Signs of a tile roof leak
- Cracked, broken or slipped tiles you can see from the ground
- Ceiling stains, often after a long, heavy rain
- Tiles that look out of line or have gaps between them
- Damp wood or insulation in the attic
- Leaks around chimneys, skylights or roof valleys
Why tile roofs leak
Many people think a tile roof can’t leak because tile lasts so long. But the tile is only half the system. Under it is a layer of underlayment that does most of the waterproofing. Here’s what usually goes wrong:
Worn underlayment. Years of Florida heat break it down. Once it cracks or tears, water that gets past the tile goes straight to the deck.
Cracked or slipped tiles. A broken tile lets far more water reach the underlayment than it was built to handle.
Valleys and flashing. Metal valleys and wall flashing can rust or get packed with debris, so water backs up under the tile. See flashing and vent leak repair.
Ridge and hip tiles. The caps along the top and edges are set in mortar or foam. If that fails, the caps loosen and water gets in.
How we fix tile roof leaks
We find the source first. Water on a tile roof can travel a long way before it drips inside, so we trace it with an attic check and, if needed, our roof leak detection service. Then we lift the tiles in that area, repair the underlayment and flashing, replace broken tiles and set everything back. We’ll tell you honestly if the underlayment across the whole roof is near the end of its life.