges and ridges, and flying debris can strike the roof. - **Hail.** Hail is occasional in Perth, but a heavy fall can crack many tiles in one storm. - **Falling branches.** Trees overhanging the roof drop limbs in wind, and even small branches can break tiles near the gutter line. - **Thermal movement.** Roof materials expand and contract as they heat and cool. Where a tile is held rigidly, for example by hard mortar or a tight flashing, that stress can crack the tile or the mortar around it. - **Age and weathering.** Older terracotta can become brittle, and heavily weathered concrete tiles can wear at the edges, so both break more easily. - **Earlier repairs.** A tile of the wrong profile forced into place, or tiles disturbed and not re-seated, can crack or slip later. *Image: Broken and dislodged tiles near the eaves after a storm, with a fallen branch on the roof and a tarp over one section.* ## Why does one cracked tile matter? Because tiles work as a system. Each tile overlaps the ones below and beside it so water runs down the outside. A crack or a missing corner breaks that path, and water drops through to whatever is underneath. *Diagram: The parts of a tiled roof at the ridge. Pointing is the visible finish; bedding is the mortar beneath the ridge cap.* On roofs with sarking, the membrane under the battens catches some water and directs it to the gutter, which buys time. Many older Perth tile roofs have no sarking, so water from a cracked tile can fall straight onto the battens, the insulation and the top of the ceiling. Over time that can stain and weaken plasterboard, soak insulation and rot timber. A gap from a broken tile can also let birds and pests in, and in bushfire prone areas it is an opening for embers. Hairline cracks are harder to judge. Some let little or no water through at first, but they can widen with heat, movement or another knock. A contractor can advise whether a cracked tile should be replaced now or at the next visit. ## How can you spot cracked tiles safely? Look from the ground, from an upstairs window or from across the street, in good daylight. Signs include a visible crack line, a missing corner, a tile sitting higher or lower than its row, a gap in a row and pieces of tile in the gutter or on the ground below. From inside, a patch of daylight in the roof space or a fresh ceiling stain after rain can point to a broken tile. Go into the roof space only if access is safe, with the power off at the main switch and your hands off any cables. Our checklist of [signs your roof needs attention](https://perthroofquotes.com/guides/signs-your-roof-needs-attention/) covers the other clues. Do not walk on the roof to look for cracked tiles or to replace one. Your weight can crack more tiles, and falls from roofs cause serious injuries. Leave tile replacement to a contractor with proper fall protection. ## How is a cracked tile replaced? Replacing a single field tile is usually straightforward for a contractor. The tiles overlapping it are lifted slightly, the broken tile is slid out and a matching tile is slid into place so it hooks over the batten and interlocks with its neighbours. Where tiles are clipped or fixed down, the fixings are refitted. Some tiles take more work: - **Tiles under ridge or hip capping** may mean lifting a cap and rebedding it afterwards; see [roof repointing](https://perthroofquotes.com/roof-repointing-perth/). - **Cut tiles beside valleys and hips** need to be cut to shape from a new tile. - **Tiles around solar panels** may need the panels lifted, which involves an electrician; see [roof work and solar panels](https://perthroofquotes.com/guides/roof-work-and-solar-panels/). While the tile is out, a careful contractor will check the batten, sarking and surrounding tiles, and look for the cause of the break. ## How are replacement tiles matched? A replacement needs the same profile and size so it interlocks and sheds water properly; colour is secondary. You can help by keeping any spare tiles left by the builder or a previous contractor, photographing one including the underside, and mentioning them in your enquiry. If the profile is no longer made, contractors may source second-hand tiles or use a matching tile from a less visible part of the roof. Expect a new tile to look different from weathered ones nearby, at least until the roof is cleaned or coated. Our [concrete vs terracotta guide](https://perthroofquotes.com/guides/concrete-vs-terracotta-roof-tiles/) explains how matching differs between the two materials. ## What can be done as a temporary measure? If a replacement tile is not available straight away, a contractor may make the area watertight in the meantime. Options include sliding a piece of flashing under the damaged tile, fitting a temporary tile of similar profile, or using sealant on a crack as a stop-gap. After a storm, the SES may cover a damaged section with a tarp, but it does not arrange permanent repairs. Inside, catch any drips and protect belongings. If water is near light fittings, keep clear and see [what to do when your roof leaks](https://perthroofquotes.com/guides/what-to-do-when-your-roof-leaks/). ## When does breakage point to a bigger problem? A few cracked tiles from a known cause are a repair. A pattern of breakage is a reason to look wider. Ask for a broader assessment if: - Cracked tiles appear across many parts of the roof, not just one area. - Tiles crack again soon after repairs, or when anyone walks on the roof. - Tiles are crumbling, flaking or very brittle when handled by the contractor. - Ridge lines or roof planes look uneven or sagging. - The roof has a long history of patch repairs and leaks. In those cases, compare the options in [repair, restoration or replacement](https://perthroofquotes.com/repair-or-restoration/). A [roof restoration](https://perthroofquotes.com/roof-restoration-perth/) may suit tiles that are weathered but sound, while widespread failure points towards [roof replacement](https://perthroofquotes.com/roof-replacement-perth/). For factors that change the price of tile work, see [roof repair costs](https://perthroofquotes.com/roof-repair-cost-perth/). ## Can you claim cracked tiles on insurance? Sometimes. Insurers generally look at the cause: tiles broken by a storm, hail or a falling branch are a different matter from tiles that have aged and cracked over time, and every policy is worded differently. Photograph the damage from the ground and speak to your insurer before you sign up a contractor for permanent repairs, as DFES recommends. See [roof insurance claims](https://perthroofquotes.com/guides/roof-insurance-claims-wa/). ## Frequently asked questions ### Can I replace a cracked roof tile myself? We do not recommend it. Getting onto the roof is a serious fall risk and walking on tiles often cracks more of them. A contractor has the access equipment and can check the batten, sarking and cause while the tile is out. ### Can solar panel installation crack roof tiles? It can. Installers walk on the roof and fit hooks under the tiles, and both can crack tiles if care is not taken. Ask the installer how they protect the roof, and check from the ground or the roof space after the job. ### Is it OK to seal a cracked tile with silicone? Only as a short-term stop-gap. Sealant can slow water through a crack, but it weathers in the sun and does not restore the tile's strength. Replacing the tile is the lasting repair. ### How many spare tiles should I keep? There is no set number, but any spares are valuable, especially if your profile is no longer made. Store them somewhere dry and flat, and tell contractors you have them. ### Will a hairline crack in a roof tile leak? It may not leak at first, but hairline cracks can widen with heat, movement or another knock. Ask a contractor to assess it, particularly if your roof has no sarking under the tiles.