Your concrete tile roof has started to show its age. A few tiles cracked in the last hailstorm, and now there’s a damp spot in the attic you can’t trace. The color has gone chalky on the sunny side, too. You need help with concrete tile roofing in Kansas City, and you’re not sure which roofers in town even work on tile.
It’s a real problem. Tile is a small share of the roofs here, and a roofer who mostly does shingles can crack more tiles walking to the leak than the storm did.
APC Roofing works on clay and concrete tile roofs. We’re GAF Certified, licensed and insured, and we’ve been in business since 2017. Your inspection is free. Call 913-398-5020 to set it up.
What concrete tile is, and how it differs from clay
Concrete roof tile is made from cement, sand and water, pressed into molds and cured. It comes in flat profiles that look like slate or shake and in curved profiles that copy the look of clay barrel tile.
Next to clay, concrete tile usually costs less and is made in a wider range of shapes. The trade-offs show up over time. Concrete absorbs more water than good clay tile, and on many concrete tiles the color is a surface layer rather than baked all the way through. That’s why an older concrete roof can look faded or blotchy while a clay roof of the same age still looks close to new. If you’re still deciding between the two, our clay tile roofing in Kansas City page covers the other side.
Concrete tile is heavy, often heavier than clay. Lightweight concrete tiles exist, but any tile roof needs framing built to carry it.
How concrete tile roofing in Kansas City holds up
Winter is the hardest season
Because concrete soaks up more water than clay, Kansas City’s freeze-thaw cycles work on it harder. Water that gets into the tile freezes and expands, and over many winters the surface can wear, flake or develop hairline cracks. You may also see white, chalky deposits called efflorescence, which are minerals carried to the surface by water. They’re mostly cosmetic, but they tell you water is moving through the tile.
Hail
Concrete tile is thick, and small hail often bounces off. Large hail can crack or break tiles, and corners and edges chip most easily. A cracked tile may still shed water for a while, but it’s a weak spot, and a broken one leaves the underlayment exposed.
Shade and growth
Moss and algae like the rough, porous surface of concrete tile, especially on shaded north slopes under trees. Gentle cleaning helps. High-pressure washing can strip the surface of the tile and do more harm than good.
Concrete tile repair
Most concrete tile problems can be repaired without replacing the roof.
Cracked and broken tiles
Damaged tiles are removed and replaced one at a time. Finding a match is usually easier than with clay, since many concrete profiles are still made, but a new tile will look brighter than weathered ones next to it for a while.
Leaks with no broken tiles
When a concrete tile roof leaks and the tiles look fine, the cause is usually underneath. Flashing at valleys, walls and chimneys wears out, and the underlayment beneath the tile ages faster than the tile itself. Fixing it often means lifting the tiles in that area, replacing the underlayment and flashing, and setting the same tiles back down.
Slipped tiles and ridge pieces
Tiles that have slid out of line or ridge pieces that have loosened are reset and refastened.
Careful walking matters on any tile roof. Weight has to go where the tile is supported, or the repair crew can do as much damage as the storm. See our tile roof repair in Kansas City page for more on how tile repairs work.
When replacement makes sense
If the underlayment has failed across most of the roof, or large areas of tile are flaking and cracking, it’s time to talk about replacement. Sometimes the existing tile is sound enough to reuse over new underlayment. Sometimes it isn’t, and new tile or a different roofing material is the better choice. You’ll see what we found, with photos, and hear which option we’d recommend and why. The decision is yours. The Kansas City tile roofing page covers the bigger picture.
Hail damage and insurance
If a storm cracked your tiles, you may decide to file a claim. You file it with your insurance company and you pay your own deductible. We document the damage, give you a written estimate and work with your adjuster so the tile damage is clearly shown. Our hail damage roof repair page explains more. Be wary of any roofer who offers to waive or cover your deductible.
How it works with APC Roofing
- 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 of the tile, flashing and problem areas, and you’ll get a written estimate with repair and replacement options where both make sense.
- The work gets done and the site gets cleaned up. Financing is available through Aqua Finance, Fortifi, Hearth and Home Run Finance, and the crew cleans up before leaving.
Concrete tile questions from Kansas City homeowners
How do I find tile repair contractors in Kansas City?
Ask any roofer you’re considering how often they work on tile, whether they repair concrete as well as clay, and how they move across a tile roof without breaking it. APC Roofing works on both clay and concrete tile.
Why does my concrete tile roof look faded?
On many concrete tiles the color is a surface layer that weathers over time. It’s mostly a looks issue, but heavy wear can also mean the tile is absorbing more water.
Can broken concrete tiles be replaced one at a time?
Yes. Individual tiles can be swapped out as long as a reasonable match is available.
Is concrete tile a good roof for Kansas City?
It can be, with the right underlayment and flashing for cold weather. Concrete absorbs more water than clay, so winter wear is something to watch for.
A tile roof you can stop worrying about
A leak under concrete tile is easy to miss until it reaches the ceiling, and by then the deck beneath has usually been wet for a while.
Have someone who works on tile find the real cause. Then you’ve got a dry house under a roof that still looks the way you want it to. Call 913-398-5020 to book your free inspection, or start your estimate online.
