Lightning Strike Repair

Travis Roper

Travis is the Owner and COO for Northmen Roofing. Tile roofing, historical restoration and waterproofing specialist.

LIGHTNING STRIKE REPAIR ON LUDOWICI TILE ROOF

When a lightning strike shattered tiles at the highest, steepest point of a Golden Oaks residence — right above a rounded copper-roofed dormer — the result was equal parts urgent and complex. The home’s roof is clad in Ludowici clay tile, a premium custom order material with a ~26-week lead time. Leaving the area “temporarily dried-in” wasn’t ideal either; most high-performance underlayments carry a maximum 6-month exposure window. In a prestigious community like Golden Oaks, we needed a solution that was watertight, safe, fast, and visually seamless.

The challenge:

• Steep, decorative elevation at the front façade with difficult access

• Damaged Ludowici tiles that cannot be matched or delivered quickly

• Aesthetic expectations in a luxury neighborhood

• Underlayment exposure limits that make long delays risky

Our solution (creative, fast, and reversible):

Challenging problems require creative solutions. To restore the aesthetically — and keep the building envelope protected — Northmen Roofing repositioned original tiles from a rear elevation to the front damage zone, then installed a temporary waterproofing barrier on the back to safeguard the underlayment while new tiles are manufactured.

Step-by-step:

1. Engineered access & safety: We erected scaffolding to work safely on the steep, decorative section, protecting both crew and residents while preventing damage to the façade and landscaping.

2. Selective tile harvest: We carefully removed sound Ludowici tiles from a low-visibility rear slope that shared the same blend, keeping color and texture continuity where it matters most.

3. Front elevation restoration: We installed the harvested tiles at the lightning-strike location, re-establishing a uniform look over the rounded copper dormer and sealing all penetrations per best practice.

4. Rear slope protection: We installed a temporary waterproofing barrier (compatible with the existing system) to protect the underlayment at the rear until the new Ludowici tiles arrive (~26 weeks).

5. Quality control & documentation: Full photo documentation, post-repair inspection, and a client walk-through ensured the front elevation looked “whole” again within about a week.

The result 

Within a week, the home’s signature façade is beautiful, uniform, and watertight again—no blue tarps, no eyesores—while the rear slope remains protected until the exact-match tiles arrive. This is Northmen Roofing’s hallmark approach for luxury estates and historic properties across Golden Oaks, Windermere, Winter Park, Dr. Phillips, and greater Orlando: do it once, do it right, and protect both function and form.

Considering a high-end tile roof repair?

If you’re dealing with storm or lightning damage to a clay or concrete tile roof — and aesthetics matter — Northmen Roofing can help with creative solutions to protect your home now and plan for a seamless final repair when specialty materials are ready.