ServicesTile Roofing
Tile Roofing in Los Alamitos, Starting With a Sound Underlayment
Clay and concrete tile can serve for decades, but the layer beneath it tends to wear out sooner. We repair, re-lay and install tile roofs, take care of the permit and inspection, and walk you through each code step so you know what goes on your home.
What tile roofing work really involves
On a tile roof, the leak is rarely the tile's fault. The tiles turn away most rain, but it is the underlayment below that keeps the house dry. After years of Southern California sun, older felt turns brittle, splits and tears, and winter storms push water through the gaps.
So much of our tile work is a lift and relay. We take the tiles off and stack them with care, put in new underlayment, battens and flashing, then reset the same tiles and replace any that broke. Your roof keeps its look and gains a fresh waterproof layer. If the tiles are worn out, or you want to move to tile, we plan a full new tile roof.
We hold a roofing contractor license, CSLB 1092407 (C-39), and we pull the reroof permit so a city building inspector reviews the work in addition to us.
What our tile roofing service covers
- Broken and slipped tile repair
- We replace cracked or sliding tiles and check the fastening around them. A single broken tile is often a symptom of foot traffic or a loose batten, so we look for the cause.
- Lift and relay over new underlayment
- Tiles come off, the old underlayment is torn out, and the deck is checked for soft or rotted wood. New underlayment, battens and flashing go down before your tiles go back on.
- Flashing, valleys and penetrations
- Rusted valley metal, worn pipe flashings and tired chimney or wall flashing are common leak points. We replace them with new metal sized for tile, not shingles.
- Ridge, hip and eave details
- We rebuild cracked mortar ridges or install a fastened ridge system, and fit eave closures or bird stops so pests and wind-driven rain stay out.
- New tile roof installation
- For full replacements we help you choose clay or concrete tile and a profile that suits your home. If your home has never carried tile, we check whether the framing can handle the extra weight before anything is ordered.
Signs your tile roof needs attention
Water stains after the first big rain
A ceiling stain that shows up each winter usually points to failed underlayment or a valley that has rusted through.
Cracked or shifted tiles
Tiles that have slid down or broken leave the underlayment exposed to sun, which speeds up its failure.
Brittle black paper at the eaves
If you can see dark, crumbling felt at the edge of the roof, that layer has likely reached the end of its life across the whole roof.
Crumbling ridge mortar
Loose mortar on ridges and hips lets water and birds in. It can also let ridge tiles come loose in strong wind.
A roof that is decades old with no relay
Even if nothing leaks yet, a free roof inspection tells you how much life the underlayment has left so you can plan instead of react.
What drives the cost of tile roof work
We price tile work by what your roof truly needs, so we inspect before giving a number. The written estimate lists each item on its own line, so you can see what makes up the total. Financing is available through Service Finance Company, subject to credit approval.
Repair, relay or new roof
Swapping a few tiles costs much less than a lift and relay, and a relay usually costs less than a new tile roof since your current tiles go back on.
Size and slope
A larger roof takes more underlayment and labor. Steep pitches add time and safety setup.
Kind of tile and how easy it is to find
Clay and concrete vary in price and in how easily they break. Hard-to-match older profiles can mean extra time to source them or new tile on one section.
Deck condition
Soft or rotted sheathing uncovered during tear-off must be replaced to pass inspection. We take photos and talk with you before doing that work.
Flashing and other details
Each chimney, skylight, valley and wall transition adds metal and labor.
How a tile roofing job runs
- 1
Free inspection and a written estimate
We walk the roof carefully, stepping only where tiles can bear weight, and photograph what we see. Your free written estimate lists each part of the job and tells you plainly whether a repair or a relay is the better fit.
- 2
Permit and materials
On relays and new roofs we file the permit with the city and order the underlayment, flashing and any tiles needed. When a profile is old or discontinued, we track down a close match or place salvaged tiles where they show most.
- 3
Removal, deck check and inspection
We take the tiles off and stack them on the roof or on protected ground. Damaged decking is replaced, new underlayment and battens go down, and the inspector usually reviews this stage before the tile returns.
- 4
Tile reset, final inspection and cleanup
We set and fasten the tiles, finish the ridges and eaves, and the final inspection closes the job. Debris and old underlayment are cleared from your yard, and we show you the completed roof.
Tile roofing questions we hear often
Can my current tiles go back on?
Usually, yes. Clay and concrete tiles tend to outlive the underlayment under them by many years. A few will break as they come off, and the estimate already allows for replacements.
Does a tile relay need a permit?
Yes. New underlayment counts as reroofing, and cities require a permit for it. We file the paperwork, book the inspections and see the job through to sign-off. Leaving that out can create trouble later when you sell or make an insurance claim.
Can my shingle roof be changed to tile?
Often, but tile weighs far more than asphalt shingles. We check the framing first, and any reinforcement it needs goes into the plan and the city paperwork. If tile isn't a good match for your home, we'll say so and go over asphalt shingle roofing with you.
Which underlayment goes under the tile?
We install underlayment rated for tile roofs, made to stand up to heat and to the long life tile is known for. We can explain the product choices and what each means for your roof.
Do you work with insurance companies?
Yes. When a covered event damages your tile, we work directly with your insurance claim, photographing the damage and explaining the steps. The coverage decision belongs to your adjuster.
Find out what is happening under your tiles
We serve Los Alamitos, Rossmoor, Seal Beach, Cypress and nearby towns. One phone call sets up a free look at your tile roof and a written estimate you can keep.