There aren’t many tile roofs in southwest Missouri, and if you own one, you’ve probably noticed. When a few tiles crack after a hailstorm or a stain shows up near the chimney, it can be hard to find a roofer who’s comfortable climbing on tile at all, let alone one who knows how to fix it without breaking more.
Tile roofing in the Ozarks asks a little more of the homeowner and the roofer than shingles do. Get the details right and it’s one of the longest-lasting roofs you can put on a house. Get them wrong and small problems hide under the tile for years.
APC Roofing installs and repairs clay and concrete tile roofs. We’re GAF Certified, licensed and insured, with an office in Springfield, and your inspection is free.
How a tile roof actually keeps water out
Most people assume the tiles are the waterproofing. They’re really the armor. Tiles shed most of the rain and shield what’s underneath from sun and hail, but in a driving storm some water always gets past them. The underlayment, the membrane laid over the roof deck, is what stops that water and carries it down and out at the eaves.
That changes how you think about repairs. A single cracked tile usually doesn’t cause a leak on its own, because the underlayment below is still working. When a tile roof does leak, the underlayment is often the real problem, and the water may travel several feet along the deck before it shows on a ceiling.
Living with tile through an Ozarks year
Each season here tests a tile roof in its own way.
Spring storms bring hail. Small stones usually bounce off tile without a mark, but large hail can crack tiles outright, and a cracked tile exposes the underlayment to sun and water.
Summer brings heat and long sunny days. Tile handles that well, and the air space under many tile profiles helps keep some heat out of the attic.
Fall fills the curved channels of barrel and S-shaped tile with leaves, especially on wooded lots. Packed debris holds moisture and can back water up in valleys.
Winter is the real test. Water that soaks into a tile can freeze, expand and slowly flake the surface over many cycles. That’s why the freeze-thaw rating of the tile matters more here than it would in a warm, dry climate.
Clay or concrete tile?
From the street they look alike, but they age differently.
Clay tile is fired in a kiln, the color runs all the way through, and good clay soaks up very little water. It holds its color for decades. Read more about clay tile roofing in the Ozarks.
Concrete tile is pressed from sand, cement and water. It usually weighs more, absorbs more water than clay and often has its color concentrated near the surface, so sunny slopes can fade. It comes in many profiles, including flat styles that look like slate or shake. See concrete tile roofing in the Ozarks.
Repair, relay or new tile roofing in the Ozarks
Most tile roof work falls into one of three jobs.
A repair fixes a specific problem: cracked or slipped tiles, a loose ridge cap or a leaking flashing at a chimney. The rest of the roof is left alone. Our page on tile roof repair in the Ozarks covers what that involves.
A relay is for a roof where the tile is still good but the underlayment has worn out. The tiles come off by hand and get stacked, the deck is checked and repaired, new underlayment goes down, and the same tiles go back on. From the street, the roof looks the same, but the part that keeps water out starts fresh.
A new tile roof goes on a house getting tile for the first time or one where the tile itself is past saving. See tile roof installation in the Ozarks.
Can your house carry tile?
Tile weighs several times what asphalt shingles do. A house built for tile has framing sized for it. A house built for shingles may not, and switching to tile without checking can overload the rafters. If you’re thinking about converting, an engineer should look at the roof framing first, and some homes need reinforcement. Lighter-weight concrete tile is an option on some houses.
How it works
- Book your free inspection. Call 913-398-5020 or request a free estimate online.
- Get a clear, honest assessment and estimate. We’ll check the tiles, flashing, valleys and ridge, lift tiles where it matters to see the underlayment, and give you photos and a written estimate.
- Your roof gets done and the site gets cleaned up. Tile work takes longer than a shingle roof, and you’ll get a realistic timeline with your estimate. The crew cleans up before leaving.
Tile roofing questions from Ozarks homeowners
Is tile a good choice for a home in the Ozarks?
It can be, on a house built to carry it, with tile rated for freeze-thaw. It costs more up front than shingles and needs a roofer who knows tile, so it isn’t the right fit for every home.
Will hail break my tile roof?
Small hail usually won’t. Large hail can crack tiles, so it’s worth an inspection after a serious storm even if nothing looks wrong from the ground.
Can I walk on my tile roof to clean the gutters?
It’s best not to. Tile cracks easily underfoot if you step in the wrong spot, and the cracks often show only on the underside.
How do I know if I need a relay?
Leaks that keep coming back in different spots, or underlayment that looks brittle or torn when a tile is lifted, are the usual signs. An inspection will tell you.
Keep your tile roof doing its job
A tile roof that’s ignored can look perfect from the street while the underlayment wears out underneath. Catching that early keeps a relay from becoming rotted decking.
Call 913-398-5020 to book your free inspection. You’ll know what shape your roof is in and what it needs next, and you’ll keep the roof you chose for the long haul.
