A lot of homes in the Valley have tile roofs, and a lot of tile roofs look great from the street. So a leak can be a surprise. The tiles look fine. Where is the water coming from?
The tile is not what keeps the water out
Tile sheds most of the rain and blocks the sun. Under it is a layer called underlayment, and that is what actually keeps water out of the house. Some water always gets past the tile. The underlayment sends it down and off the roof.
Why the underlayment wears out first
Tile can last a very long time. The underlayment under it usually wears out long before the tile does, and Arizona heat speeds that up. Once it dries out and cracks, the water that gets past the tile reaches the wood deck, and then your ceiling.
Signs to watch for
- A stain on the ceiling after rain, with no broken tile in sight
- Tile that has slipped or cracked
- Leaks around valleys, chimneys or skylights
- An older home that still has its original roof
How it gets fixed
Often the fix is not new tile. The tile comes off, the decking gets checked and repaired, new underlayment goes down, and the tile goes back on by hand. Broken tiles get replaced.
The only way to know what yours needs is to get on the roof and look. See our tile roofing page for photos of a job in Mesa.
Tile roof leaking? Book a free inspection or call 480.631.4291.
