January 2020

Clipping Queries
HOW CAN CONTRACTORS MAKE
ROOF CLIPPING EASIER?
Jamie Riddington, Technical Advisor at Marley, gives his top tips and answers some
common clipping queries.
Since the revised BS 5534 was introduced back in 2014, roof clips have never been so widely
used. Now, all roofs using interlocking tiles or slates will require an element of clipping and, done
in the right way, this helps to make pitched roofs more secure in the face of increasingly extreme
weather. However, clipping often isn’t the most popular fixing method because it can be time consuming,
but the good news is that over the past few years, there have been many innovations to make clips
faster and easier to install.
Here, we answer common questions that our technical team get asked about clips and explain how
some of the latest innovations can help:
“Each manufacturer
has their own design of
interlocking tiles, so
you need to use clips
that are compatible”
1Do all roofs with interlocking tiles need
clipping? Under BS 5534:2014+A2:2018
all single lap roof tiles must be fixed with a
nail and / or clip. All interlocking roof tiles will
require some clipping, even if just the perimeters,
but the exact fixing schedule will be dependent on
several different factors, such as dimension of
the roof, topography of the land, properties of the
tile and the resistance to pull out of the
nails/clips. That’s why you should attain a new
fixing specification for every project to ensure
that you aren’t under fixing. However, if in doubt,
you can nail and clip every tile or slate to ensure
maximum security.
2Can I use clips from any manufacturer?
No. Each manufacturer has their own
design of interlocking tiles, so you need to
use clips that are compatible. When you get a
fixing specification from a tile manufacturer, you
should use the fixings that it recommends. Don’t
risk using clips that aren’t compatible – check
with the manufacturer if unsure.
3How can I speed up tile clipping?
Traditionally, clips and nails come in
separate bags and need threading together
prior to installation, which can add a significant
amount of labour time to roofing projects. You can
speed this up by using the SoloFix one-piece clip
and nail, which can save as
much as 30% on
clipping time but is
similar in price to
standard
aluminium clips.
4Do I need to
clip the
Perimeter
course tiles? All
perimeter tiles, including
eaves, must be twice
mechanically fixed in line with BS
5534:2014+A2:2018. These fixings can be a
nail, tile clip, or dry verge capping system where
appropriate. It is also recognised in the standards
that any smaller cuts at hips/valleys etc. can be
bonded to the adjacent tile using a suitable
external grade adhesive, the ‘parent’ tile should
then be twice mechanically fixed.
5Do I need to carry different eaves clips
for each of your interlocking tiles? No,
we have just launched a new Universal
Eaves Clip which can be used with nearly all of
Marley’s range of interlocking clay and concrete
tiles, saving you the hassle of carrying different
clips. The Universal Eaves Clip also has specially
designed features that make it flexible and easy
to install, including a metal strip, with pre-
punched holes, that you can
easily bend to the
required height during
installation.
6Why do
some dry
verge
systems have a
batten end clip? The
BS 8612 standard
states that dry verge
products can no longer be
installed just with a nail fixing into the end
grain of the batten. Instead, mechanical
engagement must be on the faces of the batten. A
dry verge system that includes a batten end clip
makes this mechanical engagement much simpler.
Our batten end clip has sharp teeth which grip
into the batten, giving it extra resistance and
making it extremely secure, as well as being very
quick to push or hammer into place. Unlike others
on the market, it can be fitted after the roof has
been tiled, making retro fitting dry verge units
much easier.
Contact Marley
01283 722588
www.marley.co.uk
@MarleyLtd
36 TC JANUARY 2020