A tile roof can outlast several shingle roofs, but it still needs the right repair when something breaks. Martin Exteriors Roofing & Siding repairs tile roofs in Lake Geneva, along with shingle and metal roofs, from our Roscoe office at 11704 Main St. We’ve been in business since 2006. Call (815) 624-6278 any time, day or night.
Tile Roof Repair in Lake Geneva
Clay and concrete tile are heavy, long-lived materials, and most tile problems are local: a few broken pieces, a slipped course, a tired valley. That makes tile a good candidate for repair instead of replacement. What matters is that the person doing the work understands how a tile roof actually keeps water out.
Cracked and Broken Tiles
Tiles crack from hail, from falling branches, from being stepped on in the wrong spot and, on porous tile, from water that soaks in and freezes. A single cracked tile doesn’t always leak right away, because the layer underneath catches the water. Left alone, though, that water keeps reaching the underlayment in the same place until it wears through. We remove the broken piece without disturbing its neighbors and set a replacement in its place.
Slipped and Loose Tiles
When the nail, clip or wire holding a tile corrodes or snaps, the tile slides down the slope and leaves a gap above it. Slipped tiles are easy to spot from the ground as a break in the pattern. We reseat them and replace the failed fasteners so the course lines up again.
The Underlayment Under the Tile
On a tile roof, the tile sheds most of the water, but the underlayment beneath it is the real waterproof layer. Tile can last far longer than the underlayment under it. When an older tile roof starts leaking in several spots at once, worn underlayment is often the reason. In that case the fix is to lift the tile in the affected area, replace the underlayment and battens as needed, and relay the same tile. Where the underlayment has failed across most of the roof, we’ll show you photos and talk through that larger job.
Flashing on Tile Roofs
Valleys, chimneys, sidewalls and the ridge are where tile roofs most often let water in. Flashing on a tile roof has to follow the shape of the tile, and the ridge and hip pieces have to stay sealed and fastened. We replace rusted or open valley metal, rework chimney and wall flashing, and reset loose ridge and hip tiles.
Matching Your Tiles
Tile comes in many profiles, sizes and colors, and some older ones aren’t made anymore. We look for the closest match in shape first, because a tile that doesn’t interlock properly can leak, and color second. When an exact match isn’t available, one option is to move original tiles from a less visible slope to the repair area and put the closest match where it won’t show. We’ll show you the options before any tile is replaced.
Why Walking on Tile Takes Care
Tile is strong against weather but can crack under a person’s weight if it’s stepped on in the middle or at an unsupported edge. A careless walk across a tile roof can cause more damage than the problem being fixed. When we work on tile, we step only where the tiles are supported, spread our weight, and stay off sections where we can’t do that safely. Please don’t climb onto a tile roof yourself. You can learn a lot from the ground: look for slipped tiles, broken pieces in the yard and gaps in the rows.
We also repair slate roofs, including cracked and slipped slates and the flashing around them.
Lake Geneva Weather and Your Roof
NOAA’s Storm Events Database lists hail reports in and around Lake Geneva since 2010, most of them an inch across or larger, along with wind reports of trees snapped and uprooted, including along the northern shore of Geneva Lake. It also lists several brief tornadoes in and near the city, most of them causing tree damage, with one damaging shingles and soffits on a home. Hail and falling limbs are common causes of broken tile, and wind lifts shingles and works flashing loose. See hail damage repair and wind damage repair. For hail on shingle roofs around the lake, see hail damage roof repair in Lake Geneva.
Winter is hard on every roof type here. Snow can sit on a tile roof for weeks, and when ice builds at the eaves, meltwater can back up under the tile just as it does under shingles. Eave protection and good attic airflow matter on both. See attic ventilation.
Shingle and Metal Roof Repair
If your Lake Geneva home has an asphalt shingle roof, we repair those too: wind-lifted and creased tabs, hail-bruised shingles, cracked pipe boots, worn valleys and loose step flashing. We also repair metal roofs on homes and commercial buildings, including loose panels, failed fasteners and leaking trim. For stores and other business buildings, see commercial roof repair.
A Mix of Homes, Old and New
Census estimates put the median Lake Geneva home at 1978. About 14% of homes were built before 1940, roughly 38% between 1940 and 1979, about 21% between 1980 and 1999, and about 26% in 2000 or later. Only about half of all homes are detached houses. Nearly a third are in buildings with five or more units, so condo and association roofs are common. We repair townhome and association roofs, and the board or owners get photos and a written price before anything is scheduled.
If You’re Not at the Lake
Census estimates count roughly 1 in 10 homes in the city as held for seasonal use. A small leak in an empty house can soak insulation and stain ceilings long before anyone sees it. If you’re away, tell us when you call. We’ll photograph the roof and attic and send you what we found with a written price, so you can decide from wherever you are.
Repair or Replace
On a tile roof, replacement is rarely about the tile itself. It comes up when the underlayment has failed across most of the roof or when storm damage is widespread. On a shingle roof, worn shingles across whole slopes, a soft deck or leaks that keep moving point toward roof replacement. Either way, you’ll see the photos first. A new shingle roof comes with our workmanship warranty plus the GAF warranty you choose. For Lake Geneva homes, see our page on roof replacement in Lake Geneva.
We also offer roof maintenance plans, so a tile, slate or shingle roof gets checked on a regular schedule and small problems get fixed before they turn into leaks.
Emergency Roof Repair in Lake Geneva
If water is coming in, call (815) 624-6278. Someone answers 24/7, and emergency tarping can be done within 24 hours. See emergency roof repair and storm damage repair.
More for Lake Geneva
Our Lake Geneva roofing page covers the rest of what we do in the city, and Lake Geneva siding covers siding. Martin Exteriors is licensed in Wisconsin (#1436189), a GAF Master Elite contractor (fewer than 2% of roofers) and a four-time Inc. 5000 company. Financing is available with payments as low as $149/month for qualified buyers. We also repair roofs in nearby towns: see roof repair in Delavan and roof repair in Elkhorn.
Schedule a free inspection or call (815) 624-6278.
Lake Geneva Roof Repair FAQ
Can you repair a tile roof without replacing it?
Usually, yes. Most tile problems are local: cracked or slipped tiles, a worn valley, loose ridge pieces or a section of failed underlayment. We repair those areas and reuse the existing tile wherever we can.
Do you repair tile roofs in Lake Geneva?
Yes. We repair tile roofs, including broken and slipped tiles, flashing, ridge and hip pieces, and the underlayment beneath the tile.
What if my roof tiles aren’t made anymore?
We look for the closest match in profile and color. If there’s no good match, original tiles can be moved from a less visible slope to the repair area, with the closest match placed where it won’t show. We’ll show you the options first.
Why is my tile roof leaking if none of the tiles look broken?
The underlayment under the tile may have worn out, or a valley, chimney or ridge may have opened up. Tile often outlasts the layer beneath it. We check those areas and photograph what we find.
Is it safe to walk on my tile roof to check it?
We don’t recommend it. Tile can crack under foot if it’s stepped on in the wrong place. Look from the ground for slipped tiles, gaps in the rows or broken pieces in the yard, then call (815) 624-6278 for a free inspection.
Do you also repair shingle and metal roofs in Lake Geneva?
Yes. We repair asphalt shingle roofs and metal roofs on homes and commercial buildings, including storm damage, leaks and flashing.
