Clay & Concrete Tile Specialists
Tile roofs demand exact-match sourcing, correct mortar bedding, and an understanding of how the underlayment — not the tiles themselves — is the real waterproofing layer. Our licensed tile specialists repair all clay, concrete, and slate tile systems across the Southwest, Florida, and California.
Free Tile Roof Inspection & Estimate
Exact-match tile sourced first · Underlayment checked · 5-yr warranty
Clay barrel, concrete flat, S-tile, and slate each have different weight, brittleness, mortar requirements, and sourcing challenges. Select your tile type to see the correct repair approach.
Spanish Barrel Tile Profile
Spanish barrel tile is the defining roof of the American Southwest and Florida Mediterranean architecture. The two-piece system uses concave pan tiles (face down) topped by convex cover tiles, typically set in a mortar bed at the eaves and ridges. Sourcing exact-match is often the hardest part of any barrel tile repair.
Repair approach
Best climate & markets
Ideal for hot, dry, and coastal climates. Phoenix, Tucson, Albuquerque, Los Angeles, San Diego, Miami, Tampa, Orlando, and Las Vegas are the core barrel tile markets.
S-Tile Profile (single-piece)
S-tile is a single-piece design that combines the pan and cover in one undulating piece. Very common in Florida and Caribbean-influenced architecture. Slightly lighter than two-piece barrel tile. Individual tile removal and replacement is easier than two-piece systems because only one tile needs to be lifted rather than coordinating pan and cover separately.
Repair approach
Best climate & markets
Very common in Central and South Florida (Orlando, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Jacksonville), coastal Georgia, and Caribbean-influenced communities. Hurricane wind rating is critical in FL—confirm HVHZ fastening compliance on all repairs.
Flat Concrete Tile Profile
Flat concrete tile is the most affordable tile roofing option and the easiest to repair due to its simple profile. Very common in California, Nevada, and Texas as an entry-level tile product. Susceptible to colour fading and surface porosity absorption over time. Individual tile removal and replacement is straightforward compared to barrel systems.
Repair approach
Best climate & markets
California, Nevada, and Texas markets. Very common in master-planned communities in the Inland Empire, Las Vegas suburbs, and the Dallas–Fort Worth metro where a tile aesthetic is desired at lower cost than clay.
Low-Profile Clay Tile
Low-profile clay tile is the premium clay tile category — slightly curved to nearly flat, with the warm terracotta colouring of fired clay. The longest-lasting common roofing material. Extremely brittle compared to concrete tile — any foot traffic cracks them. The greatest repair challenge is sourcing exact-match tile on 20+ year old roofs where original manufacturers may have changed formulas or been acquired.
Repair approach
Best climate & markets
Premium California markets (Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Pasadena, San Diego), Scottsdale AZ, Santa Fe NM, and any market where architectural authenticity is a priority.
Natural Slate Cross-Section
Natural slate is the longest-lasting roofing material available. Common on historic homes in the Northeast US. Requires copper or stainless fasteners — steel nails corrode and fail within 20 years, causing widespread slippage. Individual slate replacement is possible and cost-effective on a well-maintained system. The specialist skill is rare.
Repair approach
Best climate & markets
Northeast US (Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC), older New England homes, and historic preservation projects nationwide. Slate from quarries in Vermont, Pennsylvania, and Virginia varies in hardness and lifespan — soft slate lasts 50–75 years, hard slate 100–150+.
The majority of broken tile we repair was caused by someone walking on the roof incorrectly — HVAC technicians, satellite dish installers, solar panel crews, or a previous roofer who didn’t know how to move on tile. The tile isn’t strong underfoot in the wrong place. The crack may not appear for months.
Never step on the middle of a tile
The unsupported centre of a barrel or S-tile is where all the weight concentration cracks the tile. A tile that cracks here often doesn’t split immediately — it creates a hairline fracture that becomes a full break months later when thermal cycling finishes it.
Never walk on clay tile — at all
Clay tile is significantly more brittle than concrete. Even stepping at the correct overlap zone can crack clay tiles. Any tradesperson accessing your clay tile roof should be using a roof ladder or platform, not walking directly on the tiles.
Step only at the overlap zone
On barrel and S-tile, weight should only be placed at the thick overlap where two tiles cross. This is the reinforced, supported zone. Even then, keep weight distributed — knee pads or foam blocks spread the load.
Use a tile walkboard for all access
A foam-padded walkboard distributes weight across multiple tiles and prevents point-loading. Our crews always use walkboards on tile roofs — and we never send a general laborer to do tile access work.
Where to step on a barrel tile roof
Tile roof failures follow predictable patterns. Understanding which type of failure you have determines whether you need a tile repair, a mortar job, or an underlayment replacement.
Usually caused by foot traffic, hail, or falling debris. Individual broken tiles are repairable if an exact match can be sourced. Underlayment must be inspected beneath any broken tile — cracks often allow water for months before the broken tile is noticed.
● Repair This MonthThe most common tile roof repair. Mortar at ridge caps and hip tiles deteriorates and cracks after 10–15 years, allowing tiles to shift and eventually slip off. Visible as crumbling grout-like material between ridge tiles.
● Most Common RepairThe silent epidemic of tile roofing. When 20–25 year underlayment fails beneath intact tiles, water enters undetected for months. No visible damage from the ground. Interior staining is often the first sign. Requires full-section underlayment replacement.
● Most Expensive If IgnoredTiles shift out of position when wire clips or nails fail, or when mortar beds at eaves deteriorate. Displaced tiles expose underlayment to wind-driven rain. Common on roofs over 20 years old where original fastening has corroded.
● Repair Before Rain SeasonFlashing at chimneys, pipes, skylights, and wall-to-roof transitions fails from mortar deterioration or improper original installation. On tile roofs, counter-flashing integrated into mortar beds is particularly prone to failure as mortar ages.
● Direct Leak PathHigh winds can displace or crack tiles at the ridge and eaves where exposure is greatest. Hail fractures tiles along their length, often creating hairline cracks invisible from the ground until water infiltration reveals them months later.
● Inspect After Any StormTile roof repair costs depend heavily on tile profile, material, sourcing difficulty, and whether underlayment replacement is needed. Here are typical ranges — your written estimate after free inspection will be exact.
| Repair Type | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Individual tile replacement (1–3 tiles) | $150 – $500 / tile |
| Ridge or hip cap repointing (per lin. ft) | $20 – $50 / lin. ft |
| Ridge re-tile section (full ridge) | $800 – $4,000 |
| Tile section repair (10–50 tiles) | $1,500 – $5,000 |
| Underlayment section replacement | $3,000 – $8,000 |
| Flashing repair at penetration | $500 – $2,000 |
| Full re-underlayment (tiles reused) | $8,000 – $20,000 |
Why tile repair needs a specialist
Using pure Portland cement instead of Type S mortar on ridge caps creates a rigid bond that spalls tile edges as the mortar shrinks on curing. Proper tile mortar is flexible. Wrong mortar = tiles crack at the edges within 2–5 years of the repair.
We confirm tile profile, size, and colour match with the supplier before booking the repair date. On older roofs, the original manufacturer may be acquired or discontinued — we find alternatives and show you options before we arrive. No surprises on the day.
We inspect the underlayment beneath every tile we remove. A visible cracked tile is an opportunity to check the condition of a 20–25 year underlayment underneath — we tell you honestly what we find and what it means for the roof’s remaining life.
Our crews use foam-padded walkboards on every tile job, distribute weight correctly, and never send a general laborer to do tile access work. Broken tiles from improper access are a cost we absorb, not one we pass on to you.
Tile roofing is concentrated in specific US climate zones. We have dedicated tile-certified crews in all major tile markets.
"Our solar crew cracked four barrel tiles when they installed panels — didn’t tell us, just left. RoofRepair.co sourced matching tiles, which took a week for our profile. They replaced the tiles, re-mortared the adjacent ridge section that had also failed, and found the underlayment was wet beneath two of the cracks. Caught a water problem we didn’t know existed. Thorough and completely honest."
"After Hurricane Helene, we had five ridge cap tiles displaced and two cracked S-tiles. RoofRepair.co came out within three days, documented everything for our Citizens Insurance claim, and completed the repair the same week. They used the correct HVHZ-rated fastening method — something two other roofers hadn’t mentioned. Our adjuster approved the claim immediately."
"We had recurring ceiling stains despite intact tiles. Three roofers replaced individual tiles — none of them found the problem. RoofRepair.co lifted a section of tiles and found the 24-year-old underlayment had completely failed beneath a perfectly-looking roof. Full underlayment replacement on the rear slope. No stains since. Wish we’d called them first — would have saved $3,000 in interior repairs."
Exact-match tile · Correct mortar · Underlayment inspected · 5-year warranty