Tile comes in clay, concrete and slate, and we work on all of them in Santa Monica. We take on residential and commercial buildings. Where the work goes next depends on the condition of the tile, the flashing and the deck.
Sales estimates for roofing work are free. A detailed inspection report is a separate paid service that answers a different question. Tell us which one you need when you get in touch.
Tile roof work alongside another project
When another project touches your roof, the roof work still needs a scope of its own. We describe the tile work separately from any other trade on the job. That keeps the roofing part clear for you and for everyone planning around it.
We look first at the tile and the flashing in the section that the project affects. Flashing is the metal that seals roof to wall, chimney and valley transitions. Tile in that area can sit loose or slipped, and the flashing may need work as well.
Tell us which roof section the other project affects. We need to check that area and any damage around it before determining how much tile to remove.
We define removal and reinstatement for that section before coordinating with the other work. Removal covers the tile and underlayment that have to come off, and reinstatement covers what goes back. Original tile returns only when its condition allows.
When tile cannot go back on
Any reuse of the original tile depends on its actual condition once it comes off. If tile cannot go back on, the roofing scope changes, and that may affect coordination. We would rather raise that possibility early than have it surprise you later.
Repair, underlayment or full replacement
We assess clay, concrete and slate roofs on homes and commercial buildings. A leak alone does not tell us whether repair, new underlayment or full replacement is needed. We check the damaged area and the surrounding roof before recommending work.
The three routes differ in how much of the roof the work touches. A repair works on the affected area, and a replacement covers the whole roof. A relay sits between them, lifting the tile to renew the layer beneath.
Tile repair
Our roof repair work covers leaks, loose or slipped tile, flashing and shingle patches, including small jobs.
A leak in one room does not prove failure across the whole roof, and it does not rule that out. The condition of the tile, the flashing and the deck decides the answer. We name the flashing in the scope alongside the tile, so neither one gets left out.
A few slipped tiles or a single flashing detail still counts as roof work we take on. Small jobs do not need a larger project attached to them.
Underlayment replacement, or lift and relay
Underlayment is the waterproof layer beneath tile or shingle. When it fails, the original tile can go back on above the new layer if its condition allows. That work is called a lift and relay.
Working in sections keeps the open area smaller than a full strip of the roof. Rot under the covering changes the job, and it is one of the scope drivers we ask about. Sound decking stays where it is.
A tile roof underlayment replacement follows these steps in order, section by section. A leak does not send every tile roof down that route. A relay reuses the original tile only when it comes off sound.
- Start by moving the tile off the roof onto a stack on site.
- Pull the failed underlayment away and leave the deck clear.
- Check the open sheathing, then cut out and replace whatever has rotted.
- Lay new underlayment.
- Restack the original tile.
When the whole roof comes off
A full roof replacement, or re-roof, replaces the covering rather than patching one section. The condition of the roof drives that decision, not a single leak or slipped tile. A replacement also changes more of what you plan around than a section repair does.
Tear-off is a separate term. It means stripping to the deck rather than overlaying a new covering on the old. Where a project involves tear-off, how many layers sit on the deck belongs in the scope.
What we ask about the roof before an estimate
Ask what work is included when comparing roofing proposals. Roof size, height, pitch and existing layers affect the job, as do rotted wood and tile handling. These details help explain differences between estimates.
Rot sits out of sight beneath the covering, so it belongs in the conversation early. You may not know what is under your tile, and you do not have to. Tell us what you do know, and we will ask about the rest.
- How much roof area the work covers, counted in squares
- How many stories the building has
- The pitch of the roof, meaning how steep it is
- Whether there is rot under the covering
- Whether we have to lift and restack the tile
- How many existing layers sit on the deck
Santa Monica roofing application routes
Santa Monica describes a single-trade application for minor projects that involve one trade, including roofing. Whether your project fits that description is a question for the city. Come with the real scope of the project when you ask.
You can read the city's building permit application types and ask which one matches your plan. We help property owners pull the required roofing permit from the city or other authority with jurisdiction. Approval, timing and cost stay with that authority.
If the work involves another trade, include that work when you describe the project to the city.
Sales estimates and paid inspection reports
Our sales estimate is free, and a detailed inspection report is a separate paid service. An estimate covers the work we would do and what that work would cost. A report puts the condition of the roof in writing.
Two different drivers send people toward a paid inspection. A buyer in escrow wants the condition of the roof verified. An insurer may require an inspection before it renews or writes coverage.
Check what the party asking for the report actually requires, because a free sales estimate may not satisfy them. Tell us who asked and what they want covered. Call (323) 616-1483 and name the one you need.
Buildings and cities we cover
We serve residential and commercial buildings in Santa Monica, one city inside our wider tile roofing coverage. If the building sits in a nearby city, check our service areas before you call.
Nearby cities we cover include Culver City, Beverly Hills and El Segundo. What the roof needs drives the tile work, while the city shapes the permit route. Name the city when you call.
What to have ready before you call
- The city the building sits in
- Whether the property is residential or commercial
- What the roof is doing, and where
- Whether another party asked for a written report
- Whether another project is already planned on the building
- Whether you have already asked the city about a permit
A few details move the first call along, and you do not need all of them. Rough answers are fine.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average cost of a tile roof replacement?
An average would not tell you much, because the scope of the roof sets the cost. The drivers include how much roof area there is in squares, how many stories, and how steep the pitch is. Rot under the covering, existing layers, and whether tile has to come off and go back on also count.
Can tile roofs be repaired?
Yes, tile or flashing work can address the section affected by another project without replacing the entire roof. Define the roofing work separately so everyone involved knows which covering and transitions the repair includes.
How do you replace the underlayment on a tile roof?
A relay lifts the covering, removes failed underlayment, repairs rotted decking and installs a new waterproof layer. Suitable clay, concrete or slate then goes back. When other work touches the roof, coordinate that roofing scope with the rest of the project.
Call (323) 616-1483 for a free estimate on tile work in Santa Monica. Tell us the address, the building type, and what the roof is doing. You can also contact us and send the same details in writing.
Tile Roofing Los Angeles is a division of Home Vision Remodel. We work under CSLB #1112525.
(323) 616-1483