Roof Tiles Cracking

However improper installation of roof tiles is more common than you think.

Roof tiles cracking.

Roof tile cracks can happen due to several causes. If you are dealing with a tile that is out of reach of the eaves you will need to use an extendable. You do not want to walk on roofing tiles because your weight can crack and break more of them. If your roof has a steep pitch you may want to avoid getting up there at all.

The common failures on clay tile roofs include cracked broken tiles spalling in freezing climates loose tiles that slide down out of place on roofs where not every tile is secured to the roof deck flashing failures corrosion or cracking and fastener failures. Most tile roofs have lead soaker flashings on the upstream side and the lead will crack after a while. A simple fix is to reseal with silicone sealant. The most typical causes of roof cracks are foot traffic protruding nails from underneath and severe storms.

Inspect the fragility if the shingles are brittles then stepping on them during warm weather must be avoided too. Vulnerable areas include roof valleys and areas of penetration. Since clay and concrete tiles can break easily you can also lose your footing easily and wind up injuring yourself from a fall. Do not walk on it during cold weather.

Roofing tiles can actually get stronger with age so be extra cautious if you re working with a freshly laid variety. Some chimneys have hidden soaker flashings along the side and these can also rust out. Step on the flat part by tip toing. Assess the roof and take safety precautions.

The expensive alternative is to replace the flashing with a new one. Foot traffic one of the most common causes of roof tile cracks is when inexperienced people walk on the roof and unknowingly step on tiles in a way that cause them to crack. Snow and ice build up are another reason for roofs to pop and creak. The cracking and popping could also be from the joists or beams as they contract and expand.

This is why only experienced tradespeople should have access to your roof when needed. For example if the cracking reason is thermal splitting walking on the tiles isn t likely to cause further damage. Tiles need to be installed with a minimum distance between tiles and they need to be self supporting with a consistent weight distribution. These are some of the common causes of roofing tile failure and cracking you can avoid.

In areas where the crack has led to a full horizontal or vertical break it is unwise to use adhesive to fix the crack.