Maybe you love the look of a tile roof and want to know if it makes sense on a house in Missouri. Or you already have concrete tile, a few pieces are cracked, and you’re not sure who in town even works on it. Either way, concrete tile roofing in Springfield, MO raises questions most roofers don’t get asked every day.
It’s a big decision with a lot riding on it. Tile is heavy, it’s an investment, and it behaves differently in an Ozarks winter than it does in the Southwest where most people picture it. You deserve straight answers about whether it fits your home before you spend anything.
APC Roofing has a Springfield office and has been roofing since 2017. We work on tile, shingle, metal and flat roofs. We’re GAF Certified, licensed and insured, and the inspection is free. Call 913-398-5020 to talk it through.
What concrete tile is
Concrete roof tile is made from sand, cement and water, pressed into molds and cured. Color is either mixed all the way through the tile or added to the surface. It comes in several shapes: flat profiles that can look like slate or wood shake, and curved S-shaped or barrel profiles that give the classic Spanish look.
Here’s something many homeowners don’t realize. The tile isn’t what keeps your house dry. It sheds most of the water and shields what’s underneath from sun and hail, but the real waterproofing is the underlayment, a membrane laid over the roof deck beneath the tile. Tile can last for decades. The underlayment usually wears out first, and when it does, the roof leaks even though every tile looks fine.
Concrete tile roofing in Springfield, MO winters
Springfield’s climate is the main thing to think about with concrete tile, and the biggest issue is freeze-thaw.
Concrete is a little porous, so it soaks up some water when it rains. When the temperature drops below freezing that night, the water inside the tile expands. Repeat that dozens of times over a Missouri winter and a tile that isn’t made for it can start to flake, crack or crumble at the edges. That’s why it matters to choose concrete tile rated for freeze-thaw climates, not just whatever’s in stock.
A few other local factors are worth weighing:
- Hail. Spring hailstorms can crack or chip tile, especially older tile. Cracked pieces can usually be replaced one at a time.
- Ice and snow. Ice storms and heavy snow add load, and snow sliding off a slick tile roof can damage gutters. Good flashing and solid fastening at the eaves matter more here than in a mild climate.
- Moss and algae. Shaded, damp slopes can grow moss and lichen. Some of it is cosmetic. Thick moss that holds water against the tile, or creeps into the gaps, is worth dealing with gently. Pressure washing can strip surface color and crack tile, so it isn’t the answer.
Weight: check before you switch
Concrete tile weighs several times more than asphalt shingles. If your house was built for shingles, the roof framing may not be designed to carry tile. Before switching, the structure should be checked, and sometimes an engineer has to sign off or the framing has to be reinforced. Anyone who quotes a shingle-to-tile conversion without looking in your attic is skipping a step.
If the weight is a problem, there are lighter options with a similar look, including stone-coated steel, which mimics tile and shake profiles. Our Springfield metal roofing page covers those.
Concrete tile or clay tile?
The two look alike from the street but behave differently. Concrete is usually heavier and absorbs more water than clay. Surface-colored concrete tile can fade over the years, while clay holds its color for a very long time. Concrete is usually the more budget-friendly of the two, and it’s easier to find in a wide range of profiles. If you’re comparing, our clay tile roofing page explains clay’s side.
Repairing an existing concrete tile roof
Most concrete tile problems fall into a few groups: cracked or broken tiles from hail, falling limbs or someone walking on the roof; tiles that have slipped out of place; leaks at chimneys, walls and valleys where the flashing has worn; and a tired underlayment under tiles that are still in good shape.
Broken tiles can usually be swapped out. Matching can be tricky on an older roof, since colors fade and some profiles get discontinued. When the underlayment has failed, the fix is often a relay: the tiles come off and get stacked, new underlayment goes down, and the same tiles go back on. You keep your roof’s look and get a new waterproofing layer under it. Our Springfield tile roof repair page goes deeper on repairs.
How it works
- Book your free inspection. Call 913-398-5020 or request a free estimate online.
- Get a clear, honest assessment and estimate. We’ll check the tile, the flashing and, where we can, the underlayment, then show you photos and tell you whether it’s a repair, a relay or a replacement. Financing is available through Aqua Finance, Fortifi, Hearth and Home Run Finance.
- The work gets done and the site gets cleaned up. You’ll get a realistic timeline up front, since tile work takes longer than a shingle job.
A small leak under tile can run along the deck for a long time before it shows on a ceiling. Catching worn underlayment early can mean a relay with your existing tile instead of a full replacement later.
Concrete tile questions from Springfield homeowners
Is concrete tile a good choice for Springfield?
It can be, if the tile is rated for freeze-thaw and the house can carry the weight. Most Springfield homes have shingles or metal, so we’ll talk through all three with you and you can decide.
Can a faded concrete tile roof be restored?
Faded color is cosmetic. If the tiles are sound and the underlayment is in good shape, the roof is still doing its job. We’ll tell you plainly if it is.
Can I walk on my concrete tile roof?
It’s best not to. Tile can crack under a person’s weight if you step in the wrong spot, and it’s slippery. Let someone who knows where to step do it.
Will replacement tiles match my roof?
Sometimes exactly, sometimes only closely. Older or discontinued tiles can be hard to find, so we’ll show you the options before anything goes on your roof.
A tile roof you can stop worrying about
What you want is a roof that looks the way you like, stays dry through freeze and thaw, and doesn’t hand you a surprise bill. Call 913-398-5020 or book your free inspection online. You can see all our tile work in town on the Springfield tile roofing page.
