Roof Tile Care

Washing

• For a long-lasting tile roof, keep the roof uncluttered. Use a pressure washer to clear off debris such as algae, moss, pine needles and dirt, but make sure the pressure washer device does not produce water at the highest speed available, which can damage the fragile tiles. Do not apply more than 1,200 pounds per square inch of pressure to your roof.

Weight

• Avoid placing extra weight on a tile roof, whether the roof is made of slate, concrete or clay tile. If you decide to take a ladder to the roof to observe its condition, do not walk on the tiles, as this could cause them to break or crack. Instead, look at the roof visually from your ladder at least once a year.

Sealant

• Apply a sealant to your roof tiles to keep algae and moss from growing on your roof. This not only keeps you from having to wash the roof as often but also keeps your tile roof from becoming an eyesore.

  Failure to block moss and algae from your roof tiles using a sealant causes cracking in the tiles or causes them to get clogged and eventually fail because the moss grows underneath the edges of the tiles and in the areas where the tiles overlap. This debris retains water, thus not allowing your roof substrate to dry out, which leads to the substrate’s deterioration. In addition, the debris sometimes causes the entire roof not to drain and dry out properly, resulting in potential mold issues in your home.

Ruined Tiles

• Hire a professional to replace any roof tiles that are cracked or damaged, as ruined tiles allow water or snow to leak into your house. If you notice leaking on the inside of your house -- for example, wet drywall or rotting wood -- but cannot pinpoint the exact area of the source of the problem on your tile roof, go into your home’s attic to try to find the vicinity of the damaged tile. A professional also can do this for you, particularly because, even though a leak sometimes starts in one area, the water from that leak flows to another area before manifesting itself inside your home.