Repairing and Matching a Broken Tile

Broken tiles on a roof can sometimes be difficult to repair perfectly.

Looking at that beautiful tile roof and it has a couple of miss-colored tiles on it makes it looked trashed. The manufactures sometimes discontinue a product line of colors from time to time, so finding one or more tiles will be a challenge. What can you do?

First of all, use safety equipment when accessing and working on a roof. Homeowners fall off roofs too. Actually, tile repairs are best done by a professional.

Check your paperwork on the roof if you have any. The name and color should be on the roofing contract with the roofer you used. Calling the roofer may solve the mystery as to the color and type. If that information is unavailable, ask a few neighbors in the track home you live in, with the same roof.  Ask if they have had any repair work done. They may know or can be helpful in where to find a few tiles. They may even have some extra roof tiles available.

If the type of tile you has is still unknown, now is the time to go to the back yard and using a ladder pull a tile off the roof as a sample. It is very common to have the name of the tile embossed on the underside of the tile. Give that tile to your roofer and have him identify it. If he cannot you take it to a roofing supply house. They may be able to identify it but they should have brochures to look at that will give the style name a color.

If you thought that first part was a hassle, finding any tile to use can be even more painful. Calling a few old roofers in town who have a boneyard of tiles may be helpful. If this does not work, use tiles in the backside or side roof that is not seen from the front of the house. Stealing the same tiles from these areas and using those tiles in front of your home will match perfectly. Then find a close match to replace those used.

<— Here is an example of a tile called Hume. This company was bought and some product line discontinued. So I found something close and buried the mismatched tile in the backside of the house, where nobody but the birds and GOD can see. You could look for days and never find the perfect match. Don’t waste your time.

Tip for a Better Roof. When installing a new roof, no matter what type it is, save some of the materials and stuff it under the workbench because you may need to do a small repair.  Having the perfect match is time-saving and your roof won’t look like a kid with freckles.

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Disclaimer: The information provided on AskARoofer.com or information sent by emails is the opinion of the writers. It is the responsibility of the reader to check for accuracy in one's own jurisdiction, as there are different codes and restrictions for different parts of the country. AskARoofer.com does not accept any liability for the use of information on this website or email. AskARoofer.com has no controls over product failures, installation, or climate conditions that may change the roofing process in your area. Our information is in general to our area and cannot be the same as your local town or state. It is advised to seek the local Building Department, Licensed Contractor and local Product Representative for proper installation requirements and code enforcement when installing a new roof.