You love the look of your clay tile roof, but a few pieces cracked in the last hailstorm, or a stain showed up on an upstairs ceiling and you can’t see where the water’s getting in. Clay tile roofing in Kansas City is far less common than shingles, and plenty of roofers would rather not climb on it. That leaves you wondering who actually knows how to fix it without breaking twice as many tiles along the way.
It’s a fair worry. Clay is beautiful and lasts a long time, but it’s brittle underfoot, the parts that keep water out are hidden under the tile, and our winters and spring storms test it in ways a Southwest or Florida roof never sees. You should get a straight answer about what your roof needs, and why.
APC Roofing installs and repairs clay and concrete tile across the Kansas City metro, on both sides of the state line. We’re GAF Certified, licensed and insured, in business since 2017, and the inspection is free. Call 913-398-5020.
How a clay tile roof keeps water out
The tile you see isn’t the waterproof layer. It sheds most of the rain and shades everything below it from the sun, but a wind-driven storm always pushes some water past the tile. The underlayment on the roof deck catches that water and carries it down and off the roof.
That’s why one cracked tile usually doesn’t mean a leak right away, and why a leak on a tile roof often shows up far from the actual problem. Water that gets through worn underlayment can run along the deck for several feet before it drips. Finding the source means looking under the tile, not just at it.
It also explains the most common surprise with older tile roofs. The clay itself can outlast the underlayment beneath it by decades. When the underlayment wears out, the fix is often to lift the tile, replace what’s under it and put the same tile back.
Clay tile roofing in Kansas City weather
Clay tile has a long track record in hot, dry places. Kansas City asks more of it.
Freeze-thaw is the main test. Clay that soaks up water and then freezes, over and over, can flake or crack at the surface. Good clay tile is fired dense and absorbs very little water, and tile rated for severe weathering is made for climates like ours. If you’re buying new tile here, that rating matters more than the color.
Hail is the other one. Small hail usually bounces off clay without a mark. Large hail can crack or break tiles outright, and the broken pieces leave the underlayment open to sun and rain. After a big storm, it’s worth having the roof checked even if nothing looks wrong from the yard.
Snow and ice add a quieter problem. Snow sliding off a tile roof can carry broken pieces with it, and ice that builds up in valleys and at the eaves can back water up under the bottom rows. Clear valleys and gutters help a lot here.
Barrel, S-tile and flat clay tile
Clay tile comes in a few main shapes. Barrel tile uses a curved pan with a curved cover over each joint, the classic Spanish look. S-tile rolls the pan and cover into one piece. Flat clay tile lies close to the deck and can pass for slate or shake.
The curved profiles have hollows that catch leaves and seeds, and that debris holds moisture against the tile. If your house sits under big trees, that’s worth weighing, because wet debris is what freezes in January.
Weight: what to know before switching to clay
Clay tile is heavy, several times the weight of asphalt shingles per square foot. A house built for tile was framed to carry it. A house that’s had shingles all along may not be.
If you’re thinking about switching from shingles to clay, the first step is having the framing checked by an engineer. Some homes need extra bracing first. Others are better off with a lighter material that gives a similar look, and we’ll tell you if that’s where things point.
Clay tile repair: what usually goes wrong
Most clay tile problems are local, and most can be repaired without touching the rest of the roof:
- Cracked or broken tiles, often from foot traffic by satellite installers, chimney sweeps and other trades
- Slipped tiles whose nails, clips or foam have let go
- Loose ridge and hip caps where old mortar has cracked
- Flashing at chimneys, walls and valleys that has rusted, split or been patched with sealant
- Worn underlayment, which is the one that decides whether you’re looking at a repair or a bigger job
Matching tile is part of the work. If your tile is still made, a replacement can match closely. If it’s been discontinued, salvaged tile or the nearest match fills in, and new pieces may look a shade different until they weather. You’ll know which situation you’re in before anything starts.
When the underlayment is done
If the underlayment has failed across a whole slope, swapping out individual tiles won’t stop the leaks. The usual fix is a lift and relay. The tiles come off and get stacked, damaged decking gets replaced, new underlayment goes down and your tile goes back on. Your house keeps the roof it was built with. Some older tile won’t survive being handled twice, so expect a few replacement pieces.
For a brand-new clay roof, see our tile roof installation in Kansas City page. If you’re still choosing materials, concrete tile roofing costs less than clay and handles our weather differently.
How it works with APC Roofing
- Book your free inspection. Call 913-398-5020 or request a free estimate online.
- Get a clear, honest assessment and estimate. You’ll see photos of what we found, including under the tile where it matters, and get a written estimate. If a few tiles and some flashing will fix it, that’s what you’ll hear. Financing is available through Aqua Finance, Fortifi, Hearth and Home Run Finance.
- Your roof gets done and the site gets cleaned up.
If the damage came from hail, you file the claim with your insurance company and pay your deductible. We document the damage, give you a written estimate and work with your adjuster. Our hail damage roof repair page explains how that goes.
A cracked tile can feel like something for later. The catch is that exposed underlayment breaks down fast in the sun, and once water reaches the deck, a small repair turns into a bigger one.
Clay tile roofing questions
Does clay tile hold up in Kansas City winters?
Good clay tile does. Look for tile rated for severe weathering, which absorbs very little water and resists freeze-thaw damage. Lower-grade tile made for warm climates may not.
Can you replace a few broken clay tiles?
Usually, yes. The broken pieces come out, the underlayment beneath gets checked, and matching tile goes back in, fastened the same way as the tiles around it.
Why does my tile roof leak if none of the tiles look broken?
The leak is almost always in the underlayment or flashing under the tile. Worn underlayment, a failed valley or a chimney flashing problem can all leak while the tile on top looks fine.
Can I walk on my clay tile roof?
It’s best not to. Tile breaks easily under a heel, and the crack is often on the underside where you can’t see it. If someone needs to work on your roof, have a roofer move the tile first.
Book your clay tile inspection
Call 913-398-5020 or book online, and we’ll set a time to come out. You can see all our tile work on the Kansas City tile roofing page.
Your tile roof can keep doing its job for a very long time. With the right repairs underneath, you get a dry house, the look you chose and no more guessing about what’s going on up there.
