Tile Roofing | Tampa Bay & Lakeland

Tile roofs are common across this region and are frequently misunderstood. The tiles shed the bulk of the water, but they are not waterproof. The actual barrier is the underlayment beneath them. Tiles can last fifty years or more; the underlayment beneath them typically does not, and when it fails the roof leaks even though every tile is intact.

That means the most common major tile roof work here is not replacing tiles, it is replacing the underlayment and relaying the existing tile on top of it.

Underlayment is the real roof

Underlayment on a tile roof takes continuous UV exposure through the gaps between tiles, and it degrades. When it does, water passes it and reaches the deck. The tiles above may look perfect. This is why a tile roof that has started leaking is often not a tile problem at all, and why an inspection that only looks at the tiles will miss it.

Relaying existing tile

Where the tiles are sound, they can be removed, stored, and reinstalled over new underlayment. That saves the cost of new tile, which is the largest material item on a tile roof, and it is the standard approach for a roof whose underlayment has reached the end of its life. Breakage during removal is expected, so a stock of matching tiles is needed, which is worth checking before the work begins.

Weight, structure and walkability

Tile is heavy, and a structure carrying it has to be designed for the load. Converting from shingle to tile is therefore a structural question as well as a roofing one. Tile roofs are also not designed to be walked on, and cracked tiles from foot traffic are a common cause of small leaks that are otherwise hard to explain.

When to call

A tile roof is leaking despite intact tiles
The underlayment has reached the end of its life
Tiles are cracked, slipped or displaced
You are buying a property with a tile roof
You are considering converting from shingle to tile
Ridge or hip tiles have come loose after wind

How the work is handled

Inspect tiles, underlayment, flashing and deck condition
Determine whether relaying over new underlayment is viable
Remove and store tiles, inspecting the deck beneath
Install new underlayment, flashing and battens as required
Relay tiles, replace breakages and secure ridge and hip

What affects the cost

We do not quote a number before seeing the property, because the same job on two similar houses can need different work. These are the factors that move the scope:

Roof area and the complexity of the tile layout
Whether existing tiles can be reused or new ones are needed
Availability of matching tiles for breakages
Condition of the deck once the tile is removed
Flashing and valley work at penetrations and intersections
Structural considerations if the covering is being changed

Frequently asked questions

Why is my tile roof leaking when the tiles look fine?

Because the underlayment beneath the tiles is the waterproof layer, and it degrades with UV exposure through the gaps between tiles. The tiles are a rain screen rather than a barrier. A leak on an intact tile roof almost always points at the underlayment.

How long does tile roof underlayment last?

Considerably less than the tiles themselves. Tiles can last several decades, while the underlayment beneath them has a much shorter life and is what usually determines when the roof needs major work. An inspection should always assess it.

Can I walk on a tile roof?

It should be avoided. Tile is brittle under point loads, and cracked tiles from foot traffic create small leaks that are difficult to trace. Any work on a tile roof requires careful weight distribution and ideally purpose-made walkway pads.

Can I replace a shingle roof with tile?

It is possible but it is a structural question as well as a roofing one, because tile is significantly heavier and the framing has to be adequate for the load. That is assessed before the decision rather than after.

Related services

Roofing Service across Tampa Bay and Lakeland

Tile is common across Tampa Bay, and the work that matters most on these roofs is underlayment replacement rather than the tiles themselves. We work throughout Tampa, Brandon, Riverview, Valrico, Plant City, Lutz, Land O' Lakes, Wesley Chapel, Odessa, Zephyrhills, Lakeland.

What we see most often in this region

Underlayment degrading under intact tile after UV exposure
Matching tiles hard to source for breakages during relaying
Cracked tiles from foot traffic creating difficult-to-trace leaks
Ridge and hip tiles loosening under wind exposure