Tile roofs definitely have a solid reputation for durability, but calling them "maintenance-free" might be stretching it a bit. Sure, valleys and flashing are common trouble spots, but I've seen plenty of cases where cracked or slipped tiles themselves were the culprits. Tiles can shift slightly over time—especially after heavy winds or hail—and even minor shifts can expose the underlayment beneath. Once that's compromised, water sneaks in quietly, and before you know it, you're dealing with mold or rot.
Funny story (well, funny now): I once inspected a roof where the homeowner proudly told me he'd never had to touch it in 15 years. Turns out, a handful of tiles had shifted just enough to let water trickle in slowly. By the time he noticed, the damage was extensive and costly. So yeah, tile roofs are tough and low-maintenance compared to some other materials, but I'd hesitate to label them maintenance-free. A quick visual check after storms and an occasional professional inspection can save you from some nasty surprises down the road.
You're spot on about tile roofs not exactly being maintenance-free. I've seen plenty of similar situations myself, and it's pretty common for folks to assume their tile roofs are basically bulletproof. They're tough, sure, but nothing's totally immune to Mother Nature's mood swings.
Reminds me of a roof I checked out last spring—homeowner swore up and down that his Spanish-style tile roof was in perfect shape because it'd never leaked. Well, turns out he had a family of raccoons living beneath some shifted tiles. They'd made themselves a cozy little penthouse suite under there—complete with insulation bedding. The homeowner was equal parts amused and horrified when I showed him the photos, but the cleanup bill definitely tipped the scale toward horrified.
It's easy to overlook minor shifts or cracks since tile roofs tend to look sturdy from afar. But even small gaps can let critters or moisture in, and once water gets through that underlayment...game over. Regular quick checks after big storms aren't much trouble compared to dealing with mold or furry tenants later.
But I'm curious—has anyone here experimented with drone inspections for tile roofs yet? I've heard mixed things about them being great for spotting issues quickly but maybe missing some of those sneaky hidden problems you'd catch up close. Wondering if they're worth giving a shot...
Had a similar experience a couple years back. Thought my tile roof was in great shape until a heavy storm knocked a few tiles loose. Climbed up to check and found a bunch of debris and leaves had quietly collected underneath, trapping moisture. Luckily caught it early before any real damage happened. Haven't tried drones yet, but seems like they'd miss stuff hidden under tiles...probably still best to get eyes up close occasionally.
Yeah, drones are handy for a quick look-over, but they're definitely not foolproof. I borrowed my neighbor's drone once to inspect my tile roof after noticing some water stains inside. It looked fine from above, but when I finally climbed up myself, I found a cracked tile hidden under some overlapping ones—no way the drone would've caught that. Ended up replacing a few tiles and cleaning out a surprising amount of pine needles and dirt. Seems like tile roofs are pretty durable overall, but calling them maintenance-free is probably stretching it.
Speaking of which, anyone know how often you're supposed to do these manual checks? I've been doing mine every couple of years, but maybe that's not enough...
- Totally agree, drones miss a lot of the hidden stuff.
- Bought my first house two years ago with a tile roof, thought I was set for life... nope.
- Had a similar issue—looked fine from the ground, but after a storm, found water leaking inside.
- Climbed up and found cracked tiles and tons of leaves jammed underneath.
- Now I do quick checks every spring and fall, especially after heavy storms or windy weather.
- Seems like every 2 years might be pushing it if you're in an area with lots of trees or harsh weather.
- Tile roofs are solid, sure, but definitely not "set it and forget it." Learned that the hard way.
