Clay Tile Roof Repair

Clay Tile Roof Repair

Posted By: Fundi Mfalme Blog on 17th of October 2013

A clay tile roof is often susceptible to leaks caused by various problems either with the tile itself or by the method of installation hence the method employed in the repair of a leak will often differ depending on the cause of the problem. More than any other roof type, the traditional tile roof is an architectural feature deserving of special attention because the texture, color, and play of light and shadow impart a distinctive character to a building that no other roof type can match. Yet tens of thousands of tile roofs have been lost in recent decades because of the ignorance or laziness of low-level roof repair contractors. So it is of paramount importance to have your tile roof fixed by a qualified and experienced roofer. Leaking in clay roof tiles may be due to several faults. Some leakage problems go beyond the roof clay tile being related to the other aspects of the roofing or installation methods. Some of the common problems that relate to leakage in clay tiles are: Defective or worn out waterproof membrane Collection of debris in the roof valley that cause water to accumulate on the valley Cracked tiles Broken tiles The defects that may result in a leaking clay tile roof can be dealt by a careful consideration of the following measures; Fixing a Membrane More than often the leakage may be as result of defective in the waterproof membrane. If such is the cause of the leakage then the waterproof membrane will need to be replaced. This is done by removing all the existing tiles and replacing the old membrane with a new one. Then the roof is re-tiled. This must be done by the help of a professional to avoid a re-occurrence of a similar problem in future. Removing the Debris It is a common occurrence for the roof valleys especially the closed ones to collect a lot of debris. More often than not, this can cause leaks in clay roof tiles. In order to remove the debris such that there is no more leakage, you will need to remove the tiles from the valley, clean out the area, and then reinstall the tile. You may also need to consider converting the closed roof valleys into open ones to avoid debris collection in the future. Fixing a Crack If you find that there are fine cracks in your tiles, you can repair the crack by applying a crack sealant to the tile to deal with the problem. When applying the crack sealant allow  it to spread over the entire tile and let it dry. Fixing Broken Tiles Tiles that are broken or have large cracks need to be replaced in order to fix the leak. For this, you will need to remove all damaged tiles. The removal must be carefully done to avoid causing damage to the good tiles next to the broken ones. If your roof is old, chances are your tiles have been fixed using mortar. If that is the case, place the new tiles and use the mortar to seal them in place. Metal Flashing In some cases the leakage in the roof might be as a result of failure of metal flashing. If the metal flashing is the source of the leakage then it's possible to lift a limited number of tiles, replace all flashing and re-lay the original tiles. During this process, you may also find some broken or cracked tiles. (An experienced roofer can tell by gentle tapping whether a tile retains its structural integrity or has hidden fissures.) Cracked or leaking tiles should be replaced at this time. Work on an existing tile roof must be done by an experienced roof tile contractor; an inexperienced contractor may break more tiles than he or she replaces.