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A Tile Roof should last forever, Right?
I know you hate these answers...Yes and No.
The tile itself will stand the test of time, however the tile is not the waterproofing component of a Tile Roofing System. The tile portion of your roof system does facilitate water shedding, but it is what is under that tile that keeps you water tight. The tile underlayment that sits between your wood decking and the tile is the critical waterproofing component and this barrier does not last forever.
Unlike Shingle and Flat roofs that show its wear and tear, the aging component of a tile roof is not evident as it is being covered by that beautiful long lasting tile.
So now what? The best way to know where you are in the life span of your tile roof underlayment is to pull up a few tiles and look. The aging of the underlayment is detectable, you should see flexible sturdy material, not brittle or degrading.
There are also areas most likely to degrade first- check those dead valleys where water has not outlet and debris tends to gather. Those areas should be kept free from debris as that debris accelerates the degrading of your underlayment by holding onto water and moisture.
What if your underlayment is beyond its useful life- Do you need a new roof?
Again, not a clear answer. Our first recommendation would be to do what we call a Tile R&R. That is we Remove the tile, correct the underlayment problem, the Replace the existing tile. This process is available to most tile roof types with the exception of Mexican clay that is too fragile for this process. Now, here is the tricky part, when we remove that tile- it is expected that a certain percentage of those tiles will not be reusable. (the percentage depends on the method by which they were originally installed). If that tile is still being manufactured then we can simply purchase that same tile for replacement of those unusable tiles. However...during our recent economic crisis many tile manufacturers have gone out of business-and with them went their proprietary colors and molds. If you roof was constructed with those obsolete tiles- then we need to get creative- perhaps doing a section not visible to the street with one tile and the remainder of the roof in another. The front one tile, the back another. You will need to partner with your Project Specialist to make these decisions.
Our project specialists are experts on:
- Determining the remaining useful life of your tile underlayment. When you can't see what is going on, knowing whats coming is the best way to prepare. Inspections are always free!
- Deriving the most cost effective solution for your roof.
The most important thing to know is that Tile roofing systems, like all roofing systems, need maintenance and do not last forever, especially if not maintenanced. If you haven't looked at your tile underlayment for 10 years- call for an appointment today. We will take a look for you or your neighbors, friends and family. | 
ur own pet whisperer. She is always rescuing some animal that wanders onto our property here. The routine is similar each time- and the antics are actually amusing between Rhonda's unyielding compassion and Paul exasperation as he is now out $X for vet fees for a stray animal. Then the animal becomes the office pet for a day or two while Rhonda nurses them back to health. Each time an employee falls in love with the animal and it goes home with them. NOT THIS TIME. This little darling was a two week old kitty found underneath a pallet of tile. This kitty was a constant fixture at the office as she needed round the clock bottle feeding. We all fell in love with little Nala and she now has her permanent home with the LaNue's, along with their 3 dogs. Give yourself a chuckle and ask Paul about his pets sometime. 
