Need a tile roof repaired or replaced in Phoenix? Call (480) 463-3483. We work on concrete and clay tile only as far as this page goes: broken and slipped tiles, worn-out underlayment, valleys, flashing, bird stops and full tile re-roofs. Every job starts with a free on-roof inspection, photos and a written price. We are ROC licensed (#356304 and #356639), GAF certified, and we answer the phone 24/7.
Tile is the default roof across most of the Valley, and it is easy to misread. A tile roof can look perfect from the curb and still leak, because the tile is mostly a sun shield. The waterproofing is the underlayment beneath it. If you have a shingle or flat roof, our general Phoenix roof repair page is the better starting point. Everything below is about tile.
Tile roof repair and replacement services in Phoenix
- Cracked, broken and slipped tiles swapped for a matched profile and colour
- Lift-and-relay (re-felt): tiles removed, new underlayment installed, the same tiles reset
- Valley rebuilds with new metal and underlayment where debris has held water
- Bird stops and eave closures replaced or added to keep pigeons and debris out
- Headwall, sidewall and chimney flashing, plus pan flashing at skylights
- Hip and ridge reset where mortar has cracked or fasteners have loosened
- Solar detach and reset coordination and proper tile flashing at mounts
- Full tile re-roofs with new tile or the existing tile reinstalled
Concrete or clay: what is on your Phoenix roof matters
Most tile on Phoenix tract and master-planned homes is concrete. Clay shows up on older Spanish Colonial Revival homes in the central historic districts and on custom builds. The two behave differently when we work on them.
| Factor | Concrete tile | Clay tile |
|---|---|---|
| Colour over time | Surface colour can fade and erode with decades of sun | Colour is fired through the tile and holds well |
| Breakage when walked | Tolerates careful foot traffic | More brittle, especially older barrel tile |
| Matching a replacement | Profiles change between manufacturers and eras | Often easier to match colour, harder to source in quantity |
| Reuse during re-felt | Usually reusable, with a share of breakage to replace | Reusable when handled carefully |
For the full comparison, read our guide to clay vs concrete roof tiles. Our Arizona tile roofing page covers the systems we install statewide.
Why Phoenix tile roofs leak: the underlayment clock
Concrete and clay tile can last as long as the house. The felt or synthetic layer under them is another matter. In desert sun it typically lasts around 20 to 25 years before it turns brittle, cracks where it bends over battens and pulls away from nail holes. Homes built in the late 1990s and 2000s across north Phoenix, Ahwatukee and Laveen are now in that window.
The first leaks usually appear where water concentrates: valleys, the low edge above the gutter line, and where a roof meets a taller wall. A monsoon storm (the season runs June 15 to September 30) drives rain under tiles that would shed a gentle shower without trouble, and the old underlayment can no longer stop it. Our explainer on underlayment for tile roofs compares the felt and synthetic options we use.
Details that fail before the field
- Valleys. Leaves and windblown dirt collect and hold water against the metal, and the underlayment beside it ages fastest.
- Bird stops. Missing or broken eave closures let pigeons nest under the first course. Nesting debris blocks drainage and the birds tear underlayment.
- Flashing at walls. Counterflashing set into stucco cracks loose as the wall moves with heat.
- Mortared hips and ridges. Mortar shrinks and cracks over time, and loose ridge tiles fall in storms.
Repair options for a Phoenix tile roof
| Option | What we do | When it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Tile replacement | Remove broken pieces, check the underlayment beneath, install matched tile | Cracks from foot traffic, a dropped tool or debris, with sound underlayment |
| Section lift-and-relay | Lift tiles in one area, replace underlayment and flashing, reset tile | Localized leak at a valley, wall or eave on an otherwise sound roof |
| Full re-felt (underlayment replacement) | Strip all tile, replace underlayment and battens as needed, reinstall the same tile | Underlayment brittle across the roof, tile in good condition |
| Tile re-roof | New underlayment and new tile throughout | Faded or eroded concrete tile, a style change, or too much breakage to reuse |
Our deeper guides cover replacing roof tiles one at a time and full tile roof underlayment replacement in Arizona.
Not sure if it is the tile or what is under it?
We lift tiles at the problem spot, photograph the underlayment and show you exactly what failed.
Matching tile that is no longer made
A lot of Phoenix tile was produced in profiles and colours that have since been discontinued. For a handful of broken pieces, we look for matches in this order: salvage stock of the same profile, a current tile with a compatible shape and a close colour, or borrowing tiles from a hidden slope (behind a parapet or over the garage) and putting the closest new match there instead. A replacement has to interlock with its neighbours, so the profile matters more than an exact shade. Our guide to tile roof colours shows the common Valley palettes.
Walking on tile, solar panels and other traffic
Many broken tiles in Phoenix come from people, not weather: satellite installers, pest control, holiday lights, and solar crews. Concrete tile carries weight near the headlap, where it rests on the tile below; step in the middle of an unsupported span and it cracks. If you must go up, step low on each tile. Better still, let us look.
Solar on tile needs proper mounts. Each attachment either replaces a tile with a flashed mount or cuts the tile around a flashed standoff. Poorly flashed mounts are a common leak source. If panels are due to come off for a re-felt, we plan the detach and reset with your solar company. See replacing a roof with solar panels for the sequence.
Replacing a tile roof in Phoenix
When the underlayment has failed across the roof, the choice is between reusing your tile and buying new. Reuse keeps the look and avoids a large share of material, and it is the most common route on concrete roofs in good shape. New tile makes sense when the surface has eroded, when breakage would be high, or when the HOA has updated its palette.
- Inspection and scope. We check deck condition, tile reuse rate, flashing and ventilation, and write it up with photos.
- Approvals. HOA submittal if needed, and a city permit where the work goes beyond a like-for-like re-roof.
- Tear-off and staging. Reusable tile is stacked on the roof or on the ground; damaged decking is replaced with your approval.
- Dry-in. New underlayment, valley metal, flashing and bird stops.
- Tile set and closeout. Tile laid, hips and ridges fastened, the site cleaned and the roof photographed.
The broader process for any material is on our roof replacement in Phoenix page. For budgeting, use the Phoenix roof replacement cost guide and our article on the cost of roof tiles. We do not quote tile work without seeing the roof, because reuse rate and decking condition change the number more than square footage does.
Tile roofs across Phoenix
- Willo, Encanto-Palmcroft and the central historic districts: Spanish Colonial Revival homes, some with original or replaced clay tile. Historic-district rules can shape tile choices.
- Biltmore and the Camelback corridor: larger custom homes where one tile roof can carry a dozen valleys, several skylights and multiple wall intersections.
- Desert Ridge and north Phoenix: master-planned concrete tile neighborhoods where underlayment age and HOA colour rules meet.
- Ahwatukee Foothills and Laveen: large tile communities; see Ahwatukee roofing.
For every service we offer in the city, visit our Phoenix roofing company page or browse all Arizona roofing services. Low-slope sections behind a tile roof are covered under flat roof repair in Phoenix.
HOA rules and permits for tile work in Phoenix
Per the City of Phoenix’s published exemption list, re-roofing with the same type of material as the original roof does not need a permit. Switching material, for example from shingle to heavier tile, falls outside that exemption and should be checked, and a structural review may be needed for the extra weight. Historic-district properties are not eligible for online permits. We confirm the requirement for your address and pull any permit ourselves. See our Arizona roof permit guide and the Phoenix-specific post on building permits in Phoenix.
HOAs care most about tile colour and profile. Under A.R.S. § 33-1817, a planned community’s architectural approval “shall not unreasonably be withheld,” but the association’s own guidelines set the review timeline. Under § 33-1816, an HOA cannot prohibit solar, though it can set reasonable placement rules. Our HOA roof replacement guide walks through the submittal.
Tile roof repair Phoenix: common questions
How long does tile underlayment last in Phoenix?
Typically around 20 to 25 years in the desert sun, depending on the product and how well the roof drains. The tile itself usually lasts much longer, which is why many Phoenix tile roofs need new underlayment rather than new tile.
Can you reuse my existing concrete tile?
Usually. On a full re-felt we remove the tile, replace the underlayment and reinstall the same tile, replacing any pieces that break. If the concrete surface has eroded badly or the HOA wants a new colour, new tile may be the better choice.
My tile profile is discontinued. Can you still fix a few broken tiles?
Yes. We search salvage stock first, then look for a current tile that interlocks with yours. If the colour is off, we can move original tiles from a hidden slope to the visible area and place the new tiles out of sight.
Do you replace bird stops on tile roofs?
Yes. Missing eave closures let pigeons nest under the first row of tile. We clear the nesting material, check the underlayment for damage and install new bird stops along the eaves.
Will installing solar damage my tile roof?
Not when the mounts are flashed correctly. Problems come from cracked tiles around mounts and sealant-only penetrations. We inspect solar mounts as part of every tile inspection and repair any that leak.
Does tile roof work in Phoenix need a permit?
The City of Phoenix’s published exemption covers re-roofing with the same material, so a like-for-like tile re-felt or repair typically does not. A change of material or structural work is different. We check before starting and pull any permit required.
Book a Phoenix tile roof inspection
We lift tiles where it matters, photograph the underlayment and give you a written repair or re-felt price.