Large roofs, tile and the weather behind them
Concrete tile is heavy and durable, but the underlayment beneath it ages in the heat long before the tiles do. A tile roof can look sound from the ground while the felt below has dried out, which is how many hidden leaks begin. Cracked or slipped tiles, worn mortar at ridges and failed sealant around skylights are other common starting points.
Daily summer thunderstorms drive rain sideways, and a long ridge line or tall gable catches more wind than a low roof does. Palm fronds, oak limbs and leaves collect in valleys and at wall joints on lots with mature landscaping. Reaching those spots safely on a steep, tiled roof is work for trained crews, not for a weekend ladder climb.
