This site is about tile roofing in Oro Valley: concrete and clay tile, the underlayment beneath it, the repairs tile roofs need most, how monsoon winds affect tile, and how to choose tile profiles and colors that suit Spanish, Mediterranean and Santa Fe style homes. The articles below go into individual topics. This page is the overview.

Tile is the most common roof in Oro Valley, and for good reason: it handles intense sun and heat well and can last for decades. But tile roofs work differently from most other roofs, and misunderstanding how they work is behind many of the problems homeowners run into.

How a tile roof actually keeps water out

The tile is not the waterproof layer. It’s a durable shield that sheds most water and protects what’s underneath from sun and impact. The real waterproofing is the underlayment, the layer of felt or synthetic membrane on the roof deck. Some water always gets under tile during heavy, wind-driven rain; the underlayment and flashing carry it down and out at the eaves.

That’s why a tile roof can look perfect from the street and still leak. When the underlayment dries out and cracks in desert heat, water that gets past the tile reaches the deck. In Oro Valley, many homes built in the 1980s through the early 2000s are at or past the age where original underlayment starts failing.

Concrete vs. clay tile

• Concrete tile is the most common type here. It’s made from cement and sand, colored throughout or on the surface, and comes in flat, low-profile and high-profile (S-shaped) styles.
• Clay tile is fired, with color that lasts very well. It’s often used on Spanish and Mediterranean designs and generally costs more.

Both are heavy, so the roof structure has to be designed for them. See tile profiles and colors for Spanish and Santa Fe style homes. The Tile Roofing Industry Alliance publishes installation guidance for both.

Common tile roof problems

Worn underlayment

The leading cause of leaks on older tile roofs. The fix is to remove the tile, replace the underlayment and flashing, and reinstall the tile, replacing broken pieces.

Cracked and broken tiles

Usually from foot traffic (solar, HVAC and satellite installers are common culprits), falling branches or hail. Individual tiles can be replaced, but finding matches for older or discontinued colors and profiles can take effort.

Lifted and slipped tiles

Monsoon winds can lift tiles, especially along edges, hips and ridges, and tiles can slip when fasteners fail. A lifted tile exposes the underlayment and lets wind-driven rain in. See why a lifted tile after one monsoon storm can turn into a leak in the next and monsoon wind and tile clip care.

Flashing and valley problems

Valleys carry a lot of water and collect debris; wall and chimney flashing depends on sealant that ages in the sun.

Birds and debris

Missing bird stops at the eaves let pigeons and other birds nest under tile, and debris blocks the paths water uses to drain out from under the tile.

Caring for a tile roof

• Stay off it. Walking on tile without knowing where to step breaks tiles. Leave rooftop access to experienced roofers.
• Keep valleys and eaves clear of leaves and debris.
• Replace broken tiles promptly, before the exposed underlayment is damaged by sun or rain.
• Inspect every spring and after major storms, including a check of the underlayment on older roofs.
• Watch work by other trades. Ask solar, HVAC and satellite installers how they’ll protect the tile, and check for broken pieces afterward.

Repair, reset or replace?

• Repair: replace individual broken tiles, reset lifted ones, fix flashing in one area.
• Reset (lift and relay): remove the tile, replace underlayment and flashing, and reinstall the existing tile. Often the best value when tile is in good shape but the underlayment is worn.
• Replace: new underlayment and new tile, when the tile itself is damaged, discontinued, or you want a different style (with HOA approval).

For help with that decision, see the roof replacement guide.

HOAs and tile

Most Oro Valley HOAs specify approved tile profiles and colors. Like-for-like repairs usually don’t need approval, but changing color or profile during a replacement generally does. If your original tile is discontinued, talk to your HOA and your roofer about approved alternatives before starting work.

Hiring a tile roofer

• Ask how much of their work is tile, and how they move on tile roofs without breaking it.
• Ask what underlayment they use and why.
• Ask how they’ll handle broken tile and matching.
• Ask whether flashing will be replaced, not reused.
• Verify the license with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors.

For inspections, see the roof inspection guide; for warranty terms on tile and underlayment, the roofing warranties guide. The newest articles on this site are listed below.