Hard Work & Innovation: The Job of a Roofer

Your clay tile roof needs to be inspected regularly just like any other type of roofing material. Even though tile roofs last for decades, individual tiles can chip or crack and need to be repaired. By keeping the tiles in good shape, you protect the roof from moisture damage so it lasts a long time. Here's why it's a good idea to hire a contractor to inspect your roof and the roofing services they may need to provide.

A Contractor Knows How To Walk On Clay Tiles

The best roof inspection is done from the top of the roof, but walking on clay tiles can be difficult if you aren't careful and don't know what you're doing. That's one reason it's a good idea to hire a roofing contractor to check the tiles for you. If you step on the tiles wrong, you can crack them and make the damage even worse.

Plus, a contractor knows exactly what to look for, and they can catch areas of water damage so they can be repaired before your roof is ruined. A roofer will know what types of repairs are needed to get your roof back in good shape.

Your Clay Tile Roof Might Need These Roofing Services

Filling in cracks is a common type of repair for clay tiles. This can be done with a crack filler made for clay tiles that come in different colors. This allows you to match the repair materials to the color of your tiles. However, if the color can't be matched, the repaired crack can be touched up with paint so it blends in with the rest of the tile and it isn't noticeable.

If a tile happens to be broken in half, your roofer will probably replace it. A clay tile can be replaced in a manner similar to replacing an asphalt shingle, but the work can be more difficult since the tiles are hard and rigid.

Besides repairing and replacing tiles, your roofer will probably check all the flashing to make sure it's still watertight. They may also check under broken tiles to make sure there is no water damage to the deck, and if there is, they may need to lift off some tiles so the rotting plywood can be replaced.

The roofer may also check for debris stuck in the valley that can hold moisture. They may need to clean the roof and also look for moss since moss can be destructive and needs to be removed too.

At some point, your tile roof might need to be cleaned to get rid of algae that make it look stained and ugly. Cleaning a tile roof is dangerous since the tiles get slippery when wet. A contractor can clean the roof to restore the appearance of the clay tiles so they look fresh and new. 

For more information, contact a local company like Weatherguard Inc.