You like the look of a tile roof, but clay is more than you want to spend. Or your house already has concrete tile, and some pieces have faded, cracked or grown a white haze you can’t explain. Concrete tile roofing in Blue Springs can be a solid choice, but it behaves differently from clay and from shingles, especially through a Missouri winter.
It’s hard to know what questions to ask about a roof most of your neighbors don’t have. You want someone who will tell you plainly whether concrete tile fits your house and what it needs to stay sound.
APC Roofing installs and repairs concrete tile roofs. We’re GAF Certified, licensed and insured, in business since 2017, and your inspection is free. Call 913-398-5020 to have a look.
What concrete tile is
Concrete roof tile is made from sand, cement and water, pressed into molds and cured. It’s shaped to look like clay barrel tile, flat slate or even wood shake, so it fits a wide range of house styles. It usually costs less than clay, which is the main reason people choose it.
Color is added in one of two ways. Some tile is colored all the way through. Other tile has the color applied as a surface coat. That difference matters later, because a surface coat can wear and fade over the years while through-colored tile holds up better.
How concrete tile handles Blue Springs weather
Water is the big one. Concrete is more porous than good clay tile, so it soaks up more of every rain. The Kansas City area swings above and below freezing many times each winter, and water that freezes inside a tile can flake the surface or crack it. Picking a product made for cold climates, and keeping the roof draining well, does most of the work of preventing that.
Hail is less of a worry than many people expect. Concrete tile shrugs off small stones, and when large hail does crack a few pieces, they can usually be swapped out one at a time instead of redoing the roof.
Snow tends to cling to the rough surface of concrete tile rather than sliding off, and ice can build up at the eaves. Since tile sheds water instead of sealing it out, the underlayment and an ice barrier along the eaves and valleys keep that meltwater out of the house. In July, the air space under the tile pays you back by slowing the heat moving into the attic.
Weight and lightweight options
Standard concrete tile is heavy, often heavier than clay. On a house framed for asphalt shingles, the roof structure has to be checked before tile goes on. Lightweight concrete tile is made for exactly this situation, and it can sometimes go on a house where standard tile wouldn’t. The framing still needs to be checked either way, and we’ll tell you honestly if the house isn’t a fit.
Common problems on concrete tile roofs
Most concrete tile problems show up slowly.
Fading is the most common complaint. Surface-colored tile can lose its color unevenly, especially on the sunniest slopes. It looks worn, but faded tile is often still sound.
A white, chalky haze is usually efflorescence, minerals carried to the surface by moisture. It’s mostly cosmetic and often fades with weather.
Cracked or broken tiles come from hail, falling limbs or someone walking on the roof. Moss and algae can take hold on shaded north-facing slopes in humid summers, holding moisture against the tile.
The underlayment wears out long before the tile does. If your concrete tile roof leaks but the tiles look fine, worn underlayment is a likely cause, and the fix may be to lift the tile, replace the underlayment and relay the same tile.
For specific fixes, see our page on tile roof repair in Blue Springs.
Caring for a concrete tile roof
Keep gutters and valleys clear so water drains quickly, which is the best defense against freeze-thaw damage. Clean moss or algae gently. A pressure washer can strip the surface color and force water under the tile. Stay off the roof, since concrete tile can crack underfoot. After a big hailstorm, have it looked at even if nothing looks wrong from the ground.
Concrete or clay?
Concrete costs less and comes in more shapes and textures. Clay holds its color longer and usually absorbs less water, which helps in our freeze-thaw winters. Both are heavy, and both depend on good underlayment. Our clay tile roofing in Blue Springs page covers the other side, and our tile roofing overview for Blue Springs compares the two.
How it works
- Book your free inspection. Call 913-398-5020 or request a free online estimate.
- Get a clear, honest assessment and estimate. You’ll see photos and hear whether your tile needs repair, new underlayment or nothing at all, or whether concrete tile suits the house you’re planning for. Financing is available through Aqua Finance, Fortifi, Hearth and Home Run Finance.
- Your roof gets done and the site gets cleaned up. Tile work takes longer than a shingle roof, and you’ll get a realistic timeline with your estimate.
A cracked tile or worn underlayment rarely stays a small problem through a Kansas City winter. Ice and meltwater find the gap, and the deck underneath pays for it.
Concrete tile questions from Blue Springs homeowners
Will concrete tile crack in freezing weather?
Water soaked into concrete tile can cause flaking or cracking when it freezes. Products made for cold climates, good drainage and sound underlayment keep that risk low.
Why is my concrete tile fading?
Many concrete tiles have a surface color coat that wears with sun and weather. Faded tile is usually still doing its job, and fading alone isn’t a reason to replace a roof.
Can lightweight concrete tile go on a house built for shingles?
Sometimes. Lightweight tile is designed for that, but the roof framing still has to be checked first.
Can I paint or seal my concrete tile roof?
Some homeowners do, but coatings can trap moisture or wear unevenly. Ask at your inspection before you put anything on the tile.
Get help with concrete tile roofing in Blue Springs
Call 913-398-5020 or start your estimate online.
You’ll come away with a tile roof that looks the way you want, sheds every storm and snowmelt, and a clear plan for keeping it that way.
