You love the look of your tile roof, but lately you’ve spotted a few cracked pieces, a slipped tile near the edge or a water spot in the upstairs ceiling. Or you’re thinking about tile for your next roof and wondering if it can handle Front Range hail. Either way, tile roofing in Denver raises questions that most roofers who mainly install shingles can’t answer well.
Tile is a different kind of roof. It’s heavy, it breaks if someone walks on it the wrong way, and the part that actually keeps water out is hidden underneath. You need someone who’ll tell you what’s really going on before anyone starts pulling tiles.
APC Roofing has worked on roofs since 2017, including clay and concrete tile. We’re GAF Certified, licensed and insured, and your inspection is free. Call 720-902-6940 to set up a visit.
How a tile roof keeps water out
The tiles you see are a shield. They block sun, hail and wind, and they shed most of the rain and snowmelt. Some water still gets past them, especially in wind-driven storms, and the underlayment beneath is what stops it. On most tile roofs, the underlayment wears out long before the tiles do.
That’s why a tile roof can leak even when every tile looks fine from the yard, and why a lot of tile roof work is really underlayment work.
What Denver weather does to tile roofing
Hail. Large hail can crack or chip tiles, especially thinner or older ones. A cracked tile may still shed water for a while, but it can let more water reach the underlayment.
Freeze and thaw. Water that soaks into a porous tile can freeze, expand and crack it from the inside. Winter days that swing from freezing to mild and back make this more likely. Tile used here should be suited to freezing climates.
Snow. Heavy, wet spring snow adds weight, and snow sliding off a tile roof can damage gutters and anything below the eaves. Ice can also build up at the edges.
Sun. Strong UV at altitude ages the underlayment, sealants and any exposed flashing faster than it would closer to sea level.
Clay or concrete tile
Clay tile is fired, holds its color for a very long time and comes in the classic barrel shape as well as flatter styles. Concrete tile is usually less expensive, comes in many profiles, and is heavier. Both can last a long time when they’re installed well and kept up, and both depend on the underlayment underneath.
You can read more on our pages for clay tile roofing and concrete tile roofing in the Denver metro.
Tile roofing services in the Denver metro
Tile repair. Replacing cracked, chipped or slipped tiles, resealing flashing at walls and chimneys, and fixing ridge and hip caps that have come loose.
Re-laying a tile roof. When the underlayment has worn out but the tiles are still good, the tiles can be removed, stacked and set back in place over new underlayment. Some breakage is normal, so matching replacement tiles matters.
New tile roof installation. A full new tile roof, including a structural check, underlayment, battens where needed and new flashing. See our tile roof installation page for how that works.
Can my house handle a tile roof?
Tile is heavy, often several times the weight of asphalt shingles. If your home was built for tile, that’s already accounted for. If you’re switching from shingles, the framing has to be checked first, and it may need an engineer’s review or added support. You’ll hear about that before anything else gets planned.
Hail damage and insurance
If hail cracked your tiles, the repair may be covered by your homeowner’s insurance. Your policy decides. You file the claim with your insurance company and pay your own deductible. We document the damage with photos, give you a written estimate and work with your adjuster. Be wary of anyone who offers to waive or cover your deductible.
How it works
- Book your free inspection. Call 720-902-6940 or request a free estimate online.
- Get a clear, honest assessment and estimate. Photos of the tiles, flashing and any signs of underlayment trouble, with a written estimate for repair, re-laying or replacement. Financing is available through Aqua Finance, Fortifi, Hearth and Home Run Finance.
- Get the work done and the site cleaned up. Tile jobs take more time than shingle jobs, and you’ll get a realistic schedule up front. The crew cleans up before leaving.
A few cracked tiles can seem like a small thing. Over a winter or two, though, water that gets past them wears down the underlayment, and a tile repair can become a re-lay.
Questions about tile roofing in Denver
Can a tile roof handle Denver hail?
Tile holds up to a lot, but large hail can crack it. After a big storm, it’s worth having the roof checked, since cracks aren’t always visible from the ground.
Why is my tile roof leaking when the tiles look fine?
Usually the underlayment beneath the tiles has worn out, or the flashing at a wall, chimney or valley has failed. Both are hidden by the tiles.
Can I walk on my tile roof?
It’s best not to. Tiles crack under foot traffic if you step in the wrong place. Leave it to a roofer who knows where to step.
Can you match my existing tiles?
Often, or close to it. Some older profiles and colors are no longer made, and you’ll see the closest options before any work starts.
A tile roof you can stop worrying about
Call 720-902-6940 or book your free inspection online. You’ll know whether your tile roof needs a few new pieces, new underlayment or nothing at all. Then you can enjoy the roof you picked for its looks, knowing it’s still doing its job.
