Yeah, definitely learned the hard way myself. Had a house with tile roofing that seemed solid for years, until I found water stains in a closet after heavy rains. Turns out a couple tiles had shifted slightly—probably wind or something—and water was sneaking under. Nothing catastrophic, thankfully, but it showed me even tile roofs need occasional checking. They're durable for sure, just not invincible like some folks think...
"Turns out a couple tiles had shifted slightly—probably wind or something—and water was sneaking under."
Yeah, that's exactly it—tile roofs are sturdy but definitely not set-and-forget. A lot of folks assume they're maintenance-free because tiles themselves last ages, but it's usually the small stuff that gets overlooked. Like, I've seen moss buildup cause water to pool underneath tiles, and even birds nesting can shift things around just enough to let moisture in. Plus, flashing around chimneys or vents can degrade over time, even if the tiles stay solid.
Also, tile weight itself can sometimes be an issue if the underlying structure wasn't built specifically for it. Had a neighbor whose older home started showing stress cracks because the roof framing wasn't quite up to handling heavy clay tiles long-term. So yeah, durable for sure...but still gotta keep an eye on things occasionally.
"Plus, flashing around chimneys or vents can degrade over time, even if the tiles stay solid."
Yeah, flashing is one of those sneaky things people tend to overlook. I've inspected plenty of roofs where the tiles themselves looked practically brand new, but the flashing was shot—rusted out or cracked sealant letting water seep in slowly. It's easy to miss until you start seeing stains on ceilings or walls inside.
Another thing I've noticed is that people underestimate how much debris buildup can affect tile roofs. Leaves, twigs, and dirt can pile up in valleys or behind chimneys, creating little dams that trap moisture. Over time, that moisture can find its way under tiles and cause issues with the underlayment or even rot the decking beneath. Had a client once who couldn't figure out why their roof was leaking—turned out they had years' worth of leaves piled up in a hidden valley area. Once cleared out, problem solved.
And you're totally right about moss and birds causing trouble too. Birds especially seem to love nesting under tiles because it's sheltered and warm. I've seen nests push tiles up just enough to let rainwater trickle underneath. Moss buildup is another sneaky culprit—it looks harmless at first, but it holds moisture against the tiles and underlayment, speeding up deterioration.
The weight issue you mentioned is interesting too. Clay tiles are definitely heavy, and older homes sometimes weren't built with that extra load in mind. I've seen rafters sagging slightly or walls showing stress cracks because of it. Usually not catastrophic, but definitely something homeowners should keep an eye on.
Makes me wonder though...has anyone here had experience switching from tile to another roofing material because of these maintenance headaches? Curious if people found it worth the hassle or regretted losing that classic tile look.
Yeah, tile roofs definitely aren't "set it and forget it." Had similar issues myself—flashing around my chimney started leaking after about 10 years. Easy fix once I spotted it, but still annoying. As for switching materials, my neighbor swapped his tile roof for architectural shingles a few years back. He says maintenance is easier now, but honestly, I kinda miss seeing those classic tiles next door...
- Had tile roofs on my radar for a while, but hearing this makes me rethink...
- Are architectural shingles really cheaper/easier long-term?
- Always thought tiles were pricey upfront but saved money later—maybe not?
- Curious if anyone's done the math comparing maintenance costs over 20+ years.
- Kinda torn now between looks vs. practicality...
