The Lifespan of a Tile Roof – 3 + 1 Ways to Extend It

Tile has been recognized as an excellent roofing material since ancient times: fired tile was used on roofs as far back as antiquity. Its popularity is based on its longevity, quietness, and appearance. The lifespan of a tile roof is long if the roof is properly maintained. A well-maintained and correctly constructed tile roof can last up to 50 years. When major roof renovations aren’t needed, you save both money and effort.

In this article, we’ll explain what measures you can take to maximize the lifespan of your home’s tile roof.

1. Inspect the Condition Annually and Remove Debris and Moss

Your roof faces autumn rains, winter storms, and sunshine. The lifespan of a tile roof increases when you show it proper care. It’s a good idea to climb onto the roof at least once a year to check its condition. Spring, after the snow has melted from the roof, is a good time for an annual tile roof inspection.

Moss and debris, such as branches and leaves, easily accumulate on the roof. A tile roof stays happy when you clean it of debris. You can use a leaf blower or brush to help. Check the penetrations, valleys, and underlayment. At the same time, it’s good to check the condition of the rainwater system and roof safety products.

Moss absorbs water like a sponge, and water is not the roof’s friend.

Moss also needs to be removed. Moss absorbs water like a sponge, and water is not the roof’s friend. However, don’t use a pressure washer to remove moss unless the roof is being coated, as a pressure washer is a powerful tool that wears down the tile’s coating. We explain moss removal in more detail in this article.

Remember to be careful when moving around on the roof! Especially on old clay tile roofs, pay attention to the fact that tiles are fragile and can break easily. Don’t break the tiles or yourself: even on a low-slope roof, it’s good to use a harness. Moisture and debris make the roof slippery.

2. Replace Broken Tiles

Pay close attention: are there any broken tiles visible on the roof? Water can get into unwelcome places through broken or even missing tiles. Broken tiles are therefore a real risk factor.

A tile can break due to impact during a storm, for example, or the tile may have gradually weakened – in a tile with worn coating, water that has absorbed into it and alternately freezes and thaws will eventually cause the tile to crack. This is called frost damage.

Broken tiles should be replaced with intact ones as soon as possible. When the tile roof was originally installed on the house, extra tiles were likely set aside for situations like this. The broken tile is carefully removed, and an intact tile is put in its place by lifting the tile above it slightly. If the cracked tile is in a difficult location, it’s good to call in a professional.

3. Extend the Lifespan of a Tile Roof by Coating

The purpose of coating is to protect the tile from moisture. Moss also won’t grow on a coated tile. A new coating also gives the roof a stunning appearance.

Tile roof coating typically becomes necessary every 10–15 years. At this point, the original factory coating or previous maintenance coating has worn down so much that it no longer protects the tile.

Coating is indeed key to extending the lifespan of a tile roof. Old coating wears down and makes the tile surface porous. Water that alternately freezes and thaws causes frost damage in porous tiles.

When inspecting the condition of tile coating, a suitable viewing distance is about 1.5 meters. If the tile surface looks porous from this distance and no coating is visible, maintenance is likely due.

Colored or Clear Roof Coating?

A tile roof can be treated with colored or clear coating. Clear coating is, as the name suggests, colorless and doesn’t change the roof’s color. Clear coating protects the roof for about 5–7 years. Clear coating can be used when there’s still some old coating remaining. A proven clear protective agent is, for example, Tikkurila’s Kilpi Pro Block. Only clear roof coating is suitable for clay tile roofs.

Colored coating, on the other hand, gives a tile roof protection for up to 15 years, and it’s the coating type we generally recommend. In addition to protection, colored coating gives the roof a new, impressive appearance, and you can even change the color of the tile roof with it. Changing the color requires careful work, however, as the old color easily shows through.

It All Starts with Washing and Preparation

Coating work begins with washing the roof, and before washing the roof, it’s extremely important to get the protective coverings in order. Moss falling from the roof splashes dirty water, and along with the wash water, color from the tile can come off in addition to dirt. It’s easier to invest in good protective coverings than to later remove dirt from the house walls – sometimes the dirt is even impossible to remove. A tarp or lightweight cover is a proven helper in protection: it’s attached to the eaves or soffit so that dirty water runs down the tarp away from the wall. Plants located near the house should also be protected.

It’s easier to invest in good protective coverings than to later remove dirt from the house walls.

Since the roof will be coated, a pressure washer can be used in the cleaning work – the coating coming off doesn’t matter, as it will be renewed. Before washing, it’s important to check that the roof penetrations and valleys are in good condition so that water doesn’t stray where it doesn’t belong. All broken tiles should also be replaced with intact ones before washing. After washing, a vegetation control agent is applied to the dry roof. The agent is allowed to work for about a day and is not washed off from under the coating.

Coating Work

After thorough preparation, it’s time to move on to the actual coating. When using colored coating, the roof is first treated with thinned primer. The primer absorbs into the porous surface of the tile. Clear coating, on the other hand, is applied only once, so the priming step is skipped.

Coating is usually done with a sprayer, but the edges of the roof and other areas requiring precision should be treated with a brush. You can rent a sprayer for the duration of the work. Clear coating, on the other hand, is usually done with a backpack sprayer, which isn’t a very expensive investment even if purchased. We explain more about tile roof coating work in this article.

+ 1 Snow Removal

Did you know that a cubic meter of snow can weigh up to 400 kilograms? Heavy snow stresses structures and is, of course, a safety risk when falling freely. Snow should be removed when there’s about half a meter of it on the roof.

If your tile roof needs care, we’re happy to do the work for you. Requesting a quote naturally costs nothing.

Read also: The Cost of Painting a Tile Roof – How to Estimate

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