You love the look of a clay or concrete tile roof, or your home already has one and the stuff underneath is wearing out. Either way, you’ve probably noticed that most roofers around here work on shingles all day and get a little vague when the word “tile” comes up. Tile roof installation in Lee’s Summit isn’t something you want a crew learning on your house.
It’s a big investment, and a mistake is expensive to undo. You want to know the house can carry it, the tile will survive a Missouri winter and the job is done in the right order.
APC Roofing installs and repairs clay and concrete tile. We’re GAF Certified, licensed and insured, roofing since 2017, and the inspection and estimate are free. Call 913-398-5020 to talk it through.
Two kinds of tile roof installation in Lee’s Summit
Most tile projects here fall into one of two groups.
A new tile roof. You’re replacing shingles or another material with tile, or building an addition that needs to match existing tile. This is where structure and product choice matter most.
A re-lay over new underlayment. The tile on your roof is still in good shape, but the waterproof layer under it has aged out. The tiles come off by hand and get stacked, the deck is repaired, new underlayment goes down and the sound tiles go back on. From the street the house looks the same. Underneath, the part that actually keeps water out is new.
If you aren’t sure which you need, our tile roofing in Lee’s Summit page covers common tile problems and repairs.
Can your house carry a tile roof?
Tile is heavy, several times the weight of asphalt shingles per square foot. A house designed for tile was framed for that load. A house designed for shingles may not have been.
Before converting a shingle roof to tile, the rafters, spans and supporting walls should be checked by a structural engineer. Sometimes the framing is fine. Sometimes it needs added bracing. Lightweight concrete tile cuts a good share of the weight and can make tile possible on a house that couldn’t carry the standard product. You’ll know where your home stands before you commit to anything.
Choosing tile that survives Missouri weather
Tile is more common in warm, dry places than in the Kansas City area, and our winters ask a lot of it.
Freeze-thaw. Tile absorbs a small amount of water. When that water freezes and thaws over and over through the winter, lower-grade tile can flake and crack. Clay tile rated for severe weathering holds up best here. Concrete tile needs a quality surface and the right installation to resist the same wear. Check the freeze-thaw rating on any product before it goes on your house.
Hail. Large hail can crack tile outright, and some cracks are hairline breaks you won’t see from the ground. Heavier, denser tile and solid support underneath both help.
Snow and ice. Ice dams form when melting snow refreezes along the eaves. A self-adhering ice barrier at the eaves and in the valleys keeps backed-up water from reaching the deck.
Summer heat. Here tile does well. The air space under the tiles carries heat away and keeps the underlayment from cooking.
Clay keeps its color for a very long time because the color is fired through it. Many concrete tiles are colored on the surface, so they can fade on sunny slopes and show gray at chips. Both are durable. The choice usually comes down to looks, weight and budget.
What goes into a proper tile installation
A tile roof is a system, and most leaks come from the parts you never see. A sound installation includes:
- Solid decking, with soft or damaged boards replaced
- Underlayment rated for use under tile, plus the ice barrier at eaves and valleys
- Battens or the attachment method the tile maker specifies, with extra hold-down at edges and corners where wind pulls hardest
- Metal valleys wide enough to carry heavy runoff
- Flashing built for tile at walls, chimneys and vent pipes (rubber boots made for shingles won’t seal against curved tile)
- An eave closure that blocks birds and wind-driven rain while letting water drain
- Ridge and hip trim set on a raised board, fastened and sealed
Each of these matters more on tile than on shingles, because once the tile is down, getting back to them means lifting it.
Timing and the weather
Tile goes on slower than shingles. Pieces are handled one by one, edges and valleys are cut to fit and some adhesives and mortars have temperature limits for cold days. A tile installation takes longer than a typical shingle roof, and your estimate will include a realistic schedule. In Missouri, planning around spring storms and the coldest stretch of winter helps.
How it works
- Book your free inspection. Call 913-398-5020 or request a free online estimate. Here’s what a free roof inspection in Lee’s Summit covers.
- Get a clear, honest assessment and estimate. You’ll learn whether your framing needs a closer look, which tile fits your home and whether a re-lay or new tile makes more sense. Financing is available through Aqua Finance, Fortifi, Hearth and Home Run Finance.
- The roof gets done and the site gets cleaned up. The work follows the plan in your estimate, and the crew cleans up before leaving.
If your tile roof already leaks, don’t wait for the stain to grow. Water that gets past worn underlayment can run along the deck for a long way before it shows up inside, and rot spreads in the meantime.
Tile roof installation questions
Can tile replace my shingle roof?
Often, yes, if the framing can carry the weight or can be reinforced. An engineer’s check comes first.
Can you reuse the tile already on my roof?
Usually, if it’s sound. Some breakage during removal is normal, especially on older tile, so a supply of matching or close replacement pieces is part of the plan.
Is a tile roof a good idea in Missouri?
It can be, with tile rated for freeze-thaw and a careful installation. It’s a bigger investment than shingles, and an honest conversation about whether it fits your house comes first. If shingles turn out to be the better fit, our roof replacement in Lee’s Summit page covers that path.
Does hail break tile?
Large hail can. Smaller hail often bounces off. After a storm, an inspection tells you for sure. If you file a claim, you pay your deductible, and we document the damage and work with your adjuster.
Book your free tile roof inspection
Call 913-398-5020 or start your estimate online. You’ll end up with a tile roof that’s built for Lee’s Summit winters, a dry house underneath it and a clear plan with no surprise costs along the way.
