---
title: "Common Tile Roof Problems and How to Fix Them | NEMA Roofing"
description: "Common tile roof problems: cracked and slipped tiles, leaks under intact tiles, failed flashing, loose ridge mortar and open eaves, with the right fix for each."
url: "https://nemaroofing.com/tile-roofing/common-tile-roof-problems-and-how-to-fix-them/"
updated: "2026-09-29"
---

**The most common tile roof problems are cracked or slipped tiles, leaks from worn underlayment under tiles that still look fine, failed flashing at walls, valleys and roof penetrations, loose mortar at hips and ridges, and debris or pests at open eaves.** Most are fixed by replacing or re-fastening single tiles, rebuilding flashing or re-laying underlayment, not by a new roof. If water is already coming in, call NEMA Roofing at [866-631-3366](tel:866-631-3366).

## Quick diagnosis: symptom, cause, fix

| What you see | Likely cause | Usual fix |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cracked or broken tiles, pieces in the gutter | Foot traffic, falling branches, debris thrown by wind | Replace the tile with one that interlocks with its neighbors |
| Tiles out of line or sliding down the roof | Failed or corroded fasteners, broken nail holes | Re-fasten with corrosion-resistant fasteners or clips |
| Ceiling stain after rain, tiles look intact | Underlayment worn out or torn | Lift tiles, replace underlayment, reset tiles |
| Leak at a wall, chimney, skylight or vent | Flashing failed or was never installed at both levels | Rebuild the flashing; sealant alone does not last |
| Cracked or missing mortar at hips and ridges | Age, movement, poor bonding | Re-set loose caps; seal hairline cracks |
| White chalky film on concrete tile | Efflorescence | Nothing; it fades on its own |
| Nests, droppings or debris at the eaves | Open tile ends with no bird stop | Install eave closures (bird stops) |

## Damaged roof tiles: cracked, broken and slipped

A crack is more than a looks problem: it lets water and sunlight reach the underlayment, which is the layer actually keeping the house dry. Guidance from the Tile Roofing Industry Alliance points out that wind damage to tile usually comes from debris striking it, not from the wind lifting it, and that most manufacturers do not cover breakage from foot traffic. So after a windstorm or after any crew has been on the roof, look for new cracks.

**The fix:** the roofer removes the broken tile, checks the underlayment beneath it, and slides in a replacement that seats and interlocks with the tiles around it. If the profile is no longer made, the industry group lists borrowing tiles from a less visible roof plane, salvage yards or custom-made tiles as the options. Small chips can sometimes be bonded rather than replaced; our [tile maintenance guide](https://nemaroofing.com/tile-roofing/tile-roof-maintenance-tips-every-homeowner-should-know/) gives the thresholds.

Slipped tiles usually mean the fastener has failed. The California Building Code requires tile fasteners to be corrosion resistant and sets the number per tile by wind speed, pitch and roof height, with clips at the eave on some roofs. Re-fastening to that pattern, rather than gluing tiles in place, is the lasting repair.

## Leaks when the tiles look fine

This is the problem owners find hardest to believe. Tiles shed most of the water, but wind-driven rain and water that slips past flashing reach the underlayment, and the industry’s installation manual calls that layer critical to the whole roof. When it has aged, the roof leaks even though every tile is whole.

**The fix:** lift the tiles in the affected area (or the whole roof), replace the underlayment, renew the flashing, and reset the same tiles. In the City of Los Angeles this remove-and-reset job is an Express Permit item. In Oxnard, repairs that reach the underlayment need a permit whatever their size. Leaking in several places, or underlayment that crumbles at the eaves, points to a full reset rather than patches; see [how long a tile roof lasts](https://nemaroofing.com/tile-roofing/how-long-do-tile-roofs-last/) for how that job fits the roof’s life.

## Flashing failures at walls, valleys, vents and solar mounts

Water that gets around flashing is, according to the industry installation manual, among the leading causes of trouble on tile roofs. Weak points are the valleys, the joint where a roof meets a wall, chimneys, skylights and every pipe or mount that passes through the tiles.

- **Valleys:** the code calls for metal valley flashing extending at least 11 inches each side of the center with a raised splash rib, over an extra underlayment strip on pitches of 3 in 12 and steeper. Undersized or rusted valley metal overflows in heavy rain.
- **Penetrations:** the industry group’s guidance is that every penetration needs two flashings, one at the deck and underlayment and one at the tile, and that nothing may be attached directly to a tile. The group issued that guidance because solar installers were unsure which flashings a tile roof needs.
- **Walls and chimneys:** flashing and counterflashing are required there; a bead of sealant where metal should be is a temporary fix.

**The fix:** take up the tiles around the leak, install the missing layer of flashing, and relay the tiles. It is more work than caulking, and it is the repair that stays dry.

## Cracked or loose mortar at hips and ridges

Many tile roofs have hip and ridge caps set in mortar. According to the industry group, cracking in that mortar typically does not affect performance; what matters is whether it is coming loose or leaving gaps. Minor cracks can be skim-coated or sealed. Caps that rock or mortar that has fallen out should be re-set by a roofer. In fire hazard areas, California’s Wildland-Urban Interface Code requires hip and ridge caps on these roofs to be mudded in to keep embers out, so a gap there is a fire risk as well as a leak risk.

## Stains, efflorescence and faded tiles

A white, chalky bloom on concrete tile is efflorescence, a deposit from the cement. It is temporary and harmless according to the industry group, and rain and air gradually clear it, so it needs no repair. Faded color is also mostly cosmetic: the same source says tile color may soften after long exposure. Dark growth in shaded areas can be moss or algae; clean it with a product the tile maker approves, at low pressure, from a ladder or by a roofer.

## Birds, pests and debris at open eaves

Barrel tiles leave open ends at the eaves. Without closures, birds nest in them and leaves collect there. California’s wildfire code calls for bird stops at eaves wherever the tile profile allows, and the Department of Defense roofing criteria call for packing stainless steel mesh under barrel trim tiles to keep birds and bats out. Adding eave closures is a small job that solves both problems.

## Repairs to leave to a roofer

Walking a tile roof can break tiles, and most repairs above involve lifting tiles and working on the layer below. Leave these to a licensed roofer who works on tile. For a comparison of tile with other materials when repairs pile up, see [tile vs shingle roofs](https://nemaroofing.com/tile-roofing/tile-roof-vs-shingle-roof-which-is-better/).

## Tile roof repair across Southern California

NEMA Roofing repairs tile roofs across Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, working from five locations: Tarzana, Woodland Hills, Downey, Oxnard and Santa Barbara; find your area on the [service areas page](https://nemaroofing.com/service-areas/). Our [tile roofing service](https://nemaroofing.com/our-services/tile-roofing/) covers every fix on this page. Call [866-631-3366](tel:866-631-3366) to have a tile roof problem diagnosed.