Roofing Systems & Installation

Tile Roofing in Los Angeles, CA

Clay and concrete tile roofs repaired, re-laid and kept watertight, the way Los Angeles homes with tile need it done.

Red clay tile roof with a brick chimney on a home in Los Angeles, CA

Tile Roof Work for Spanish-Style and Mediterranean Homes

Walk through almost any older Los Angeles neighborhood and you will see tile: red clay barrel tile on Spanish Colonial Revival bungalows, flat concrete tile on 1960s through 1990s homes, mission-style roofs on duplexes and courtyard buildings. Tile is durable and handsome, and it also behaves very differently from every other roof covering.

The tiles themselves can last for many decades. What wears out is what is under them: the underlayment and the flashing. Heat bakes the underlayment, tiles slip or crack, and water gets through a roof that still looks perfect from the street. Good tile roofing work is about keeping that hidden waterproofing layer healthy.

Reyes Roofing handles tile repair and replacement, including swapping out broken or slipped tiles, re-setting loose ones and redoing the underlayment when it has aged out. Tile is also heavy and fragile underfoot, so how the crew moves across the roof matters as much as the repair itself.

When a tile roof needs a roofer

  • Cracked, chipped or slipped tiles you can see from the ground
  • Water stains on the ceiling even though the tiles look intact
  • Tiles that have shifted out of line after wind or an earthquake
  • Moss, heavy debris or a build-up of leaves in the valleys
  • Mortar or foam at ridges and hips that has crumbled or fallen out
  • A roof that has not been looked at in a decade or more

How we work on a tile roof

  1. Walk the roof carefully

    Tile cracks under the wrong footing, so we move across it deliberately and note every cracked, slipped or missing tile and the condition of the flashing.

  2. Lift and stage the tile

    For anything beyond a few replacements, tiles are lifted by section and stacked safely instead of tossed, so more of them can be reused.

  3. Repair what is underneath

    Worn underlayment is replaced, damaged deck sections are repaired, and flashing at walls, valleys and vents is renewed.

  4. Re-set or replace the tile

    Good tiles go back in place and are fastened, with matched or reclaimed tile used where replacements are needed.

  5. Check ridges and finish

    Ridge and hip tiles are checked and re-secured, the roof is cleared of debris, and we walk you through what we found.

What affects the price of tile roof work

Tile jobs range from a handful of replacements to a full re-lay. The price depends on:

  • How many tiles are broken, slipped or missing, and whether matching tile exists
  • Clay versus concrete tile, and the profile (barrel, flat or S-tile)
  • Whether the underlayment needs replacing, which means lifting the tile
  • Roof pitch, height and how hard it is to stage and stack tile
  • Deck repairs found under the tile
  • Flashing, ridge and hip work, which takes more labor than the field tile

Why choose Reyes Roofing for tile roofs

Tile is one of the four roof types Reyes Roofing lists as core work, along with shingle, torch-down and silicone sealing. For a Los Angeles homeowner with a tile roof, that matters because many roofing companies work mostly on shingles and treat tile as an afterthought.

We tell you whether you need a few tiles replaced or a new underlayment, and we put it in writing in the quote so you can see what you are paying for.

We work on tile roofs across Los Angeles and the northeast San Fernando Valley. See our Los Angeles roofing page and San Fernando roofing page.

Tile Roofing FAQs

Is a cracked roof tile an emergency?

One cracked tile is not usually an emergency, but it should not wait through a rainy season. Tile sheds most water, yet the underlayment below is the real waterproofing layer, and a broken tile can let water reach it. A quick replacement is cheap compared with repairing a wet deck.

Why does my tile roof leak when the tiles look fine?

Because the tiles are only the outer layer. The underlayment beneath them wears out from decades of heat, and flashing at walls, valleys and penetrations can fail even when every tile looks intact. Leaks on tile roofs most often start there.

What is re-laying a tile roof?

Tiles are carefully lifted and stacked, the old underlayment is replaced, any damaged deck is repaired and the same tiles are set back in place. It is how a good tile roof gets a new waterproofing layer without buying all new tile.

Can tile roofs handle earthquakes?

Tile is heavy, so it needs to be fastened correctly, and California building requirements address how tile is secured. Loose, unfastened or poorly repaired tiles are what slide in shaking and high winds, which is one more reason to keep a tile roof maintained.

Can you match my existing tile?

Often we can come close. Tile profiles and colors are discontinued over time and old tile weathers, so we look for matching or reclaimed tile first, and take replacements from a hidden area of the roof when a close match is hard to find.

Related Services

Roof Repair in Los Angeles, CA

Roof Repair

Failed flashing, lifted shingles, cracked tile and worn seams fixed at the source.

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Roof Leak Repair in Los Angeles, CA

Roof Leak Repair

Find the opening, stop the water and repair the damage, before the next storm.

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Roof Inspection in Los Angeles, CA

Roof Inspection

A close look at the roof before a storm season, a sale or a repair decision.

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Get a Free Quote on Your Tile Roof

Send the address and a description of the tile roof and we will follow up with a free quote.