Tile roofs
Clay and concrete tile, lifted, relaid or replaced
Most tile roofs fail from underneath. The tile is fine; the underlayment and the sheet beneath it have worn out. We tell you which job yours is, and show you why.
What we do on tile
Lift and relay: keep your tile, renew what is under it
Replacement: new tile when the old is past saving
Ridge and hip caps reset or replaced
Matched tile for the pieces that break
When to ask for a look
Tile that has slipped or cracked
Visible from the driveway or in a drone photo. One slipped tile can let wind in under its neighbors.
A stain on a ceiling
The water often gets in at a wall, valley or vent, not under the tile that looks worst.
A roof of a certain age
If the underlayment has not been renewed since the roof went on, it is worth a look.
Before you buy or sell
A dated photo report shows both sides what the roof is.
Lift and relay, or replace?
The photos decide it. These are the questions we answer from them.
| Replace the tile | Lift and relay | |
|---|---|---|
| Good for | Replace the tileTile that is cracked, flaking or no longer made | Lift and relaySound tile on a worn underlayment |
| What you keep | Replace the tileNothing: new tile and new underlayment | Lift and relayYour own tile, back in its rows |
| What the price depends on | Replace the tileTile type, roof size and what is in stock | Lift and relayHow many tiles break on lifting, and the deck underneath |
| What your estimate says | Replace the tileThe tile product and the quantity | Lift and relayThe count we expect to break, with a price for each replacement |
How the tile is held down
Fasteners
Nails or screws through the tile into the deck, in the pattern the tile maker and code require.
Foam adhesive
Foam sets the tile to the underlayment. It needs a clean, dry surface and the temperatures the maker states.
Mortar
Older roofs often have mortar at ridges, hips and rake edges. It cracks as the roof moves, and we reset it.
About tile work
Can you match my tile?
We match color and profile as closely as stock allows. Older tile can differ in shade, and we show you samples before any are set.
Can new tile go over the old?
No. The old tile comes off, or comes up and goes back, so we can see and renew what is under it.
What happens if the deck is soft?
We photograph the sheet before it comes out. Soft sheets are replaced at the per-sheet price written in your contract.
Want to know which job yours is?
Request an inspection and you get photos and a written estimate.