There’s a broken tile on the patio, or a brown spot spreading on the ceiling near the chimney, and you know the roof up there is tile. That’s where the worry starts. Tile roofs aren’t common around here, a lot of roofers won’t work on them, and you’ve heard that the wrong crew can crack a dozen tiles just walking to the one that’s broken.
Tile roof repair in the Ozarks should leave your roof in better shape, not with new damage hidden under the old. Most repairs are smaller than homeowners expect, once someone finds the real cause.
APC Roofing repairs clay and concrete tile roofs. We’re GAF Certified, licensed and insured, with an office in Springfield, and your inspection is free.
Common tile roof problems in the Ozarks
Most tile repairs we see trace back to a handful of causes.
Cracked or broken tiles. Large hail, falling limbs and foot traffic are the usual culprits. Painters, satellite installers and anyone cleaning gutters from the roof can crack tiles without knowing it, since the crack often shows only on the underside.
Slipped tiles. A tile slides out of line when its fastener rusts or breaks or its adhesive lets go, leaving a gap.
Crumbling ridge mortar. Many ridge and hip tiles are set in mortar, which cracks over years of freeze-thaw and lets the ridge tiles loosen.
Failed flashing. The joints at chimneys, walls and valleys are where most tile roof leaks start. A smear of roof cement over an old flashing is a short-term patch that usually fails again.
Clogged valleys. Leaves pack into valleys and the channels of curved tile, especially on wooded lots, and back water up under the tile.
Worn underlayment. The membrane beneath the tile does the real waterproofing, and it usually wears out long before the tile does.
Why a tile roof leak isn’t always where the stain is
On a tile roof, water that gets past a cracked tile or a gap still has to get through the underlayment. When it does, it can run along the deck before dripping into the house, so the stain on your ceiling may be several feet from the actual problem. A good repair starts by tracing the water back to where it got in, which sometimes means lifting a few tiles to look underneath.
How a tile repair is done
Tile pieces overlap and interlock, and they’re held on by nails, screws, wire, clips, battens or foam adhesive, sometimes several of those on one roof. Removing a broken tile without cracking its neighbors takes the right tools and patience.
A typical repair means carefully freeing the damaged tile, checking the underlayment beneath it, fixing that if needed, and setting a replacement tile secured the way the roof calls for. Flashing repairs at chimneys and walls usually mean lifting the tiles along that edge, replacing the flashing properly, and resetting the tile. Ridge repairs usually mean rebedding or refastening loose ridge tiles.
Finding matching tile
If your tile is still made, a matching piece can usually be ordered. If it’s been discontinued, the options are salvaged tile from the same line or the closest match, placed where it shows least. New tile, clay or concrete, can look brighter than weathered tile at first. We’ll show you what to expect before any work starts. For material-specific details, see clay tile roofing in the Ozarks and concrete tile roofing in the Ozarks.
Tile roof repair in the Ozarks, or a relay?
If the problem is in one spot and the underlayment around it is in good shape, a repair is the answer and the rest of the roof is left alone.
If leaks keep popping up in different places, or the underlayment is brittle and torn everywhere tiles are lifted, patching tiles won’t stop it. That roof usually needs a relay, where the tile comes off, new underlayment goes down and the same tile goes back on. We’ll explain which one your roof needs and show you photos. Our tile roof installation page for the Ozarks covers relays and new tile in more detail.
Tile damage after a storm
If hail or a falling limb cracked your tile, you may decide to file an insurance claim. You file it with your insurance company and you pay your deductible. We inspect the roof, photograph the damage, give you a written estimate and work with your adjuster.
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 find where the water’s getting in, show you photos and give you a written estimate for the repair.
- Your roof gets done and the site gets cleaned up. Broken pieces are hauled away, and the crew cleans up before leaving.
Tile roof repair questions
Is a cracked tile an emergency?
Usually not right away, because the underlayment below is still working. But the crack lets sun and water reach that underlayment, so it’s worth fixing before the next big rain.
Can I replace a broken tile myself?
It’s risky. Walking on tile in the wrong spot cracks more tiles, and a replacement that isn’t fastened right can slide off. It’s a job for someone who works on tile.
Why does my tile roof keep leaking after repairs?
Often because the repairs fixed tiles while the real problem is worn underlayment or failed flashing. A full inspection usually finds it.
Do you repair both clay and concrete tile?
Yes, both.
Get the leak fixed, not moved
A tile roof leak that’s patched in the wrong spot just shows up somewhere else. Finding the source the first time saves you a second repair and a second stain.
Call 913-398-5020 to book your free inspection. You’ll know what’s wrong, what it takes to fix it, and you’ll get a tile roof that keeps the house dry and still looks the way it should. See all our tile roofing in the Ozarks services.
