A tile roof is a long-term decision. You’ve seen what it does for a house’s look, you know it’s a bigger investment than shingles, and you want to be sure the tile roof installation in Republic, MO you pay for is done in a way that holds up to our hail and our winters.
That’s a reasonable thing to worry about. Tile is less common here than in the South, and a tile roof that’s installed with shortcuts can look perfect for years while water quietly gets past it. Knowing how the job should go helps you ask the right questions, whoever you hire.
APC Roofing installs clay and concrete tile and is GAF Certified, licensed and insured. Our Springfield office covers Republic. Your inspection and estimate are free, so call 913-398-5020 to start planning.
Step 1: Make sure the house can carry tile
Tile is several times heavier than asphalt shingles. If your house already has tile, the framing was built for it. If you’re switching from shingles or metal, the rafters and decking need to be checked before anything else, and some houses need reinforcement. Lighter-weight tile products can reduce the load. This step comes first because it can change which tile makes sense, or whether tile makes sense at all.
The pitch matters too. Tile sheds water by letting it run over overlapping pieces, not through sealed seams, so the roof has to be steep enough to keep water moving. Low-slope sections may need a different roofing material.
Step 2: Choose the tile
Clay and concrete both work in Republic if you choose a product made for freeze-thaw weather. Clay holds its color and absorbs very little water; concrete is heavier for most profiles and usually costs less. Both come in barrel, S-shaped and flat profiles. You can compare them on our clay tile roofing in Republic and concrete tile roofing in Republic pages.
Step 3: Prepare the deck and underlayment
The old roof comes off down to the wood deck. Soft or rotted decking gets replaced so the new roof has a solid base.
Then comes the underlayment, which does more of the waterproofing on a tile roof than most people realize. Wind-driven rain gets between tiles in almost every storm, and the underlayment carries it off the roof. Heat also builds up under tile, so the underlayment needs to be a product rated to sit under tile for the long haul. In a cold-winter area like ours, the eaves and valleys often get an extra self-adhering layer as protection against ice backing up.
Step 4: Battens and fastening
Many tile systems are hung on wooden battens, strips nailed across the roof that each row of tile hooks onto. Others are fastened directly to the deck. Depending on the tile, its manufacturer and local code, tiles are held with nails or screws, wind clips at exposed edges, or a foam adhesive made for tile. The right combination is set by the manufacturer’s instructions and code, not by preference.
Step 5: Flashing, valleys and openings
Most tile roof leaks start at the details, not in the field of tiles.
Where the roof meets a wall or chimney, a metal flashing pan with a raised edge runs under the tile, and counterflashing covers its top. Valleys get a wide metal channel so water from two slopes can run off without backing up under the tile. Pipes and vents need flashing that’s lapped into the underlayment and a soft metal skirt shaped over the tile, since a rubber boot made for shingles can’t seal against a curved tile.
Step 6: Eaves, ridges and hips
At the bottom edge, curved tiles leave openings that birds, insects and wind-driven rain can use. Closure strips fill those gaps while letting moisture drain out. At the ridge and hips, shaped trim tiles cap the joints, set in mortar or on a ridge system fastened to the deck.
Reusing your existing tile
If you already have a tile roof and the tiles are in good shape but the underlayment has failed, you may not need new tile at all. On a relay, the tiles are taken off and stacked, the deck is repaired, new underlayment and flashing go down and the original tiles go back on. For smaller problems, see tile roof repair in Republic.
How long tile installation takes
A tile roof takes longer than a shingle roof. Each tile is placed by hand, the flashing work is detailed, and the weather has to cooperate, since underlayment shouldn’t sit exposed to a storm. Your estimate will include a realistic timeline for your house.
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 learn whether your house can carry tile, which tile fits, and what the full job includes, in writing.
- Your roof gets done and the site gets cleaned up. The work is scheduled around the weather, and the crew leaves your yard clean.
If paying all at once is a stretch, financing is available through Aqua Finance, Fortifi, Hearth and Home Run Finance. See roof financing in Republic.
Tile roof installation questions from Republic homeowners
Can tile go on any house?
Not every house. The structure has to carry the weight and the roof has to be steep enough. An inspection answers both.
Can I reuse my old tiles?
Often, yes, if they’re in good condition. Broken or weathered tiles are replaced with matching ones.
Is a tile roof worth it in Missouri?
It can be, if you choose freeze-rated tile and the installation details are done right. Hail is the main risk, so plan to replace cracked tiles promptly.
A tile roof done right from the deck up
A tile roof installed with care can protect your home for a very long time. Shortcuts at the flashing or underlayment show up as leaks years later, when they’re hardest to fix.
Call 913-398-5020 or book your free inspection online. You’ll know whether tile fits your house, what the job involves and what it costs, and you’ll end up with a roof that looks the way you pictured and keeps your home dry. Trust matters, and we’d like to earn yours.
