TILE ROOFING / PHOENIX METRO
The tile you see
is not the layer
keeping water out.
On a tile roof, the tile and the underlayment beneath it do different jobs. Knowing which one has the problem changes the entire conversation.
01 / THE CUSTOMER PROBLEM
Intact tile.
Water inside
anyway.
A tile roof can look sound from the street while the weather-resisting layer underneath it is the part that needs attention. Proposals that do not distinguish between the two are difficult to evaluate.
02 / WHAT THE WORK COVERS
Ask for the
scope in writing.
A tile scope should be explicit about which layer is being worked on and what happens to the tile itself:
- Which layer the proposed work addresses: tile, underlayment, flashings, or a combination
- Whether existing tile is removed and reinstalled, or replaced
- How tile breakage during removal and reinstallation is handled and priced
- Whether replacement tile is available to match the existing profile and colour
- Treatment of flashings, valleys, and penetrations beneath the tile
- What proportion of the roof area the work covers
03 / SUITABILITY AND LIMITS
Where this fits.
Where it does not.
Generally a fit for
- Tile in serviceable condition over an underlayment that needs attention
- Leaks appearing without obvious surface damage
- Properties where matching the existing roof appearance matters
- Owners weighing an underlayment scope against a full system change
Ask harder questions when
- Tile that is extensively cracked, delaminated, or no longer available to match
- Structural concerns, which are a separate professional assessment
- Cases where nobody has looked beneath the tile at all
- Any proposal that treats a tile roof as a single undifferentiated surface
04 / INSPECTION CONSIDERATIONS
What an assessment
should look at.
These are the things worth confirming were examined, whoever carries out the assessment.
01
Separate the layers.
Ask which layer was examined and how. A surface-only look does not describe the condition of what is underneath.
02
Look at the details beneath.
Valleys, flashings, and penetrations under the tile are common leak sources and are not visible from above.
03
Account for the tile inventory.
If tile is to be lifted and reused, ask about expected breakage, matching stock, and what happens if replacements cannot be sourced.
04
Ask about access damage.
Walking a tile roof can break tile. Ask how the roof was accessed and how access damage is handled.
05 / OPTIONS TO COMPARE
More than one
reasonable answer.
Which option suits a property depends on findings this site cannot see. Each one carries its own questions.
01 Underlayment work, existing tile reinstated
Tile is removed, the layer beneath is addressed, and the tile is reinstalled. Used where the tile is serviceable but the underlayment is not.
Ask about breakage rates, matching stock for replacements, and which flashings are included.
02 Localised tile and detail repair
Addresses a defined area or a specific detail rather than the whole roof.
Ask what evidence limits the problem to that area, and what condition the rest of the roof is in.
03 Full tile system replacement
Replaces tile and the layers beneath it as one assembly.
Ask why the existing tile is not being retained, and what the new specification is in full.
04 Change to a different system
Moves away from tile entirely. A structural and appearance decision as much as a roofing one.
Ask what drives the recommendation, and what it changes about weight, maintenance, and the look of the property.
06 / COST DRIVERS
Why two proposals
are not the
same number.
Tile figures move for reasons that are specific to the system. These are the ones worth asking about.
01
Tile handling.
Removing, stacking, protecting, and reinstalling tile is labour that a surface-only comparison misses.
02
Breakage and matching.
Expected breakage, the cost of replacement tile, and whether a match is available at all.
03
Area covered.
Whether the work covers the whole roof, one slope, or a defined section.
04
Detail work beneath.
Flashings, valleys, and penetrations addressed while the tile is off.
07 / QUESTIONS
Before you
decide.
My tile looks fine. Why am I being told I need work?
Tile and the layer beneath it do not necessarily reach the end of their service lives together. Ask which layer the assessment found a problem with, what evidence supports that finding, and what was observed beneath the tile.
Can my existing tile be reused?
Often it can, if it is in serviceable condition, but expect some breakage during removal and reinstallation. Ask what breakage is anticipated, how replacements will be sourced, and what happens if a match is unavailable.
How long does tile last compared with the underlayment?
This site does not publish service-life figures, because they depend on the specific products, the installation, and the conditions on your property. Ask for the basis of any lifespan a contractor quotes you.
Is walking on my tile roof a problem?
It can break tile, which is one reason to avoid going up yourself. Ask any contractor how they access the roof and how access damage is handled.
Can you work on my tile roof?
Call and describe the property and what you have noticed. We will tell you what the work would involve and whether it is something we take on.
Start with your roof.
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