Tile Roofing in Artesia With a Clear Look Under the Tile

What Tile Roofing Work Really Involves

Most people think of a tile roof as the tile itself. The tile is mostly there to shed sun and the bulk of the rain. The real waterproofing is the underlayment, the felt or synthetic layer underneath, along with the flashing at walls, chimneys and valleys. When a tile roof leaks, the tile is often fine and the layer below it has dried out, cracked or torn.

That is why we start by looking, not selling. On a tile roof we lift a few pieces in suspect areas, photograph the underlayment and battens, and show you those pictures before we talk about price. Sometimes the answer is a handful of replacement tiles. Sometimes it is a lift-and-relay, where we take the tile off, put down new underlayment and set your same tile back. Now and then it is a new roof.

Tile Roof Services We Handle

Cracked and slipped tile replacement

We swap out broken pieces, reset tiles that have slid out of line and secure them so they stay put. You see the before and after for each one.

Lift-and-relay underlayment replacement

We remove your tile, stack it carefully on the roof, install new underlayment and flashing, then relay the original tile. You keep the look of your home and get a fresh waterproof layer underneath.

Flashing and valley repair

Valleys, chimney and wall flashing are where tile roofs usually let water in. We replace rusted or short metal and clear the leaves and debris that cause water to back up.

Ridge and hip repair

Crumbling mortar and loose ridge caps get rebuilt or reset so the top of your roof stays tight through winter rain.

New tile roof installation

When a roof is past saving, we install new clay or concrete tile over new decking repairs, battens and underlayment, built to current code.

Tile matching

Older profiles can be hard to find. We look for a close match and can use salvaged tile from less visible areas to patch the spots people actually see.

Signs Your Tile Roof Needs Attention

• Cracked or missing tiles

  A broken corner or a gap you can see from the yard lets sun and water reach the underlayment directly. Small breaks are an easy fix when caught early.

• Ceiling stains after the first big rain

  Water spots that show up after a winter storm usually mean the underlayment or flashing has failed, even if the tile looks perfect from below.

• Tiles that look wavy or out of line

  Slipped tiles often point to rotted battens or failed fasteners. Left alone, more tiles tend to follow.

• Crumbling ridge mortar

  If you find gray grit in the gutters or bits of mortar on the patio, the ridge is breaking down and should be reset.

• An older roof with original underlayment

  Tile can outlive its underlayment by decades. If your roof has never been relaid, it is worth having someone look before a leak forces the decision.

How a Tile Roof Job Goes

1. 1

   A free inspection

   You reach us by phone and we set a time to come out. We walk the roof carefully, step only where tile can take the weight, and lift pieces where we suspect trouble.

2. 2

   Photos and a written estimate

   We show you pictures of what we found, from cracked tiles to torn felt, and give you a free written estimate that lists each part of the work. You decide with the facts in front of you.

3. 3

   Permit and preparation

   We pull the permit when the job calls for one. On work day we protect plants, walkways and the areas around your home, then stage tile so it is not stepped on or lost.

4. 4

   The work, documented

   We replace what is failing, from underlayment and battens to flashing and tile, and record each stage so you can see the layers that will be covered up.

5. 5

   Cleanup and final walk

   We clear broken tile, old felt and nails, then go over the finished roof with you and hand over the photo record.

What Shapes the Price of Tile Roofing

A tile roof job can be anything from a few replacement pieces to a full new roof, so the price depends on what the inspection turns up. We give you a free written estimate after we have seen your roof, not before. Financing is available through Service Finance Company, subject to credit approval.

Repair, relay or new roof

Replacing a few tiles is a small job. A lift-and-relay takes more labor because every tile comes off and goes back on. A new roof adds the cost of new tile.

Tile type and availability

Clay and concrete handle and break differently, and discontinued profiles take more time to source or match.

Roof size, pitch and shape

Steeper roofs and roofs with many valleys, hips and chimneys take longer to work safely and need more flashing.

What is under the tile

Rotted battens or soft decking add to the job. We show you any damage we find so you can see why it is on the estimate.