A few roof tiles cracked in the last hailstorm. Or one slid out of place, and now there’s a water spot on the ceiling below it. You’ve called a couple of roofers about tile roof repair in Kansas City, and they either didn’t call back or didn’t sound sure what to do with clay or concrete tile.
That’s frustrating, and it’s common. Tile roofs aren’t as common here as asphalt shingles, so plenty of roofers don’t work on them often. You need someone who’ll find the real cause of the problem and fix it without breaking more tile in the process.
APC Roofing repairs clay and concrete tile roofs. We’re GAF Certified, licensed and insured, in business since 2017, and your inspection is free.
Why tile roofs leak
The tile usually isn’t the part that leaks, which surprises a lot of people. Tile sheds most of the water, but the underlayment beneath it does the actual waterproofing. A cracked tile lets more water reach that layer, and if the underlayment is old or torn, that’s when water gets inside.
The most common causes we find on Kansas City tile roofs:
- Cracked or broken tiles from hail, falling limbs or someone walking on the roof
- Slipped tiles where a fastener has failed or rusted
- Worn underlayment that has dried out and cracked with age, even though the tiles above it look fine
- Flashing problems where the roof meets a wall or chimney, or around vent pipes
- Blocked valleys that collect leaves and send water sideways under the tile
What Kansas City weather does to tile
Two things stand out here. Hail cracks tile, and freeze-thaw cycles slowly wear it down. Tile absorbs a small amount of water, and when that water freezes and thaws all winter long, the surface of some tiles can flake or crack. Ice building up at the eaves can also back water up under the bottom rows of tile.
That’s why a tile roof repair here often involves more than replacing the one broken piece you can see from the yard. We check the tiles around it and the underlayment beneath, since a winter’s worth of water may have reached further than the crack suggests.
How tile roof repair in Kansas City works
Replacing cracked or slipped tiles
Tiles are removed carefully, a new one is slid into place and fastened, and the surrounding tiles are reset. Walking a tile roof without breaking more pieces takes care and knowing where to step. Please don’t try this yourself. Tile cracks underfoot easily and is slippery when wet.
Matching your tile
Finding a match is often the hardest part. Tile profiles get discontinued and colors fade with the sun. We look for the closest available match, and when that’s not good enough, a common approach is to borrow matching tiles from a less visible part of the roof and put the new tiles there.
Fixing flashing and valleys
Loose or rusted flashing at walls, chimneys and pipes gets refastened or replaced and sealed properly, not just covered in caulk. Clogged valleys get cleared and checked for damage underneath.
Lifting and relaying tile over new underlayment
When the underlayment itself has failed, replacing tiles won’t stop the leak. The fix is to lift the tile from the affected area, put down new underlayment and relay the same tile. Good tile can often be reused this way. If the whole roof’s underlayment is worn out, a larger relay or a new tile roof installation may make more sense. We’ll explain the difference so you can decide.
Hail damage and insurance
If hail cracked your tile, you may want to file an insurance claim. You file the claim with your insurance company and pay your own deductible. We document the damage with photos, provide an estimate and can be there when your adjuster comes out. Be wary of anyone who offers to waive your deductible. That’s not allowed in Missouri. For more about storm damage, see our hail damage roof repair page.
How it works with APC Roofing
- Book your free inspection. Call 913-398-5020 or request a free estimate online.
- Get a clear, honest assessment and estimate. You’ll see photos of the damaged tile and the underlayment, and you’ll get a written estimate for the repair.
- Your roof gets fixed and the site gets cleaned up. Broken pieces and debris are hauled away when the work is done.
A cracked tile isn’t an emergency in most cases, but leaving it through a winter gives water and ice time to reach the deck. Rotted decking under tile is a much bigger repair than a few new tiles.
Tile roof repair questions
Can you repair just a few broken tiles?
Yes. If the underlayment underneath is still in good shape, replacing a few tiles is a normal repair.
Why does my tile roof leak when no tiles look broken?
Usually because the underlayment underneath has worn out, or a piece of flashing has failed. An inspection finds which one it is.
Can you match my roof tiles?
We’ll find the closest match we can. If your tile is discontinued, borrowing tiles from a hidden area of the roof is often the best way to keep the visible slopes looking right.
Do you work on both clay and concrete tile?
Yes, we repair both. See our Kansas City tile roofing page for more on the two materials.
Get your tile roof back to dry
Call 913-398-5020 or book your free inspection online. The leak is found and fixed, the tile looks right again, and you can stop checking that ceiling spot every time it rains.
