Tile Roof Repair in Sacramento
Most leaking tile roofs don’t need to be replaced. We find where water is getting under your tiles, fix the underlayment and flashing, and put your original tiles back. Thousands of roofs repaired and replaced across the Sacramento area — and tile roofs are our specialty.
Related: roof leak repair, dry rot repair, shingle roof repair and is Roof Maxx worth it?
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- Owens Corning Platinum Preferred
- 2–10 year workmanship warranty on most repairs
Why tile roofs leak (it's usually not the tiles)
Concrete and clay tiles last a long time. The part that actually keeps water out is the underlayment (felt) underneath them. Tile roofs leak when water gets under the tiles and can’t drain off — it sits on the felt, wears it out, and finds a nail hole. That’s when you see a stain on the ceiling, and if it goes on long enough, dry rot in the wood.
What we check on every tile roof inspection:
- Broken or slipped tiles
- Open miters (gaps where two roof sections meet)
- Cracked or broken collars around pipes
- Blocked valleys, chimney and roof-to-wall flashing channels
- Damaged underlayment / felt
- Tiles that weren’t installed properly
- Visible dry rot
The most common tile roof problems — and how we fix them
Clogged valleys
Problem: leaves and dirt collect in the valley metal and form a dam behind the tiles. Water floods onto the underlayment, wears it out, and causes leaks and dry rot.
How we fix it: we lift the tiles in the valley, add a second layer of felt, install 5-rib valley metal (it keeps the tiles higher so debris can’t block the channel) and water-flow battens, then reinstall the tiles.
Before: debris damming a valley.
After: new felt and valley metal.
Roof-to-wall and chimney flashing
Problem: dirt builds up in the tile pans where the roof meets a wall or chimney, and water backs up under the tiles.
How we fix it: a second layer of felt plus water-flow battens, so moisture drains instead of ponding behind the battens.
Before: a packed flashing channel.
After: new felt and water-flow battens.
Ridges and hips — missing flash band seal
Problem: without a flash band seal under the ridge and hip tiles, wind-driven rain blows in at the top of the roof and slowly ruins the underlayment all the way down.
How we fix it: we remove the ridge and hip caps, install flash band seal, and reset the caps.
Ridge caps removed.
Flash band seal installed.
Gables, miters and open junctions
Problem: open gable junctions and miters let rain straight under the tiles.
How we fix it: lead flashing at the junction, sealed and painted to match as closely as possible.
Before: an open gable junction.
After: lead flashing at the miter.
Low-slope field areas
Problem: on roof sections with a slope lower than 4/12, or under broken tiles, water gets trapped on top of the wooden battens and damages the felt.
How we fix it: a second layer of felt and water-flow battens in the field area.
Field area with new felt and water-flow battens.
Recent tile roof jobs
North Natomas, Sacramento (95835)
The repair plan for this roof: replace the underlayment in a valley section with new felt, upgraded water-flow battens and new 5-crown valley metal; install flash band seal on the ridges and hips; re-secure loose tiles across the whole roof; seal exposed miter junctions; and add a new metal cap above the roof dome.
Repair areas marked at the inspection.
Worn underlayment in the valley.
Dome top before a new metal cap.
West Roseville (95747)
A valley leak caused by worn felt under the tiles — fixed with new 30 lb underlayment, water-flow battens and 5-crown valley metal, then the original tiles went back on. See the full Roseville job with photos.
Rancho Murieta (95683)
The inspection found clogged valley channels, blocked chimney flashing and an open gable junction — problems concentrated in specific drainage areas, not across the whole roof. Our recommendation: clean out the channels and add lead flashing at the gable, not a new roof. (The clogged-valley, chimney and gable photos above are from this inspection.)
Rocklin (95765): ridge flash band
The flash band under the ridge was worn and peeling, letting wind-driven rain in at the nail holes. We installed a new flash band along the full ridge.
Elk Grove: chimney and valley leak
Clogged channels at the chimney and valley backed water up under the tiles and caused dry rot. New wood, underlayment and water-flow battens.
Elk Grove (95624): clogged valleys
Debris in the valleys was damming water behind the tiles. We lifted the valley tiles and cleaned out the flashing.
Folsom (95630): valley leak and dry rot
Where the water got in: the valley metal was too narrow, so debris clogged it and water ran under the tiles, rotting the battens and plywood. The fix: two valleys rebuilt with five-crown valley metal, a second layer of 30 lb felt and water-flow battens, new plywood and about 8 ft of barge rafter, plus flash band on the hips and ridges. More Folsom jobs.
Folsom (95630): valleys rebuilt for a property manager
For a property manager: leaks in several rooms and the garage, where two valleys merge and a gutter drains into the same spot. The fix: both valleys rebuilt, 100 sq ft of ice and water shield, the roof-to-wall section redone and flash band on the hips and ridges.
Sacramento (95833): valley rebuilt
Dry-rotted battens and worn underlayment in a valley. New underlayment, water-flow battens and 5-crown valley metal, then the tiles went back on.
Lincoln (95648): valley leak over the garage
A leak over the garage came from a clogged valley, and the underlayment and battens under it were wearing out. The fix: the valley rebuilt with new 30 lb underlayment, flow-through battens and 30-inch 5-rib valley metal, 10 broken tiles replaced, the other valleys, wall areas and chimney cleaned out, and flash band in the repair area. More Lincoln jobs.
Lincoln (95648): chimneys, a 200 sq ft section and dry rot
Two chimneys got a second layer of 30 lb felt and flow-through battens, and a 200 sq ft section was redone with new felt and flow-through battens. Rotted wood in the repair area was replaced with new shiplap and 2 sheets of plywood. We also cleaned out 6 valleys and replaced 10 broken tiles with spares the homeowner had. More Lincoln jobs.
Repair or replace?
If the problems are in specific areas — valleys, flashings, a section of the field — a repair fixes it for a fraction of the cost of a new roof. If the underlayment has failed across most of the roof, we’ll show you the photos and talk about a re-felt or replacement. Either way, you get both options when both make sense.
Financing: $0 down with low monthly payments, or a 12-month no-interest option. See financing options.
How it works
Book an inspection
Appointments are usually available within a few days.
We inspect and photograph
We make sure it’s something we can fix and show you photos of what we found.
Get a written quote
With repair and replacement options when both make sense.
We schedule the work
Usually 2–4 weeks out, depending on the job. Leaking now? Once you approve the repair, we tarp the roof for free until we’re back.
Tile roof repair FAQ
Can you reuse my existing tiles?
Usually, yes. We lift them, fix what's underneath, and put them back. If a few are broken, we replace them with the closest match.
Why does debris in my valleys matter?
It dams up water behind the tiles. The water sits on the underlayment and wears it out — one of the most common causes of tile roof leaks we see.
What are water-flow battens?
Raised battens that let water drain under the tiles instead of pooling behind flat wood battens.
How long does a tile roof repair last?
Most of our repairs carry a 2–10 year workmanship warranty, depending on the repair.
Do you work in my area?
We repair tile roofs across the Sacramento area, including Sacramento, Roseville, Rocklin, Elk Grove, Lincoln and Folsom. See all service areas.
How long does tile roof underlayment last?
Most tile roofs in the Sacramento area need their first repairs around 15 to 20 years. The tiles themselves last much longer. What wears out is the underlayment (felt) beneath them, especially where debris builds up in valleys, along walls and in other drainage channels and pushes water back under the tiles. With clean, well-maintained drainage, the underlayment can last as long as its manufacturer rates it for. Leaks, water stains on ceilings, and debris-packed valleys are the signs it's time for an inspection.
Should I relay my old tiles or get a new tile roof?
For a whole house, we usually don't recommend relaying. Lifting every tile breaks a lot of them, and replacement tiles can cost up to $35 each, which adds up to thousands. The labor is slow and complex, so the total ends up close to a brand-new tile roof, and you'd still have old tiles. For about the same money, you can get new tile plus all-new underlayment and accessories. For leaks in one area, a targeted repair (lifting just those tiles) is still the right call.
Can you match my roof tiles if they're discontinued?
Usually, yes. When a tile is no longer made, we source matching tiles from a tile boneyard (a salvage yard for used roof tiles). Sometimes the match is nearly perfect, and sometimes the color is a little off. Either way, every tile we install keeps your roof watertight. To keep the visible side looking right, we often move original tiles from the back of the roof to the front and put the closest-match tiles where they can't be seen from the street.
Do you install solar panel screens to keep birds out?
Yes. Birds that nest under solar panels leave debris that blocks water from draining off the roof. The water backs up under the tiles or shingles and causes leaks. We install screens around the panels to keep birds out.
How much does a brand-new tile roof cost?
On most 2,000–2,500 sq ft homes in the Sacramento area, a new tile roof runs about $35,000–$45,000. That’s close to the cost of relaying your old tiles over new underlayment, which is why a new tile roof is often the better value for a whole house.
Get a free tile roof inspection
Photos of everything we find and a written quote the same day. Call (916) 678-9786 — we answer 24/7.
Related: Roof Inspection