Tile isn’t the roof most people picture in southwest Missouri, which is part of why it’s hard to get good answers about it. Maybe you own one of the few tile roofs on your street and a cracked piece just showed up in the yard. Or you love the look and want to know if tile roofing in Republic, MO makes sense before you spend serious money on it.
Either way, you want someone who’ll tell you the truth about tile here, including the parts that aren’t a sales pitch. A tile roof can last a very long time, but only when the tile, the structure and the layer underneath are all right for the climate.
APC Roofing works on clay and concrete tile roofs and is GAF Certified, licensed and insured. Our Springfield office covers Republic, and your inspection is free. Call 913-398-5020 to have your roof looked at or to talk through a new one.
Is tile roofing a good fit in Republic?
Tile is best known in hot, sunny places, and it does handle heat well. The curved shapes and raised installation let air move under the tiles, which helps keep the roof deck cooler in a Missouri July.
Our winters ask more of it. Tile that soaks up water can crack or flake when that water freezes and thaws over and over, so the product has to be made for a freeze-thaw climate. Spring hail is the other concern. Large hail can crack tiles, and a cracked tile leaves the layer underneath open to sun and water.
None of that rules tile out. It means the choice of tile matters more here than it would in Florida, and repairs need to happen promptly when pieces break.
Clay or concrete tile
The two main types look similar from the street but behave differently.
Clay tile is fired in a kiln, so its color runs all the way through and holds up in the sun for a very long time. Good clay absorbs very little water, which helps in freezing weather. It’s also more brittle and usually costs more. Read more on our clay tile roofing in Republic page.
Concrete tile is molded from sand and cement. It’s sturdy and comes in a wide range of shapes and colors, but it’s heavier than most clay and absorbs more water, so surface wear and moss can be more of an issue over time. See concrete tile roofing in Republic.
The layer that keeps your house dry
The tile isn’t what makes a tile roof waterproof, which surprises a lot of homeowners. Wind-driven rain gets between tiles in almost every storm. The underlayment on the deck below is what catches that water and carries it off the roof.
That underlayment usually wears out long before the tiles do. On many older tile roofs, the tiles are still in good shape while the layer underneath has dried out and cracked. Leaks on a tile roof very often trace back to that layer, or to the flashing at walls, chimneys and valleys, rather than to the tile itself.
Can your house carry tile?
Tile is much heavier than asphalt shingles. A house built with a tile roof was framed for that weight, but switching from shingles to standard tile can put more load on the rafters than they were designed to carry. If you’re considering a switch, the structure needs to be checked first, and some homes need reinforcement. Lighter-weight tile products exist and can be an option worth asking about.
Tile repair, relay or replacement
Repair fits when the problem is limited: a few cracked or slipped tiles, loose ridge pieces or a leaking flashing joint at a wall. Matching tile matters here, since an odd color or shape stands out. Our tile roof repair in Republic page covers this in detail.
Relaying fits when the tiles are good but the underlayment has failed. The tiles come off and get stacked, damaged decking is replaced, new underlayment goes down and the original tiles go back on. Your house keeps its look with fresh protection underneath.
Replacement fits when the tiles themselves have broken down or you’re starting fresh. Our tile roof installation in Republic page walks through how a new tile roof goes on.
Living with a tile roof
Most broken tiles are caused by feet, not weather. Satellite installers, gutter cleaners and holiday-light hangers often step in the wrong place, and a tile that can hold a lot of weight at its overlap will snap in the middle. Ask anyone working near your roof to talk with you before they climb up. Skip the pressure washer too, since it can damage the tile surface and force water under the laps.
How it works
- 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 tiles, flashing and underlayment where it can be checked, and get a straight recommendation on repair, relay or replacement.
- Your roof gets done and the site gets cleaned up. The work is scheduled around the weather, and the crew leaves your yard clean.
Tile roofing questions from Republic homeowners
Does tile hold up to Missouri winters?
It can, if the tile is made for freeze-thaw climates and the roof is kept in good repair. Cracked tiles should be replaced promptly so water doesn’t get into the layer below.
Can I put tile on a house that has shingles now?
Possibly, but the roof structure has to be checked first because tile is much heavier.
My tile roof leaks, but the tiles look fine. What’s going on?
The underlayment or flashing is the usual cause. An inspection can find which one, and a relay may fix it without new tiles.
A tile roof you can stop worrying about
A single cracked tile is a small fix. Left through a couple of seasons, it lets water and sun at the underlayment, and a small repair can grow into a relay.
Call 913-398-5020 or book your free inspection online. You’ll know what shape your tile roof is in, or whether tile is right for your house, and you can enjoy the look of it without wondering what’s happening underneath.
