Reclaimed Tiles, Roof Tiles

Flexim Roof Mortar and Saving Older Clay Tile Roofs

May 7, 2026

One thing we see all the time with older clay tile roofs is this:

The tiles are still in good shape… but the mortar is not.

A lot of clay tile roofs can last for generations. In many cases, the roof tiles themselves are still perfectly usable long after the original ridge mortar starts cracking or breaking down.

That is where Flexim Roof Mortar can be incredibly useful.

We use and supply Flexim because it works very differently from traditional rigid mortar. Instead of drying rock hard and eventually cracking again, Flexim stays permanently flexible after curing. That flexibility helps it move with the roof through temperature changes, freeze-thaw cycles, and normal roof movement over time.

For older clay tile roofs — especially reclaimed and historic roofs — that can make a big difference.

Why Older Roof Mortar Starts Failing

Most older clay tile roofs were installed using traditional sand and cement mortar.

Over time that mortar can:

crack
separate from the tiles
loosen ridge tiles
allow water intrusion
start falling into gutters and valleys

We often hear from homeowners who think their entire roof is failing when really the biggest issue is aging mortar around the ridges and hips.

Sometimes targeted repairs are enough to buy many more years out of a good clay tile roof.

Reattaching Loose Clay Roof Tiles

One of the most useful things about Flexim is how well it works for re-securing loose roof tiles.

That could include:

ridge tiles
hip tiles
slipped clay tiles
tiles loosened by freeze-thaw movement
older mortar repairs

This becomes especially important on discontinued or reclaimed tile roofs where replacement tiles are not always easy to find.

If the tile itself is still usable, repairing and re-securing it often makes far more sense than replacing large sections of roof unnecessarily.

Temporarily Reattaching Broken Roof Tiles

Another situation we occasionally run into is broken tiles on older roofs where matching replacements are difficult to source immediately.

Sometimes a tile cracks during removal or from roof traffic, but the pieces are still intact.

In certain situations, Flexim can be used to temporarily stabilize or reattach a broken tile while proper replacement tiles are being sourced.

Obviously badly damaged tiles should eventually be replaced where possible, but temporary repairs can help prevent leaks and protect the roof in the meantime.

That is particularly helpful on:

historic homes
imported European tile roofs
discontinued tile roofs
reclaimed roof tile projects

Why Flexim Pairs So Well With Reclaimed Roof Tiles

At Northern Roof Tiles we spend a lot of time helping homeowners and roofers save older clay tile roofs.

In many cases the original tiles still have decades of life left in them.

The challenge is usually:

missing tiles
cracked mortar
loose ridges
discontinued profiles
finding proper matching replacements

That is why reclaimed roof tiles and Flexim often go hand in hand.

A restoration project might involve:

sourcing reclaimed matching tiles
replacing damaged pieces
stabilizing loose tiles
repairing ridge mortar
preserving the original look of the roof

In our opinion, preserving a quality clay tile roof whenever possible usually makes more sense than replacing it prematurely.

Clay Tile Roofs Were Built to Last

One of the reasons we enjoy working with clay roof tiles so much is because they are not disposable products.

Some of these roofs have already lasted 70, 80, or even 100+ years.

With the right repairs and maintenance, many can continue performing for decades longer.

That is why products like Flexim make so much sense in the clay tile world. They help bridge the gap between modern repair materials and traditional roofing systems.