Tile Roof Repair in Tucson

If you look upon the horizon in Tucson, Green Valley, Casas Adobe, and Oro Valley and surrounding areas you will find that a great portion of homes have concrete tile roofs.  The hot arid climate is perfect of these style roofs.  If you own such a home you may wonder how to make tile roof repairs or when to replace such a roof.   Many Tucson roofing companies try to up sale jobs and claim that every tile roof needs to be replaced but that is not the case. In fact, many can be repaired instead of the roof replaced which can save thousands of dollars for the home owners. However, some tile roofs should be replaced. Here is a short guide on tile roof repairs and tile roof replacements.

Should I Replace Or Repair My Tile Roof?

When asking, “should I replace or repair my tile roof,” it is important to first understand what a tile roof replacement means.  In the roofing business, a tile roof replacement is called a “lift and lay” procedure. Tucson roofing contractors will lift all the tiles and shift them to a different section of the roof, replace the underlayment and battens, and then replace (or lay) the old tiles back down upon the roof.  The tiles are not replaced with new tiles. Only the underlayment is replaced.  When a roof company states you need a “tile roof replacement” they usually do not suggest you need new tiles, only what is under the tiles. When a roof replacement is recommended, the roofing contractor is saying that the underlayment is bad and needs replaced.  If your underlayment is bad then it is always best to do a full roof replacement.  If the underlayment is in good condition and you only have minor issues on the roof, the tile roof repairs are best.  Always make sure your Tucson roofer provides adequate photo evidence on what they suggest for your roof which should answer the question,  “should I replace or repair my tile roof?”

How To Replace A Tile Roof

Replacing a tile roof is a very laborious process and can be very costly to accomplish.  Most roof underlayments can last 20-30 years so most home owners may not have had to have this accomplished. As mentioned above, the purpose of the lift and lay replacement is to remove the bad underlayment and replace it with new underlayment.  Here are the basic steps on how to replace a tile roof:

1. Inspect the roof for the scope of work and what materials are needed.
2. Remove tiles from their location and stack them on the roof out of the way.
3. Remove the old underlayment and battens.
4. Replace any rotted wood.
5. Install new underlayment over the wood.
6. Install new battens on the roof.
7. Install new drip edges.
8. Install bird stops as needed.
9. Install and seal new vent flashings.
10. Reinstall the old tiles on the roof replacing previously broken tiles with the new tiles.
11. Install new weather blocks at hips and ridges.
12. Install new mortar packs as needed.
13. Paint flashings as needed.

What Is The Best Underlayment For My Tile Roof?

The absolute most important aspect of a tile roof is the underlayment. Approximately 95% of the moisture from the weather is kept off the underlayment from the tiles. The other 5% of the weather gets on the underlayment and runs down the roof until it either evaporates or comes out the bottom at the eves.  If a tile cracks, moisture from the weather and solar energy from the sun get direct access to the underlayment.  It goes without saying that the underlayment is what protects your home from water and it should be the best quality possible to protect your home.  Therefore, the best question you could ask is “What is the best underlayment for my tile roof?”

Most homebuilders want to minimize costs so they apply the typical 30lb or 40lb tar-based roof paper under the tiles. This underlayment will last 20-25 years before deteriorating to the point it needs replacing.  Some of the newer synthetic underlayment lasts much longer.  In fact, many of them can last up to 30 years or more before needing replaced. These type of underlayments usually have a peel and stick backing that sticks to the roof’s wood decking. They also seal around any nail penetrations which helps waterproof the roof. They are usually more expensive but they definitely are worth the cost.  At Desert Sky Roofing we only use the top-of-the-line underlayment when replacing a tile roof. We like products such as Polystick®TU Max and other equivalent brands.  This is the best underlayment for your tile roof.

Typical Tile Roof Repairs

If your roof underlayment is in good condition then only tile roof repairs are necessary.  In this case your Tucson roofing company will suggest what is needed to get your roof back into service.  Repairs can vary in scope and cost but here is a list of typical tile roof repairs that may be suggested for your roof.

1. Replace cracked or broken tiles.
2. Repair or replace mortar caps.
3. Realign shifted tiles back into place.
4. Seal penetrations, vents, or flashings.
5. Replace vents or flashings.
6. Install weather block where not installed.
7. Remove an area of tiles and replace wood, underlayment, and battens.
8. Clean debris out of valleys.
9. Seal rolled roofing at dead valleys.

While this is not an exhaustive list of tile roof repairs it does incorporate the typical emergency roof repairs a roofing contractor may suggest.  These repairs can be simple and quick or in the case of wood replacement they could be extensive.  Most quality roofers will provide you with clear explanations of the scope of work and what to expect when the work begins. We always recommend getting photo proof of the suggested work needed.  Desert Sky Roofing will always provide a clear understanding of what you can expect and what is needed to bring your roof back into service.

How To Choose A Roofing Contractor

If you look up “roofing contractor in Tucson” you will find hundreds of companies. Some companies have been in business for years and some companies just recently popped up during the most recent storms.  It may be the case that a roofing company came knocking at your door after the last monsoon storm. This begs the question, “How to choose a roofing contractor” to work on your tile roof. Here are some questions you should work through when determining which roofer to choose for your project.

1. Is the roofing company licensed, bonded, and insured? This is important because it protect you, the consumer. This typically means you will pay more for their services but it also helps ensure your protection in case things go wrong.
2. Is the company based in the local area? During monsoon season there will be numerous roofing companies and pop-up so-called experts trying to get your business.  It is not uncommon for Pheonix roofing companies to travel to Tucson to get work. It is important to chose a company that will be here when the work is completed in the case you do have leaks or a warranty issue.  Many of the out of town companies also hire shotty subcontractors who do horrible work.  Pick a company from the Tucson general area.
3. What kind of reputation does the roofing contractor have? There are numerous locations to find online reviews for roofers. What are people saying about the roofers? If they made a mistake, what was their response? How old are the reviews? As an example you can see Desert Sky Roofing’s reviews on Google by clicking HERE.
4. Did the roofer provide a detailed estimate of the work? Many shady roofing companies like to minimize the description of work so as to remove liability and reduce the work needed. It is unfortunate that so many roofers sometimes work harder to get out of work than doing the work right the first time.  Make sure that you receive a detailed description of work and get clarification on any questions you may have.
5. What is the warranty for the roof repairs? Warranties usually range from 2-5 years are almost always “workmanship” warranties.  All contractors must provide a minimum of a two-year workmanship warranty. Some roofing companies like to use warranties as sales gimmicks and suggest longer that typical warranties just to get a sale. Be suspect of warranties over 5 years.  They could be legit, but you should definitely read the fine print! Most warranties are written to reduce the likelihood of a return visit. The most important thing about a company’s warranty is the integrity of the company.  If you feel the company operates with integrity, then they will likely honor their warranty if it is needed.
6. Get at least three roofing estimates. We always recommend clients get more than one estimate and feel it is best to get at least three estimates. Unfortunately, many Tucson roofing contractors pay their salespeople a percentage of what they sell. This tempts the salesperson to inflate estimates and try to upsell or suggest work that is not needed. By getting multiple estimates you can possibly identify when a roofer is being shady.  Also, by comparing estimates from different companies it should generate questions that you can ask the roofer you are leaning toward.  Finally, if there is a significant price difference between estimates reach out and ask the companies why the difference in prices.