Exactly—I've inspected plenty of tile roofs, and while they're durable, calling them maintenance-free is a stretch. Had one client whose tiles were solid after decades, but the underlayment beneath was toast... regular checks still matter.
Tile roofs definitely aren't zero-maintenance, but I'd argue they're still way closer to it than most other roofing options. Sure, underlayment issues pop up, but that's usually after decades of solid performance. Compare that to asphalt shingles or wood shakes—those need attention way more frequently. I mean, nothing's truly maintenance-free, right? But tile roofs come pretty close if installed properly and checked occasionally... just my two cents from inspections I've done.
Yeah, tile roofs are pretty low-maintenance overall, but have you ever had to replace cracked tiles after a storm? Not exactly fun...and not always cheap either. Sure beats climbing up every few years to deal with shingles curling or wood shakes rotting though. Still, wouldn't call tile "basically maintenance-free"—more like "maintenance-lite," if that's even a thing. How often do you guys typically recommend checking the underlayment, anyway?
"Sure beats climbing up every few years to deal with shingles curling or wood shakes rotting though."
Haha, exactly why I went with tile for my first place—I figured I'd rather deal with the occasional cracked tile than worry about shingles flapping around like crazy after every windy weekend. But yeah, "maintenance-lite" is totally my new favorite phrase now, thanks for that. 😄
Speaking of underlayment...honestly, I didn't even realize that was a thing until after I bought the house (rookie mistake, I know). My inspector casually mentioned checking it every 5-10 years depending on weather and stuff, but he wasn't super specific. Is that pretty standard advice or should I be getting up there more often?
Yeah, your inspector's advice sounds about right. Tile itself is pretty durable, but the underlayment beneath it is usually what gives people trouble down the line. Most roofers I've worked with suggest checking it around the 7-10 year mark. If you're in an area with harsher weather—lots of rain, snow, or intense sun—you might wanna lean closer to every 5-7 years.
Honestly though, it's not like you have to pull up tiles every inspection. Usually you just look for cracked or slipped tiles, debris buildup, or signs of water staining in your attic. If everything looks good visually, you're probably fine. But if you do spot something sketchy, catching it early saves you a ton of headache later. And yeah...
"maintenance-lite"
...is definitely the way I'd describe tile roofs too. Not maintenance-free exactly, but close enough to feel like it compared to shingles or shakes.
