On a tile roof, trouble usually begins under the tile rather than in the tile itself. So a stain on your ceiling rarely means that the tile above it has failed.
That difference decides what we recommend for a Beverly Hills tile roof: repair, a lift and relay, or replacement. This page covers what we check, what we usually find and how each path works.
Tile lasts longer than the layer beneath it
Tile is the visible part of a roof, but the tile is not the waterproofing. Water that gets past it lands on the underlayment, a membrane laid over the wood deck. That hidden layer keeps your ceilings dry, and it wears out long before the tile does.
When a tile roof leaks and the tile still looks sound, that hidden layer is usually why. Cracked or slipped tile lets water through as well, and both problems can exist together.
Broken tile shows from the ground, while failed underlayment hides until water reaches a ceiling. Flashing, the metal that seals roof-to-wall and chimney joints, is another frequent leak origin.
How we assess a tile roof
A tile roof does not take foot traffic the way a shingle roof does. Walking across tile can crack pieces that were still doing their job, so we plan access first. We can start an estimate from satellite imagery of your roof before anyone climbs a ladder.
A sales estimate is free, and it tells you what the work on your roof would cost. We charge separately for a detailed written roof inspection or report, and that fee is not fixed. Call us and we will explain which of the two actually fits your situation.
The tile roofing industry publishes a maintenance protocol for tile roofs that owners can read. It describes in general terms how tile, underlayment and flashings are inspected and maintained.
Lift and relay, or a new tile roof
When the underlayment has failed but the tile has not, we lift and relay the roof. Tile comes off in sections so we can clear the old underlayment and fix damaged decking underneath. New underlayment then goes down, and your original tile is restacked over the top of it.
Not every tile roof needs work on that scale. A few slipped tiles, a cracked piece or one wet ceiling spot is often ordinary roof repair. We quote small tile repairs as readily as we quote whole-roof projects.
Which tiles go back on
Sound tile can usually return to the roof, which is the entire point of a relay. Tiles that crack or crumble while being handled are replaced with new pieces instead. How many come back depends on the age, profile and condition of what you have.
When a full replacement makes more sense
Sometimes the tile itself is the problem: widespread cracking, crumbling edges, or failure across most slopes. Broad damage to the deck points the same way, because wood must be sound before tile returns. In those cases we say so plainly and quote a full roof replacement instead.
What the wood deck shows once the tile is off
The decking, meaning the wood sheathing under your roof covering, only becomes visible once tile is lifted. Rot found there is the most common reason a tile job grows past its first price. It is also why we raise the subject of the deck before the work begins.
Nobody can price hidden wood in advance, so our estimates deal with that uncertainty openly. They include an allowance for wood damage, with a set rate for anything found beyond it. We tell you what the deck looks like while your roof is still open.
Replacing bad sheathing is ordinary work on an older tile roof rather than a red flag. Sound wood carries the new underlayment and the weight of the tile going back over it.
Matching tile you cannot reuse
Most relays need some replacement tile, because a share of breakage during handling is normal. Our estimates carry an allowance for broken tile for exactly that reason. The harder question is whether the replacements can match the tile you already have.
Profile, color and age all matter, and older clay tile is often out of production. We look for the closest option available and show you how the match will read. Supply sits with the market, so we confirm a match before committing you to it.
If your roof is slate rather than clay or concrete, the handling and sourcing differ again. Our slate roofing page covers that material and how we assess it. Tell us what you have on the roof and we will start in the right place.
What a tile job looks like at your property
Tile is heavy, so it comes off in sections and stacks on site while work proceeds. Keeping the open area small limits how much of your roof is exposed at one time. Expect pallets, ladders and a staging area on the property while the job runs.
Breakage is part of the work rather than a surprise, which is what the tile allowance covers. Replacement pieces fill in wherever originals do not survive the lift and relay.
We also help property owners pull the roofing permits their project requires from the city. What your particular property needs is always confirmed with the city itself.
Beverly Hills Roofing Contractors is a division of Home Vision Remodel. We work under CSLB #1112525 on residential and commercial roofs alike. Call (424) 532-7527, tell us what your tile roof is doing, and get a free estimate.
Tile roof questions we hear most
Can the tile already on my roof be reused?
Often yes, when the tile is sound and survives being lifted and stacked. That is the whole idea behind a lift and relay: new underlayment, your original tile. Pieces that break along the way are replaced with the closest match we can source.
What are the signs that tile underlayment is failing?
A leak during heavy rain while the tile still looks fine is the clearest signal. Because that layer is hidden, tile has to come up before anyone can confirm it.
Is it okay to walk on a tiled roof?
Tile can crack under foot traffic even when the roof is in good condition. That is one reason our estimates include an allowance for broken tile.
How long does a tile roof last?
Tile and its underlayment age at different rates, so one number would mislead you. Tile commonly outlives the waterproof layer beneath it by decades. So the useful question is the age of that layer rather than the tile.
Beverly Hills CA
(424) 532-7527