Roof Repointing & Cement Work

Why Roof Cement Work Fails

For decades, traditional roofing relied heavily on wet mortar (cement) to bed down ridge tiles at the peak of the roof, secure the verges at the edges, and seal the valleys. While effective when first laid, mortar is rigid. As your house naturally shifts and flexes over time, and as the roof is battered by freezing winters and hot summers, that cement begins to crack.

Once the mortar cracks, the bond is broken. Rainwater seeps into the gaps, freezes, and expands, blowing the cement apart entirely. This leaves your ridge tiles loose and your roof entirely exposed to leaks and wind damage.

Our Specialist Cement & Pointing Services

At HLS Roofing, we don't just "patch" failing cement. We provide thorough, long-lasting repointing and re-bedding services to ensure your roof is structurally sound.

1. Ridge & Hip Tile Re-bedding

The ridge (the very top of your roof) and the hips (the sloped edges) take the absolute worst of the wind and rain. If the mortar here has crumbled, the tiles can easily blow off in a storm. We carefully remove the loose tiles, chip away all the old, perished mortar, and re-bed the tiles using a strong, modern roofing cement mix that includes waterproof additives.

2. Gable End & Verge Pointing

The exposed edges of your roof (the verges) are highly susceptible to mortar failure. When this cement falls out, birds and pests can easily enter your loft space, and wind can get underneath your main roof tiles. We completely repoint these edges to leave a clean, smooth, and highly durable weather seal.

3. Valley Trough Pointing

Where two roof slopes meet, a valley is formed. These valleys act as rivers during heavy rain. If the cement running down the sides of the valley lead is cracked, water will bypass the guttering and flow directly into your ceiling. We rake out the old joints and apply fresh pointing to keep the water flowing exactly where it should.

The "HLS" Standard for Mortar Work

• We Never "Cap Over": Many lazy roofers will simply smear new cement over the top of crumbling old mortar. This fails within months. We always hack out the old, dead mortar so the new cement bonds directly to the brick and tile.
• The Perfect Mix: We use the exact ratio of sand and cement required for roofing, ensuring it is strong enough to hold, but allows for the necessary flexibility to prevent premature cracking.
• Weather Aware: We never apply wet pointing during freezing conditions or heavy rain, as this destroys the integrity of the cement before it can cure.

Repointing FAQs