A leaky roof is not only an inconvenience, but could result in material damages that cost thousands of dollars to fix. Replacing a few roof tiles might seem like a simple project, but if the pitch of the roof is steep and more than one story in height, it can be a dangerous operation - one that should be carried out by professionals.
What Causes Roof Tile Failure?
The most common roof repairs occur with asphalt shingles and metal roofing, but slate, clay and cedar shakes can also have issues. As asphalt shingles age, the protective mica covering (the little rocks that produce the color) wash away and expose the raw shingle to the damaging rays of the sun. As shingles contract and expand, they may split and if the installation was done poorly, nail heads can be exposed - resulting in leaks. With metal roofing, the usual problem is fastener failure. This can happen when:
- They rust out
- The rubber grommet on the head drys out and falls off
- Through expansion and contraction, the fastener is loosened and a leak results
Roofing tiles, like natural slate and clay barrel tiles will fail by slipping from their nailing apparatus or incur breakage when they are hit by a heavy object. Cedar shakes will fail from breakage or rot. Since the cost to repair these products is the highest, these tiles will be the focus of this article.
What Does It Cost To Repair A Roof?
The cost of repairing roof tile damage is a combination of the total square feet to be replaced and how hard the repair is to reach. Just because you only see a couple of roof tiles damaged, doesn’t mean the roofer will just replace those few tiles. The process of replacing roof tiles may involve removing a large area around the damage in order to properly reinstall the new tiles. The more difficult it is to access the area will add significantly to the cost of the repair. It should be noted that any small repair job will usually come with an additional setup charge to account for the time required to get materials, prep the area to do the work, and removal of all job-related debris. Cost will vary with the availability of materials and installers.
Replacing Natural Slate Tiles
Slate roofing can last 50-100 years, but there will be times when maintenance dictates that you replace a few tiles. Since slate is one the most expensive roofs to install, maintenance is also costly. The method of installing slate is quite involved. Replacing a single tile can cost anywhere from $40-$200, depending upon its location and what needs to be removed to get to the repair. If flashings need to be replaced, it can add another $600 plus to the cost. In addition, there is the problem of sourcing a qualified installer to do the work. Only professionals experienced in natural slate roofing should be allowed to make the repairs.
Replacing Clay Barrel Roof Tiles
Clay roofing tiles have an average lifespan of 30-50 years. Since there are a number of styles available in clay, we will consider the costs for barrel tiles. Clay tiles cannot be reinstalled the same way they were installed, so the costs are higher. Replacing clay tiles can average between $9-$21 per square foot plus flashing costs. Since these tiles can break if not walked on carefully, the roofer needs to be experienced with clay tile installation.
Replacing Cedar Shake Tiles
Cedar shakes require installers that are experienced with the product in order to guarantee a properly repaired roof. The average cost for a small repair on a cedar shake roof is $750, but that will vary with the size of the repair. This number is based on an average cost of $60 per hour, plus materials.
Planning For Replacement
When considering a timeline for repairing your roof, consult with your roofer. Most repairs can be performed in a single day, but more involved projects could take longer. The main element to be concerned with from the homeowner’s perspective is weather. Theinstaller should also have that in mind when they schedule your work, but it is advisable to communicate with them to ensure that the work will not start until you have a clear weather forecast.
Do not schedule the work until the materials needed are available to the contractor. Sourcing some materials has become more difficult than ever and your project may experience significant delays because of it. Slate and Clay tiles are more difficult to locate and due to their weight are expensive to ship.
Avoiding Costly Roof Tile Repairs By Starting With Brava Composite Tiles
The best way to avoid the high cost of roof repair is to start with a tile that is beautiful to look at, easy to install, and reasonably priced. Brava roof tiles provide all of those advantages.
Easy Installation
There are complete installation instructions available on our website, so your roofer will have no problem guaranteeing you a beautiful, no-maintenance roof. Our roof tiles are lightweight, so there is no need for an expensive roof structure to support them.
- Standard ½” plywood is all that is required for the decking.
- Apply a synthetic underlayment and appropriate flashing.
- Your roofing tiles are ready to be installed.
Our products can be nailed down or screwed in, and do not require the specialty fasteners that are often needed with natural slate and clay. Another advantage is that our roof tiles do not require expensive specialists to install.
Brava Roof Tiles Are Made To Last
Brava makes 3 different styles of synthetic composite roof tiles that mimic their natural counterparts to a tee: Brava Cedar Shake, Brava Spanish Barrel Tile, and Brava Old World Slate. They have a 50-year limited warranty as well as many other features including:
- Unlimited color availability
- Made from 100% recycled materials
- Class A fire rating
- Class 4 impact rating
In addition, some of our products meet California’s Title 24 cool roof requirements, giving you even more options.
Contact us today and let us send you free samples of our roofing tiles and see why Brava Roof Tiles is a leader in the synthetic composite roofing industry.
