You’re ready for a new tile roof, or your existing tile roof needs to come up so the layers underneath can be replaced. Either way, it’s a big project, and you’ve probably heard that a tile roof is only as good as the crew that installs it. If you’re researching tile roof installation in Shawnee, you want to know what a proper job looks like before anyone starts.
That’s a smart place to start. Tile is heavy, it takes more time than shingles and mistakes underneath it are hidden until they leak. You deserve a roofer who explains each step and doesn’t rush the parts you’ll never see.
APC Roofing is GAF Certified, licensed and insured, with an office in Shawnee and a track record going back to 2017. Your inspection and estimate are free. Call 913-398-5020 to talk about your project.
Two kinds of tile roof installation in Shawnee
Most tile projects in Shawnee fall into one of two groups.
A new tile roof. You’re replacing shingles or an old tile roof with new clay or concrete tile. This involves choosing the tile, checking the structure and installing everything from the deck up.
A tile re-lay. Your tiles are still in good shape, but the underlayment beneath them has worn out. The tiles are carefully removed and stacked, new underlayment and flashing go down and the same tiles go back on. This is often the more sensible choice for a leaking tile roof with sound tile.
The inspection tells you which one fits your roof. Our Shawnee tile roofing page covers repair and the rest of our tile work.
Step 1: Choose the right tile
Clay and concrete tile each have strengths. Clay holds its color and absorbs less water. Concrete costs less and comes in more profiles. For a Kansas roof, the most important thing is that the tile is made to handle freeze-thaw cycles. Our pages on clay tile roofing in Shawnee and concrete tile roofing in Shawnee compare them in more detail.
Step 2: Make sure the roof can carry it
Tile is heavy. If you’re switching from shingles, the roof framing has to be checked before anything else, and some homes need reinforcement. Skipping this step can lead to sagging or cracked tile down the road. If your home was already built for tile, this check is usually simpler.
Step 3: Tear-off and deck repair
The old roof comes off down to the deck. Any soft, rotted or damaged sheathing is replaced, because the fasteners holding the tile need solid wood to grip. This is also the moment to spot problems that have been hiding under the old roof.
Step 4: Underlayment built for this climate
The underlayment is the real waterproofing layer on a tile roof. Tile sheds most of the water, but some always gets underneath, and the underlayment sends it down and out. On a Shawnee roof, a self-sealing ice-and-water membrane belongs at the eaves and in valleys to guard against ice dams. A heavy-duty underlayment made for tile covers the rest of the deck.
Step 5: Battens and fastening
Depending on the tile and roof design, tile is either set on wood battens (strips that give each row something to hang on) or fastened directly to the deck. In a climate with hard wind and heavy snow, each tile should be mechanically fastened, with extra fastening at the eaves, rakes, hips and ridges. The tile manufacturer’s installation guide sets the exact pattern.
Step 6: Flashing that lasts
Tile needs wider, sturdier flashing than shingles, because the tile surface is uneven and water moves differently over it. Walls, chimneys, valleys and roof vents all get metal flashing shaped to the tile profile. Caulk is a short-term patch and shouldn’t stand in for proper flashing.
Step 7: Ridges, hips and finishing
Ridge and hip tiles cap the top of the roof. They’re set on a ridge system and fastened so wind can’t lift them. Eave closures keep birds and debris out of the open ends of barrel tile. Then the site gets cleaned up, including broken tile pieces and old fasteners.
How long tile roof installation takes
Tile takes longer than a shingle roof. Removing, stacking and resetting tile is careful work, and weather plays a role in timing. You’ll get a realistic schedule with your estimate so you know what to expect. If you’d rather go with a faster, lighter option, ask about a roof replacement in Shawnee with architectural shingles or metal.
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 find out whether you need new tile or a re-lay, what your structure can carry and what the project involves. Financing is available through Aqua Finance, Fortifi, Hearth and Home Run Finance.
- Your roof gets installed and the site gets cleaned up. You’ll know the plan from the start, and the crew cleans up when the work is done.
If your tile roof is already leaking, the underlayment is likely past its life, and every storm puts more water into the deck. Getting a re-lay or replacement planned now keeps a contained job from turning into structural repairs.
Tile roof installation questions from Shawnee homeowners
Can you reuse my existing tiles?
Often, yes. If the tiles are in good shape, a re-lay keeps them and replaces the underlayment and flashing underneath. Some tiles break during removal, so a few replacements are normal.
Do I need an engineer to switch from shingles to tile?
The structure needs to be evaluated before tile goes on. Depending on the home, that may include an engineer’s review.
Is a permit needed for a tile roof?
Ask any roofer you’re considering whether a permit is required for your job and who pulls it. A good contractor will answer that clearly.
How long will my tile roof last?
The tile itself is rarely the weak link. Good clay or concrete tile lasts a very long time, and the underlayment and flashing are what typically need attention first, so how well they’re installed matters most.
Plan your tile roof installation
Call 913-398-5020 to book your free inspection and talk through your tile project.
You’ll end up with a tile roof that’s built correctly from the deck up, keeps your home dry through Kansas winters and gives you the look you wanted. Trust matters.
