Question Regarding Concrete Roofing Tiles.

Oregon_Rob

My mother lives in a condo that is about 25 years old and they noticed a damp spot in one of the closets. I put the ladder up to the gutter and there are a few cracked/broken ones. I lifted a few tiles, there is quite a bit of dampness under the tiles. Do they start to soak up water when they get older?
We get a lot of rain here.

Grumpy

Concrete tiles are like any other tile roofing which relies heavily on the underlayment. It's not the tile that water proofs but it is the underlayment. I wouldn't be suprised if you find moisture under the tile.

What type of underlayment do you have on the roof?

Oregon_Rob

Grumpy,
I didn't think to pay much attention to the undrelayment. Thanks for the info.

tooldude58

Hey Oregon Bob,

I am a clay tile roofer from a decade or two, or three, ago. Every time I get up on a tile roof, and a leak persists, I usually find more broken tile under the tile that I can see is broken.

As the person, or objects landed on the tile and broke it, other tile crack from the associated weight and stress shift. Concrete, or tile, does not matter; they are designed to shed rain, snow, sun, from the ultimate roof protector: THE FELT! Always make it 30#, or 40# roof paper to ensure long term seal, no matter what happens to the tile, from whatever the source; save a tree falling on the tile!

As for the water retention, check to see if the tile is holding some water from draining away. The design may not help with the water shedding operation. some modification may be needed. Good Luck, Dan-o