You’ve decided on tile, or your tile roof has reached the point where patching isn’t enough anymore. Now the questions get practical. Can the house carry it? How long will the work take? What happens if the weather turns halfway through? Tile roof installation in Blue Springs takes more planning than a shingle job, and knowing the steps ahead of time takes a lot of the worry out of it.
A new roof is one of the biggest checks most homeowners ever write, and you shouldn’t have to take anyone’s word on faith. You should know what’s going on your house and why.
APC Roofing installs clay and concrete tile roofs. We’re GAF Certified, licensed and insured, in business since 2017, and your inspection and estimate are free. Call 913-398-5020 to get started.
Two kinds of tile roof installation
A brand-new tile roof. You’re switching from shingles or another material, or replacing tile that’s past saving. New tile and new underlayment go on together.
Lift and relay. Your tile is still in good shape, but the underlayment beneath it has worn out. The tile comes off and gets stacked, new underlayment goes down and the same tile goes back on, with broken pieces replaced. This is common on older tile roofs, because good tile usually outlasts the layer underneath it.
The inspection tells you which one your roof needs.
Step 1: Making sure the house can carry it
Tile is heavy. On a house framed for shingles, the roof structure has to be checked before tile goes up. Sometimes that means an engineer’s review or added framing. Lightweight concrete tile can help, but it doesn’t skip this step. If your house isn’t a good candidate, you’ll hear that before any money changes hands.
Step 2: Tear-off and deck repair
The old roof comes off down to the wood deck. Any soft, rotted or cracked decking gets replaced, because tile is only as solid as what it’s fastened to. This is also when hidden problems, like old leak damage around a chimney, come to light and get fixed.
Step 3: Underlayment and ice protection
This is the part you’ll never see, and it’s the part that keeps you dry. Tile sheds most of the water, but the underlayment is the real waterproof layer. In Blue Springs, an ice barrier membrane along the eaves and in the valleys guards against ice dams pushing meltwater up under the tile. Some underlayment products need warm, dry weather to go down right, so the schedule follows the forecast.
Step 4: Battens, flashing and fastening
On many tile roofs, wood strips called battens are fastened across the deck to hang and space the tile, sometimes raised slightly so water can drain beneath them. Metal flashing goes in at walls, chimneys, valleys and around pipes. On a tile roof, flashing should be built into the roof, not replaced with a bead of mortar or caulk that cracks within a few winters.
Each tile is fastened according to the manufacturer’s instructions and local code, with extra attention at the edges, ridges and hips where wind pulls hardest. Kansas City straight-line winds are a real load, so attachment isn’t a place to cut corners.
Step 5: Laying the tile, ridges and closures
The tile goes on course by course from the eaves up. Valleys are cut and fitted so water runs clean. At the eave, closures keep birds and wind-driven rain out from under the first row. Ridges and hips get capped, often with a vented system so the attic can breathe.
Then the site gets cleaned up. It’s worth asking for photos of the deck and underlayment before they’re covered, so you have a record of the layers you’ll never see again.
How long does a tile roof take?
Longer than a shingle roof. A shingle replacement can often be finished in a day, but a tile roof usually takes several days or more, depending on the size of the roof, its shape, the framing work and the weather. You’ll get a realistic timeline with your estimate.
Picking tile that fits Missouri
The tile you choose has to handle freeze-thaw. Clay or concrete, ask for a product made for cold climates. Our pages on clay tile roofing in Blue Springs and concrete tile roofing in Blue Springs walk through the trade-offs. If your roof only needs a few pieces replaced, tile roof repair may be all you need.
How it works
- Book your free inspection. Call 913-398-5020 or request a free online estimate.
- Get a clear, honest assessment and estimate. We’ll check the framing, the deck and any existing tile, and give you a written estimate with the scope spelled out. Financing is available through Aqua Finance, Fortifi, Hearth and Home Run Finance.
- Your roof gets installed and the site gets cleaned up. You’ll know the plan before the first tile comes off.
If your tile roof is leaking from worn underlayment, waiting another winter lets meltwater keep working on the deck. Getting a plan in place before the cold sets in gives you the most scheduling room.
Tile roof installation questions
Can my existing tile be reused?
Often, yes. If the tile is sound and the underlayment is the problem, a lift-and-relay reuses your tile and replaces only the broken pieces.
Do I need an engineer to put tile on my house?
If the house was framed for shingles, the roof structure has to be evaluated, and that may call for an engineer. Houses designed for tile usually already have the support.
Can tile be installed in winter?
Some work can happen in cold weather, but some underlayment and sealant products need warmer temperatures. The schedule is set around what the materials need.
Does a tile roof need a permit in Blue Springs?
Roof replacements generally need a permit, and requirements vary by city. Ask about permits when you get your estimate so you know what’s required for your house.
Plan your tile roof installation in Blue Springs
Call 913-398-5020 or start your estimate online. Our Blue Springs tile roofing page has more on choosing tile.
When it’s finished, you’ll have a tile roof built on a solid deck and fresh underlayment, ready for the next ice storm, and the peace of mind that it was done right from the wood up.
