Tile roofing

What this covers

Tile roofs use clay or concrete tiles in barrel, S or flat profiles, laid over a heavy underlayment that is the actual water barrier; the tile sheds most of the water and protects the membrane from sun. The roofer installs the underlayment and metal flashing, sets battens or fastens tiles directly to the deck depending on the system, lays the field in straight courses, cuts tiles at hips and valleys, and finishes the ridge with mortar, foam adhesive or a vented ridge system. Tile repair usually means lifting the field to replace a failed underlayment while reusing the tiles. Careful work shows in even courses, clean cuts and flashing that is sized for the tile profile.

When to call

• Cracked, slipped or missing tiles after a storm or foot traffic.
• Leaks on a tile roof that is decades old, which usually means the underlayment has failed.
• A stucco or Mediterranean-style home being built or reroofed.
• Debris and silt building up under the tiles at the eaves.

What to expect

1. AssessThe roofer checks the tile, the underlayment and the flashing to decide between repair, relay and replacement.
2. Lift or removeTiles are stacked for reuse or removed, and the old underlayment taken off.
3. Dry in and flashNew underlayment, flashing and battens go on.
4. Relay and finishTiles are set in courses, cut at hips and valleys, and the ridge is finished.