KPost Company installs and repairs clay and concrete tile roofs in Dallas, TX. We also replace tile roofs at the end of their service life, and we inspect existing ones for homeowners who want to know how much life is left. Tile lasts for decades, but it does not keep water out on its own. The tile sheds most of the rain, and the underlayment below it is the waterproof layer, which is why a tile roof can leak while every tile still looks fine.

That split shapes most tile work. A repair can be as small as swapping out a few cracked or slipped tiles, or as large as lifting the tile so worn underlayment can be replaced, then relaying the same tile over it. A new installation starts with the structure. Concrete tile runs roughly 900 to 1,200 pounds per 100 square feet, against about 250 for architectural shingles, so the framing gets evaluated first. For a new roof, that evaluation tells you what your house can carry before you pick a profile and color. For an existing roof, an inspection tells you what it needs.

Key Takeaways

  • The underlayment does the waterproofing. Tile sheds the bulk of the rain. When the underlayment below it wears out, the roof leaks even though the tile looks fine.
  • Plan for one underlayment replacement in the life of the roof. Underlayment under tile usually lasts 20 to 30 years. Replacing it means lifting and relaying the tile.
  • A cracked tile is not an emergency, but it is not a next-year job either. The crack exposes the underlayment to sun and weather it was never meant to take, and that spot ages quickly.
  • Most cracked tile comes from foot traffic. Weight belongs on the lower third of each tile, where the course below supports it. Anyone servicing a satellite dish or a chimney should know that before going up.