Roof Repair
Tile roof repair in San Jose without the breakage
Tile roofs get damaged by the people fixing them. We walk tile the right way, lift only what has to move, and carry matching concrete and clay profiles so a repair does not become a patchwork.
What we treat
- Concrete and clay tile
- Composition shingle
- Flat, torch-down and TPO
- Spray foam
- Standing seam metal
Quick answer. Tile roof repair in San Jose replaces cracked or slipped tiles and, when there is a leak, lifts the tiles around it to repair the underlayment beneath, which is the layer that actually keeps water out. Most tile repairs are finished in one visit using matching concrete or clay tile.
Updated September 2026
The job
What is really wrong when a tile roof leaks
Tiles shed most of the water, but the underlayment under them does the waterproofing. A cracked tile by itself may never leak; the same crack over torn paper will. So every leak repair on tile lifts the surrounding courses and looks at the paper, not just the tile on top.
Walking tile is its own skill. We step on the lower third of each tile, over the batten, and use foam pads on fragile clay.
What happens after you call
How a tile repair visit runs
- 1
Walk it properly
Lower third of each tile, pads on clay.
- 2
Find the source
From the attic stain to the tile above it.
- 3
Lift and look
Tiles over the leak and a few courses up come off.
- 4
Repair beneath
Paper, battens or valley metal fixed first.
- 5
Reset tile
Matches swapped in, fasteners replaced.
- 6
Photos
What we found and what we fixed.
Warning signs
Signs a tile roof needs attention
- Tiles out of line
A course that steps down or sideways has slipped.
- Broken pieces in the gutter
Fragments mean tiles are cracking on the roof.
- Stains after wind-driven rain
Water is getting under the tiles and past the paper.
- Debris in valleys
Dammed valleys push water sideways.
- Birds at the eaves
Missing bird stops let nests in.
- Daylight in the attic
Gaps in the underlayment are visible from below.
Jobs this page covers
Cracked and slipped tiles
Tiles crack from foot traffic, falling limbs and old age, and slip when a fastener rusts through or a batten rots. Cracked tiles are swapped for matches from stock; slipped ones are reset and fastened with a tile hook or a new nail where the old one failed. A row of slipped tiles usually means a rotted batten, and we replace it rather than wedge the tiles back. Tiles broken by a dish or solar installer are replaced the same way.
Underlayment failure beneath tile
Old felt beneath tile dries, cracks and tears along the battens. A local repair lifts the tiles over the leak and a few courses above it, cuts out the failed paper, and laps new underlayment in so water runs over the old layer, not under it. When the paper crumbles everywhere we lift, the honest advice is a lift-and-relay, and we show you what we found. A small section of new paper under a sound roof can add years; it is the cheapest fix a tile roof ever gets.
Tile valley and hip repairs
Valleys carry the most water on a tile roof and collect leaves, which dam the flow and push water sideways under the tile edges. We clear the valley, check the metal for rust-through, replace it where needed, and recut the tile edges to leave a clean channel. Hips and ridges get their mortar or ridge-anchored caps repaired so wind-driven rain cannot get under them. On older roofs, valleys lined only with rolled roofing get rebuilt in proper metal that outlasts the tile.
Bird stops and eave closures
The open ends of the first row of tile let birds, rodents and wind-blown rain into the roof. A bird stop or eave closure fills those gaps while still letting the roof breathe. Missing or chewed stops are a common find, and replacing them is quick while we are already working at the eave; it also keeps nesting material out of the gutters. Stops come in profiles for flat, S and barrel tile, so they do not show from the street.
What we see on San Jose roofs
So many San Jose homes carry concrete or clay tile, especially the Mediterranean and Spanish styles, that tile repair is a large share of our winter calls. The last two seasons of back-to-back atmospheric rivers were hard on it: wind lifted and slipped tiles, and water that got past them sat on aging underlayment with no dry time between storms. The repair is usually small when it is caught after the first storm and a lot larger after the third.
Do it yourself or call us
Why tile is not a weekend job
Most of the tile damage we repair came from someone walking on it.
| Task | Doing it yourself | Having us do it |
|---|---|---|
| Replace one visibly cracked tile | Possible from a ladder at the eave | Done without breaking its neighbors |
| Walk up to a leak | Cracks tiles with every step | Weight on the batten, pads on clay |
| Seal a crack with caulk | Hides it and traps water | Tile replaced, paper checked |
| Clear a valley | Risky on steep tile | Cleared and metal inspected |
Cost
What decides the cost of a tile repair
Tile repairs are priced on the spot once we see the underlayment.
- Number of tiles Replacement tiles are priced per piece.
- Tile type Clay and discontinued profiles cost more to source.
- Underlayment area The more paper that has failed, the more tile has to be lifted.
- Valley metal Rusted valleys are replaced in full lengths.
- Battens Rotted battens under slipped rows are replaced.
- Access Steep and two-story tile roofs need more setup.
Brands we install and service
FAQ
Questions we get asked
We carry common concrete profiles and colors and source clay to match as closely as possible. Discontinued tile may be borrowed from a hidden area and replaced there with the nearest match.
The underlayment under the tile has failed. The tile is only the first layer.
A few tiles is a small job. Lifting courses to repair underlayment is more, and priced after we see it.
Only if the underlayment is failing across the roof. Even then, a relay reuses your tile.
Yes, with pads and careful handling, and replacements matched as closely as the market allows.
Same category
Related roofing work
Shingle Roof Repair
Torn, missing and curling shingles, nail pops and ridge caps on composition roofs.
Learn moreFlat Roof Repair
Ponding, blisters, split seams and foam cracks on low-slope roofs.
Learn moreRoof Flashing Repair
Chimney, wall, skylight and vent flashing rebuilt so the joint stops leaking.
Learn moreSkylight Leak Repair
Curb, flashing and seal failures on skylights and sun tunnels.
Learn moreGet the tile repaired before the next storm
Tell us what you see from the ground or in the attic. We lift only what has to move and fix the layer underneath.