If you own an older home in Los Angeles with a clay or concrete tile roof, there’s a good chance that one day it will leak — even though the tiles look perfect from the street. Here’s why, and what a re-lay is.
Tile isn’t the waterproof layer
This surprises a lot of homeowners: roof tile is not what keeps your house dry. Tile sheds most of the water and protects what’s underneath from sun and impact. The real waterproofing is the underlayment — the membrane between the tile and the roof deck.
Tile can last 50 years or more. Underlayment typically doesn’t come close, especially under Southern California sun. Once it dries out, cracks and tears, water that gets past the tile goes straight into the deck.
What happens during a re-lay
- Remove and stack the tile carefully, sorting out any broken pieces.
- Inspect and repair the roof deck, replacing any rotted or damaged sheathing.
- Install new underlayment, usually a modern, longer-lasting product.
- Replace flashing at valleys, walls, chimneys and penetrations, plus new battens where needed.
- Reinstall the original tile, using matching replacements for any that were broken.
Why choose a re-lay?
- Keep the look of your home, especially original clay tile on Spanish and Mediterranean homes
- Lower cost than buying all-new tile
- Less waste going to landfill
- A fresh waterproofing layer that addresses the actual cause of tile roof leaks
When a re-lay isn’t the answer
If a large share of the tile is cracked, brittle or discontinued with no matches available, or if you want a different look, a new tile roof or a different material may make more sense. We’ll price both.
Next step
The only way to know the condition of your underlayment is to lift some tile and look. Book a free tile roof inspection and we’ll show you photos of what’s underneath.