Second-hand roof tiles: how to find a match for an older roof
Second-hand roof tiles are usually the best way to replace a broken tile on an older roof, because many older concrete and terracotta profiles are no longer made. Tile recyclers and salvage yards sell reclaimed tiles for a few dollars each. The catch is fit. A replacement has to match your tile's shape, interlocks and size before its colour matters at all. Get the fit right and one cracked tile stays a small repair instead of the start of a new roof.
That is the part we handle. At R&R Restorations we replace broken concrete and terracotta tiles as part of our roof repairs and tile roof restoration across the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Logan, and the Tweed and Northern Rivers. We're owner-operated by Alex Rowe and rated 5.0 from 10 Google reviews. And on a concrete roof we're recoating anyway, the colour problem goes away: the roof finishes in one even colour, whatever shade the replacement tiles came out of the yard.
In summary
- Fit first, colour second. Profile, interlocks, the nibs underneath and the tile's length and width decide whether it keeps water out.
- The tile is the cheap part. One online yard lists second-hand tiles at $2.73 to $4.55 each (2 November 2026). The fitting is what costs money: our published guide puts a focused repair at $350 to $1,500.
- Check every reclaimed tile before you pay. Look for hairline cracks, chipped edges, snapped nibs and old paint.
- Colour is fixable on concrete. A recoat evens it out. On unpainted terracotta, the best matches go where people look.
- Lots of broken tiles plus crumbling ridges usually means a roof restoration is the better spend than hunting for tiles one at a time.
Where can you buy second-hand roof tiles?
You can buy second-hand roof tiles from specialist roof tile recyclers, demolition and salvage yards, and roofing suppliers that keep reclaimed stock beside their new tiles. You'll see them sold as recycled, reclaimed or 2nd hand tiles; it's the same thing. Much of the stock comes off houses being renovated, demolished or knocked down, so what's on the shelf changes from week to week.
To give you a sense of scale, Sydney's Roof Tile Recyclers says it holds 150,000 to 200,000 second-hand and obsolete tiles at any given time (its homepage, read 2 November 2026). Perth's Vinsan Salvage pitches its reclaimed tiles as "perfect for a patch up job or for the entire roof" (Vinsan, read 2 November 2026). Around South East Queensland, ring the local salvage yards and roofing suppliers first and ask what reclaimed stock they hold for your profile.
The best source is often closer than any yard. Check the garage, under the house and behind the shed for spare tiles left over from the build. Those spares are the right profile and came from the same batch as your roof.
| Where to look | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Spares left on your own property | A perfect profile match from the same batch | They may be weathered differently if they sat in the dark for decades |
| Specialist roof tile recycler | Discontinued profiles, help identifying your tile from photos | Freight costs, and confirming the fit before you order a pallet |
| Demolition or salvage yard | Cheap lots of older terracotta and concrete | Mixed stacks and tiles nobody has checked for cracks |
| Roofing supplier with reclaimed stock | Buying replacement tiles and other roofing supplies in one stop | A smaller range of older profiles |
| Renovators selling tiles online | Whole lots at low prices | No help with matching, and you collect from the site |
How much do second-hand roof tiles cost?
Second-hand roof tiles usually cost a few dollars each. Sunshine Roofing's online second-hand range prices tiles at $2.73 to $4.55 each (read 2 November 2026). Rare profiles and freight can push your cost up, but the tile is still the small part of the bill.
The money goes into getting onto the roof safely, lifting the surrounding tiles, seating the replacement properly and finding out why the tile broke. A tile cracked by a solar installer's boots is a different job from tiles split across a whole slope by hail.
| What you're paying for | Typical figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| One second-hand tile | $2.73 to $4.55 | Sunshine Roofing online listing, 2 November 2026 |
| Focused roof repair, such as a few damaged tiles replaced or a ridge cap reseated | $350 to $1,500 | Our roof restoration and repair cost guide, October 2026 |
| Wider repairs, or a job with difficult access | $1,500 to $6,000 | Our cost guide, October 2026 |
| Full tile roof restoration, medium home | $6,500 to $9,500 | Our cost guide, October 2026 |
| Full tile roof restoration, larger roof | $9,000 to $13,000 | Our cost guide, October 2026 |
Our figures are budgeting ranges, not a quote for your home. We confirm the scope and price after we've assessed the roof, and our quote lists each repair.
How do you match a second-hand tile to an older roof?
Match the shape before the colour. A replacement tile has to have the same profile, the same interlocking edges, the same nibs underneath and the same working length and width as the tiles around it. A tile that looks right from the driveway can still sit high or block the channel that carries water down the roof.
Don't trust the brand name on its own, either. Roof Tile Recyclers points out in its guide to mixing roof tiles that tile moulds changed over the decades, so an older Monier tile can measure differently from a newer one carrying the same profile name.
Here's what to take to a yard, or send with your enquiry:
- A sample. A spare from the garage, or a broken piece that has already fallen to the ground. Never pull a tile off the roof to use as a sample.
- Photos in daylight. The face, the underside and the side edge, plus a close-up of any stamped name or code.
- Measurements. The length, top to bottom, and the width. Roof Tile Recyclers asks for the width without the side channel that carries water.
- The material and finish. Concrete or terracotta, and whether the roof has been painted before.
- How many you need. Count the broken tiles you can see, then add a few spares.
The stamp underneath is the best starting clue. Our guide to Monier, Boral and Bristile roof tiles lists the older profile names you're likely to find, and our guide to fixing cracked and broken roof tiles explains the fit checks in more detail.
What should you check on a reclaimed roof tile before you buy it?
Check every second-hand tile for cracks, chipped edges, broken nibs and old paint before you hand over any money. A cracked tile from a yard leaks the same as the cracked tile on your roof, and you won't find out until the next storm. Pick each tile up, turn it over and look along both faces in good light.
| Check | A good tile | Leave it in the stack if |
|---|---|---|
| Cracks | No lines across the face or underside | You can see a hairline crack, even a fine one |
| Sound (terracotta) | A gentle knuckle tap gives a clear ring | It sounds dull or flat, which can mean a hidden crack |
| Nibs, the lugs underneath that hook over the batten | Both nibs whole | A nib is snapped or ground down |
| Interlocks and water channels | Crisp, unbroken edges | The side lock is chipped or a channel is cracked |
| Nail or wire hole | Intact | The crack runs through the fixing hole |
| Surface | Concrete can be faded if the roof is being recoated; terracotta face sound | Terracotta is flaking or peeling in layers |
| Old paint | Suits your roof | It's painted and your terracotta roof isn't |
| Batch | All from one stack, one roof | Similar-looking tiles mixed from different stacks |
Buy a few more than you need and keep them somewhere dry at ground level. The next time a tile cracks, whoever fixes it has an exact match waiting.
What if the second-hand tiles don't match your roof's colour?
On a concrete tile roof that's due for a recoat, the colour doesn't need to match: the roof finishes in one even colour once it's sealed and recoated. That's the quiet advantage of fixing broken tiles as part of a roof restoration. You only need the profile to match, which widens your choice of second-hand stock.
Unpainted terracotta is different. Old terracotta was fired in kilns that left natural variation in colour from tile to tile, and modern tiles are very uniform. The Queensland Government's heritage note on conserving roofs (March 2014) says that uniformity can make new tiles less suitable for an old roof, and that salvaged tiles are preferable.
The same note gives a practical fix when a perfect match can't be found. Keep the original tiles on the planes people see from the street, and put the replacements on the rear of the building. A roofer can move sound original tiles from the back of the roof to the front. Ask about it at the assessment if the front of your terracotta roof matters to you.
| Your roof | Does the colour need to match? | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete tiles, due for a recoat | No | Match the profile; the recoat evens the colour |
| Previously painted tiles, being recoated | No | Match the profile; the new coating covers the replacements |
| Unpainted terracotta | Yes | Choose the closest weathered tiles and put them where they're least visible |
| Unpainted terracotta, front of house on show | Yes, most of all | Move originals from the rear to the front, and fit the second-hand tiles at the back |
Which old style roof tiles are on Queensland homes?
The most common older terracotta tile in Queensland is the Marseilles pattern, mostly in the south-east. The Queensland Government heritage note says Marseilles tiles were first imported to Australia in 1886 and became a feature of Federation-style homes. Marseilles, Spanish Mission and Cordova tiles were all made locally after the First World War. Later homes mostly carry interlocking concrete tiles from makers such as Monier, Boral and Bristile.
Marseilles tiles are still manufactured, but the heritage note warns that colour, size and pattern may not exactly match an old roof. A Marseilles-pattern tile from one maker isn't proof it will fit another maker's version. For a wider rundown, see our guide to the types of roof tiles on Queensland homes.
Could an old roof tile contain asbestos?
Yes, some can. The same heritage note lists roof slates, tiles and ridge capping among the roof products that contain asbestos. It records Wunderlich's asbestos cement "Tropical" roofing tiles, introduced in about 1938, as deeply corrugated and reddish brown. That's close enough to terracotta to fool a quick look in a salvage yard.
The note says unpainted asbestos cement is usually dark grey and 5 mm or more thick, and to have the product tested if in doubt. Don't buy, cut, drill or reuse a tile you suspect is asbestos cement. We don't do asbestos work, so that job belongs with a licensed asbestos removalist.
Should you fit second-hand roof tiles yourself?
We don't recommend it. Getting onto a roof is the most dangerous part of the job, and a wrongly seated tile creates the leak you were trying to fix. The Queensland heritage note puts it plainly: "Incorrectly-sized replacement tiles can cause surrounding tiles to lift and the roof to be no longer watertight."
What you can do safely is gather the information from the ground: photos, any spares and where the damage is. That's all we need to start.
When is a second-hand tile the wrong fix?
A second-hand tile is the wrong fix when the broken tile is a symptom of a wider problem. One or two cracked tiles on a sound roof is a focused repair. Broken tiles in several places, ridge pointing crumbling along every run and a faded, gritty surface is a roof that needs more than tile shopping.
| What you're seeing | The better fix |
|---|---|
| One or two cracked tiles, the rest of the roof sound | A focused repair with matched second-hand tiles |
| Broken tiles in several spots, failing ridge caps, a tired surface | A tile roof restoration, which replaces broken tiles, rebeds and repoints the ridges, then seals and recoats |
| Storm or hail damage | Call your insurer before authorising work, then get the repair quoted |
| Sagging roofline or rotten battens | Structural repairs or a new roof; a coating and a few tiles won't fix it |
Our published service is clear on that last row. We check the roof before we quote, and if a new roof is the better choice, we'll say so.
How does R&R replace broken tiles on an older roof?
We find out why the tile broke, fit a replacement that matches the profile, and only then think about the finish. In a full tile roof restoration the order matters. We clean the roof so every fault shows, replace broken and cracked tiles, and rebed and repoint the ridge caps with flexible pointing. Then we seal and recoat in the colour you choose.
- Send your enquiry. Tell us your suburb, the roof type and what you've noticed. Photos taken safely from the ground help, and mention any spare tiles you've found.
- We assess your roof. We check the material, condition, pitch and access, and arrange a visit if we need one.
- Scope and quote. Our itemised quote sets out the repairs, preparation and finish, with exclusions made clear.
- Schedule the work. We agree access, weather and timing with you before anything starts.
Julie wrote in her Google review on 20 October 2026: "They did a phenomenal job bringing our tired roof back to life, including fully cleaning it and completely repointing the ridge caps." Dylan Robinson, reviewing on 21 October 2026, said: "Alex and the team have completed over five roof restorations for me, and the quality of their work has been excellent every time."
Is R&R Restorations right for you?
We're a good fit if you have a concrete or terracotta tile roof on the Gold Coast, in Brisbane or Logan, or in the Tweed and Northern Rivers. Maybe you want a few broken tiles replaced properly, or the whole roof brought back. You don't need to identify your tile or find a second-hand match before you call. Matching and replacement belong in our assessment.
We're not the right call in four situations:
- You only want to buy loose tiles. We don't sell tiles. A tile recycler or salvage yard is your stop.
- Your roof needs replacing. If the battens or structure have failed, you need a re-roofer, not a roof restoration.
- You suspect asbestos. Start with testing and a licensed asbestos removalist.
- You're outside our service area. Find a roofer local to you.
Pick R&R Restorations if you want an older tiled roof that's watertight and looks right again, without paying for a new one.
Frequently asked questions
Are second-hand roof tiles as good as new ones?
A sound second-hand tile does the same job as a new one, as long as it's uncracked and matches your roof's profile. The Queensland Government heritage note says terracotta tiles frequently outlast their fastening systems, which is why good tiles come off old roofs at all. The risk is condition, so inspect every tile before you buy.
Can I sell my old roof tiles?
Often, yes. Some recyclers buy tiles from renovations, demolitions and knock-down rebuilds. Roof Tile Recyclers in Sydney, for example, says it collects tiles from site and pays for each one collected. Ask your local salvage yards whether they buy tiles and whether they collect.
Can you mix concrete and terracotta tiles on one roof?
Not on the same roof plane. Concrete and terracotta tiles have different profiles and interlocks, so they won't lock together properly and water can find the gap. Use a tile that matches the roof's own material and profile.
Will a new tile from the manufacturer match my old roof?
Not necessarily. Moulds and colours have changed over the decades, so a current tile with a familiar name can measure and look different from your original. For older roofs, a sound reclaimed tile of the same profile is usually the closer match.
Can I use second-hand tiles for an extension?
Yes, if you can buy enough of one profile from a single batch. Inspect a sample from each pallet, buy the ridge caps at the same time, and talk to your builder or roof tiler before you order. Extensions are a builder's job, not ours.
Do you sell second-hand roof tiles?
No. We replace broken tiles as part of our roof repairs and tile roof restoration work, and matching the tile is part of that job. If you've already found suitable tiles, tell us when you enquire.
Got a broken tile on an older roof?
Send us your suburb, a few photos taken safely from the ground and anything you know about your tiles. We'll tell you whether it's a quick tile replacement or a roof that needs more, and give you an itemised quote. Get a quote for your tile roof.