Why tile roofs leak
When a tile roof leaks, the tile usually isn't the main problem. Tile sheds most of the water, but some always gets underneath, and the underlayment carries it off the roof. Years of summer heat dry that underlayment out until it cracks, tears or crumbles, and then the water that slips past the tile finds its way into the house. Other common causes:
- Cracked or slipped tiles from foot traffic, a dropped branch, wind or a past repair.
- Worn flashing at valleys, walls, chimneys, skylights and vents.
- Debris in valleys that dams water and pushes it sideways under the tile.
- Swamp cooler and solar mounts that were added later and never sealed right.
Stains on the ceiling, a musty attic or tile pieces in the yard are all good reasons to have it looked at. A roof inspection tells you whether you need a small repair or new underlayment.
Tile lift-and-relay and underlayment replacement
If the tile is in good shape but the underlayment under it is worn out, you often don't need a whole new roof. With a lift-and-relay, we:
- Lift the existing tile carefully and stack it on the roof.
- Remove the old underlayment and check the deck, repairing soft or damaged wood we find.
- Install new underlayment and new flashing where it's needed.
- Relay the tile, replacing cracked and broken pieces as needed.
Your home keeps the look of its tile roof, with a new waterproofing layer underneath. When we price the job, we'll tell you about any tiles that need replacing and how we'll match them.
Tile roof repair
For smaller problems, we repair tile roofs: replacing cracked and slipped tiles, resealing and replacing flashing, clearing valleys and fixing leaks around vents, skylights and swamp coolers. If a cooler is coming out, we close up the opening in the roof, and how depends on the job. If the leak is active, we tarp roofs in emergencies to help limit damage until the repair can be made. See roof repair for more.
Full tile roof replacement
Sometimes a lift-and-relay isn't the right call, for example when a lot of the tile is broken or the deck needs major work. Then we talk through a full roof replacement, whether that's new tile or another roof system for your home. We'll lay out the options in your written estimate so you can compare them line by line. Warranty length depends on the product, typically 20 years.
Insurance claims
If a storm or wind damaged your tile roof, we can help with your insurance claim. We inspect the roof, document the damage and write an itemized estimate. Your insurance company decides what is covered.
Tile roofing across Bakersfield and Kern County
We work on tile roofs on homes all over Bakersfield, from the southwest to the northwest and east side, and across Kern County, including Oildale, Shafter, Tehachapi, Delano and the rest of our service areas. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week, and someone is on call after hours. Our crew includes Spanish speakers. Hablamos español. More on all of our residential roofing work.
Tile roofing FAQ
What is a tile lift-and-relay?
We lift the existing tile, replace the worn underlayment (and flashing where needed) underneath, then relay the tile, replacing broken pieces. It's often an option when the tile is still good but the roof leaks.
Do I need a new tile roof or just new underlayment?
If most of the tile is sound, new underlayment with a lift-and-relay is often enough. If a lot of tile is broken or the deck is damaged, replacement may make more sense. We inspect the roof and explain which fits and why.
Can you replace a few broken tiles?
Yes. We replace cracked and slipped tiles and fix the flashing around them. We'll tell you if we see signs the underlayment is worn out too.
Do you help with insurance claims on tile roofs?
Yes. If your tile roof was damaged by a storm or wind, we can help with your insurance claim. We document the damage and give you a written, itemized estimate.
How much does tile roof work cost?
It depends on the size of the roof, how much tile needs replacing, the condition of the deck and the flashing details. We give you a free, written, itemized estimate. Call (661) 213-2203.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. Pioneer Roofing · Licensed & Insured · CA License #976470.
Get a free tile roof estimate
Helpful reading: Signs of heat damage to your roof · Planning a roof replacement
Tell us about your home and what the roof is doing, and we'll set up a time to take a look.
Pioneer Roofing · 6321 Almond Dr, Bakersfield, CA 93308 · (661) 213-2203 · 8 a.m.–5 p.m. daily (Mon–Sun), on call after hours · Pioneer Roofing · Licensed & Insured · CA License #976470
Serving all of Kern County and nearby areas, plus larger projects elsewhere in California.