What to do when your tile roof leaks? Call the tile roofing specialist northmen roofing

What To Do If Your Tile Roof Starts Leaking?

Travis Roper

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

What to Do If Your Tile Roof Starts Leaking?

Central Florida just saw some big wind and exceptional rainfall with localized flooding. If you’ve discovered a leak in your slate, clay or concrete tile roof, take a breath — even the worst-looking leaks are fixable, and with the right repair, your roof should perform for the remainder of its service life.

First steps (stay safe, stay calm)

Protect the interior. Move valuables, put out towels/buckets, and cover furnishings.
Avoid the roof. Wet tile is slippery and dangerous—please don’t climb up.
Document briefly. Snap a few photos inside where you see moisture.
Call a licensed roofing contractor. Northmen Roofing’s in-house tile specialists will guide you.

Why this happens — even on good roofs

Extreme wind and rain can overload water-shedding details (valleys, wall returns, dormers). Some leaks are event-driven and temporary—they may not reappear under normal rainfall. Even when a leak is persistent, most interior damage occurs over longer periods, so a 1–2 week (and sometimes longer) wait for a proper repair rarely changes the scope.

Our process (fast, predictable, high-quality)

Scheduling that works for you. We’ll book an inspection around your calendar.
On-site tile specialist. Your inspector answers questions, reviews photos, and pinpoints root cause.
Written scope in 1–2 business days. Clear pricing and a detailed plan—no stop-gap patches unless truly needed.
Repair in ~1–2 weeks (on average). We prioritize long-term fixes over temporary tarps.
Lasting workmanship. We follow TRI Alliance standards and our proprietary details for penetrations, flashings, hips/ridges, and transitions to reduce future leaks and maintenance.

Why Northmen for tile roof repairs

Tile experts first. Our company is built around tile roof repair and historic restoration; replacement is a last resort.
In-house technicians, not subs. Consistency, craftsmanship, and accountability.
Project-management mindset. Every home is evaluated individually so you receive the highest-value repair, not a quick band-aid.
Premium materials & methods. Repairs are designed to blend visually and perform structurally (reasonable efforts are made to match color; exact color/texture match is not guaranteed).

If you have questions or concerns, call us now — we’re here to serve. Think of Northmen Roofing as your roof doctors: clear diagnosis, durable treatment, no shortcuts. We partner with you to solve your problem the right way, not the fastest or cheapest way. If quality, longevity, and peace of mind matter to you, again, we are here to serve.

Large scale historic roof cap and pan clay tile repair. This large spillway / valley critically failed after tropical storm force winds and torrential rain infiltrated the roofing system.
Flat roof to sloped roof transitions are susceptible in wind driven rain events. Even with metal flashings in place, this historic Ludowici tile roof and failing underlayment was overloaded by rain
Rake tiles, like cap tiles, are susceptible to to damage in hurricanes or sustained high winds. Northmen Roofing uses proprietary methods to fasten rake tiles to prevent future damage
Some tile roof leaks are one time events in storms, other persist rain after rain. Signs of longer term water intrusion is advanced staining or growth on the leak site.
Small tile roof leaks can eat away at wood roof decking over time and then critical failures occur with flooding waters. This is a rare instance, and not typical of all roof leaks, especially with routine maintenance and inspections.
Valley ends are some of the more susceptible areas due to there high water flow which can be exacerbated by overflowing gutters or poor roof design. This is a routine tile roof repair for the Northmen Roofing team.
Diagnosing a tile roof valley leak repair post storm. High water flow exposed a roofing system with direct to deck fastening and lack of additional protection in the valley. Northmen Roofing learns from these situations and utilizes proprietary process in tile roof replacement projects.
An architecturally beautiful home can create a nightmare of a waterproofing challenge. Two valleys end at roof-to-wall transitions, with the right one featuring an eave directly above the roof deck, making repairs even more difficult. Not the place for a vent flashing!

What To Do If Your Tile Roof Starts Leaking?

Travis Roper

Large scale historic roof cap and pan clay tile repair. This large spillway / valley critically failed after tropical storm force winds and torrential rain infiltrated the roofing system.

Flat roof to sloped roof transitions are susceptible in wind driven rain events. Even with metal flashings in place, this historic Ludowici tile roof and failing underlayment was overloaded by rain

Rake tiles, like cap tiles, are susceptible to to damage in hurricanes or sustained high winds. Northmen Roofing uses proprietary methods to fasten rake tiles to prevent future damage

Some tile roof leaks are one time events in storms, other persist rain after rain. Signs of longer term water intrusion is advanced staining or growth on the leak site.

Small tile roof leaks can eat away at wood roof decking over time and then critical failures occur with flooding waters. This is a rare instance, and not typical of all roof leaks, especially with routine maintenance and inspections.

Valley ends are some of the more susceptible areas due to there high water flow which can be exacerbated by overflowing gutters or poor roof design. This is a routine tile roof repair for the Northmen Roofing team.

Diagnosing a tile roof valley leak repair post storm. High water flow exposed a roofing system with direct to deck fastening and lack of additional protection in the valley. Northmen Roofing learns from these situations and utilizes proprietary process in tile roof replacement projects.

An architecturally beautiful home can create a nightmare of a waterproofing challenge. Two valleys end at roof-to-wall transitions, with the right one featuring an eave directly above the roof deck, making repairs even more difficult. Not the place for a vent flashing!