How to Fix Leaks on Clay Tile Roofs

There are many reasons your clay tile roof might be leaking. And the cause of your leaking roof determines how to go about its repair. It is, however, vital that you repair your leaking clay tile roof as soon as possible.

If leaks on clay tile roofs are left unfixed for a long time, it causes more damage to the rooftops, the ceiling, and even your appliance inside the house.

We all know the importance of the roof and how leakages can affect people’s safety. The fundamental question is, ‘how much knowledge of roof leak fixing do you have?’

In this post, we’ll be giving details about how to fix leaks on clay tile roofs. Paying closer attention to the details is crucial. You can either go the DIY way or outsource the job for better delivery.

Here is how to repair leaks on your clay tile roofs:

Step 1: Identify What Caused the Leaks

Your first action is to dig into the root of the issues that caused leaks on your roof. As mentioned earlier, fixing the leaks on your roof depends on the cause. As such, you are identifying the cause lets you know the right means of fixing them.

Here are some of the common issues that might result in leaking clay tiles:

• Cracked tiles
• Damage to the waterproof membrane
• Buildup of debris on the valley
• Broken tiles

Step 2: Fixing the issues

Once you have identified the issues, the next step is to fix them, so they don’t graduate to higher and more dangerous levels. Here are ways to fix some of the roof issues we have identified:

Cracks

If your clay tile roof is leaking due to cracks on it, you can quickly fix them by applying RT-600. Apply this product on the cracked area and give some time. The solution will spread widely on the affected tile and dry in a few minutes.

Damaged Membrane

This might require the service of a professional. This is to ensure that the job is done correctly, and no more damage is done while fixing the existing ones. The damaged membrane is removed and replaced with a new one.

Debris Buildup

Collection of debris is common in close roof valleys, making them susceptible to leaks. To repair leaks due to debris collection, remove the tiles in the area, remove the debris, and finally reinstall the tiles. Since closed valleys are susceptible to debris collection, it might be ideal that you change your valleys to an open one this time.

Broken Tiles

Broken tiles are another reason your clay tile roof might be leaking. If the tiles have sustained large cracks, then you will need to replace them with new ones. Here, you will need a harmer. Use your harmer to remove the cracked tiles. However, be careful while removing the cracked tiles, so you don’t damage the good ones.

Tiles are usually held together with nails, making it more logical to fix new tiles. Therefore, you need to be careful while replacing new tiles. Here, you will need a holder lash. Place the tile on the holder lash and place it where the tile should be. If it requires that you cut the edges, use a wet saw to do that. To hold the tiles together again, drive the nail into the tiles with a harmer. With this, your tiles are firmly held together.

The task does not end there. You will still need to block little spaces around the new tiles. To do this, apply RT-600 to the sides of the original tiles and allow it to dry. You can also use mortar to achieve the same aim.

What to Pay Attention To

Having gone through the steps listed in this article, you can’t help the rush climb up there and start fixing the leaks on your roof. While this is great, there are other things to pay attention to. This will ensure that you do not cause more damages to what you already have. Here are common areas to pay attention to before going for the repair.

Managing Materials Properly

You will need certain materials to repair your leaking roof. Some of these materials are weighty, and since clay tile roofs are susceptible to break, you will need to be careful with how you place these materials on your roof.

One technique is to go to the rooftop with each material only when you need it. But since you might be working on a high rooftop, this might not be ideal, and you may need to go with all your materials at once.

However, if the later is the case, make sure you spread your materials on the rooftop and not gather at a single spot. This will ensure that the weights of your documents are not pressing in the same area and break other tiles.

Accessing the Roof

Besides the weight of your materials, how you distribute your weight on clay tiles roofs is one other critical area you should pay attention to. Walking on the rooftop is not encouraged, as it focuses your weight on a small area at a time. In that way, such an area may receive a little knock that could result in holes on the roof.

Crawling is ideal for spreading your weight. Also, ensure you are not walking on the edges of the tiles, as they are your roof’s weakest areas.

Conclusion

Repairing leaks on your clay roof might sound complicated and challenging, but with the right technique, you can do it without seeking professional service.

Therefore, make sure you follow all the instructions in this article. However, if you think the Do-It-Yourself mechanisms will not address all the issues, you must hire the service of a professional.