Tile roof repair that preserves your roof — and your money.
Most tile roofs don't need a $35,000–$75,000 replacement — they need underlayment repair beneath tiles that still have decades of life left. Drawing on family roofing roots since 1974, Mike McGilvary Roofing has specialized in exactly that: failed underlayment, discontinued-tile matching, valley and flashing rebuilds, and honest repair-vs-replace assessments across Palm Beach County. See it documented in our Canoe Shore Way case study — an aerial-to-deck Delray Beach inspection of moisture, cracked tiles, loose ridge caps, and failed vent mortar, with a repair-first recommendation.
Accredited · Certified · Recognized · Family Roofing Roots Since 1974
Your tiles aren't the problem — the underlayment beneath them is.
Clay and concrete tiles last 40–50+ years. The waterproofing underlayment beneath them fails in 15–20 years under Florida's heat and UV. That's why so many "failed" tile roofs are actually good tiles sitting on dead underlayment — and why a full replacement is usually unnecessary.
We remove your existing tiles, install modern synthetic underlayment to current Florida Building Code, and reinstall your tiles (plus matched replacements where needed) — extending the roof's life 20–25 years for $12,000–$28,000 instead of $35,000–$75,000+. If your tiles are genuinely shot, we'll tell you that too.
The layer under your tile — repaired, not replaced
Broken or slipped tiles are usually a symptom; the real failure is the underlayment beneath. This walkthrough shows the high-water-flow sections opened, the underlayment and flashings rebuilt to code, and the original tile reinstalled.
Broken tiles don’t mean a new roof. On a tile system, the waterproofing lives under the tile. This walkthrough shows the failed sections rebuilt and the original tile relaid — a targeted repair that restores the roof without a full tear-off.
Watch the full walkthrough and read the complete transcript on our Roof Rebuild page →
Related reading: roof rebuild · tile roof preservation · roof repair vs. replacement · remaining useful life · Florida Roof Age Law
Wondering if your roof can be rebuilt instead of replaced? Schedule a free roof inspection and let us determine whether targeted rebuilding can extend the life of your roof.
Broken tiles don’t mean a new roof.
Mrs. Schwartz’s tile roof had broken tiles and no leaks — and every roofer said replace. We repaired what had failed and preserved the roof for a fraction of a replacement.
Client testimonial · 0:58“They all recommended a full roof replacement… it was much better to spend a few thousand on repairs than tens of thousands on a replacement that we didn’t really need yet. We received the roofing certificate within 24 hours for our insurance company.”— Mrs. Schwartz, Palm Beach County homeowner
Mrs. Schwartz found us the same way many of our clients do — through our Sun Sentinel coverage on Florida’s Roof Age Law. Instead of the full replacement every other roofer recommended, we evaluated the roof that was there, repaired what had actually failed, kept it insurance-compliant, and delivered a signed roof certification within 24 hours. That’s the repair-first difference.
What actually goes wrong on a South Florida tile roof.
Broken & cracked tiles
Falling branches, foot traffic, thermal stress, and age make tiles brittle and crack them. The hard part isn't replacing them — it's matching discontinued profiles. We source from manufacturer archives and architectural salvage, and place near-matches on hidden roof planes.
Underlayment failure
Your roof's waterproofing is the membrane beneath the tiles, not the tiles themselves. Florida heat and UV degrade it in 15–20 years. Water stains in several areas at once, attic moisture, and a musty smell are the warning signs — and the reason we specialize in re-underlayment.
Tile slippage & displacement
Older wire- or mortar-set tiles loosen over time and slip in hurricane-force wind, opening paths for wind-driven rain. We re-secure tiles with mechanical fasteners meeting current Florida wind-uplift code — stopping the progressive failure where one loose tile becomes many.
Valley & flashing deterioration
Valleys and flashings at walls, chimneys, and penetrations are a tile roof's most vulnerable points. Metal corrodes in salt air, sealants fail under UV. We replace valley metal, install proper counterflashing, and seal penetrations — typically $2,500–$8,000 to prevent $15,000+ in interior damage.
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Everything a clay or concrete tile roof needs — without the upsell.
We repair both clay and concrete tile systems across Palm Beach County, from 1920s Mediterranean estates to modern Spanish Colonial homes — with an honest repair-vs-replace recommendation every time. See two documented Delray Beach tile-roof inspection case studies for real examples of that approach — or see our flagship ultra-luxury oceanfront estate case study, repaired, preserved, and certified.
- Individual tile replacement & color matching
- Underlayment replacement under existing tiles
- Valley metal replacement (marine-grade for coastal)
- Flashing repairs at walls, chimneys & penetrations
- Tile re-securing to current wind-uplift codes
- Ridge-cap replacement & 24/7 emergency tile repair
Different tiles, different repair playbooks.
Tile type changes everything — cost, brittleness, sourcing, and how we walk and fasten the roof. We work across all of them.
Clay tile
Premium, 50+ year lifespan, color through the body. Becomes brittle with age, so we walk it on boards. Historic glazed and custom shapes (1920s–40s) may need salvage sourcing; clay runs $4–$8 per tile.
Concrete tile
Most common on modern Palm Beach County homes — clay's look at lower cost, 40–50 year life. Surface coating wears and color fades faster; it's heavier, so older structures get evaluated before major work.
Barrel & S-tile
High-profile curves that define Mediterranean architecture. Two-piece barrels allow easy single-tile swaps; walking requires weight distribution to avoid cracking ridges. Closure pieces often need custom sourcing.
Flat tile
Low-profile, contemporary look. Needs a steeper pitch and perfect edge alignment — one misaligned tile creates a water-entry point. Fastening discipline matters more without a curved interlock.
Historic & custom
Palm Beach historic districts require period-appropriate repairs. We work with salvage dealers and custom manufacturers (12–20 week reproductions) and help navigate architectural-review-board approval.
Coating & restoration
Sound-but-faded concrete tile can be cleaned and recoated for $3–$5/sq ft vs. $15–$25 for new — extending life 10–15 years. Not for clay or cracked tile, and it won't fix failed underlayment.
The repair happens under the tile.
The clay and concrete tiles on a South Florida roof can last 50 years or more. What fails is the underlayment beneath them — so that’s what our crews replace, tile by tile, instead of tearing off a roof that’s still sound.
Tile roof repair that protects the roof — and the estate under it.
This Delray Beach oceanfront estate had a complex concrete tile roof only a couple of years old. Instead of a wholesale tear-off, we repaired and rebuilt what had failed and preserved the tile above it — then documented the result from the air.
Aerial roof tour · 1:02What you're watching: a drone tour of an ultra-luxury oceanfront estate in Delray Beach, flying the front elevation, the towers and multi-section concrete tile roof, and out over the Atlantic shoreline behind the property. It's the same roof our team inspected, documented, repaired through targeted reconstruction, and then certified.
On valuable clay and concrete tile roofs, the goal is to fix the cause without destroying a good roof — targeted repairs, underlayment rebuilds where needed, and preservation over replacement whenever the roof qualifies. Explore tile roof repair, preservation, and when replacement is truly warranted.
To protect the owner's privacy, the estate's address and ownership details are not published. Explore the full write-up in the Delray Beach oceanfront estate case study.
Specialized technique — so we fix the roof without breaking the tiles.
Free inspection
We walk the roof on weight-distributing boards, photograph broken tiles, and use attic thermal imaging to find hidden underlayment moisture — then tell you honestly whether you need a repair or a replacement.
Tile matching
We photograph and measure your tiles and source matches — common profiles in days, discontinued in 3–6 weeks, custom reproductions in 8–12 weeks — with cost options from "close enough" to exact.
Detailed proposal
A written estimate separating tile, labor, underlayment, valley/flashing, and structural work — with minimum, recommended, and comprehensive options, timeline, and warranty all spelled out.
Expert repair
Tiles staged and numbered, failed underlayment fully replaced to code, marine-grade valley metal, proper mechanical fasteners — backed by full photo documentation and a 2-year workmanship warranty.
What tile roof repair actually costs in Palm Beach County.
Real ranges, not a sales pitch — because the right answer is usually a fraction of a replacement.
$800 – $12,000
Minor tile replacement runs $800–$2,500; a valley with new metal liner and adjacent tile work $2,500–$6,000; a section of underlayment (200–500 sq ft) $4,500–$12,000.
$12,000 – $28,000
Full underlayment replacement reusing your existing tiles — versus $35,000–$75,000+ for a complete tear-off with new tiles. You commonly save $15,000 or more, and can significantly extend the roof's service life.
A deferred $8,000 underlayment repair becomes a $55,000 emergency replacement once leaks rot the decking — and Florida insurers increasingly non-renew tile roofs with visible maintenance deficiencies. Roof age and condition now drive coverage decisions under Florida's Roof Age Law (§627.7011), and a documented repair plus an optional 5-Year Roof Certification is often what keeps a policy in force.
Real homes. Real documentation.
Short walkthroughs from real Palm Beach County projects — what Mike found, what he documented, and the work that followed. Outcomes vary by roof; nothing here is a guarantee of any insurance result.
WatchThe Drummond Roof
An insurance review prompted a closer look. Documentation of the tile system's actual condition may help the homeowner make an informed decision — repair, rebuild, or replacement.
WatchThe Amber Roof
Full condition documentation of an older tile roof. Thorough records of repairability and remaining useful life may be useful for insurance and future planning.
WatchThe Wellington Rebuild
A section rebuild that preserved most of the existing roof — replacing the failed underlayment, valley metal, and damaged tile instead of a full tear-off.
Tile specialists since 1974 — not general roofers guessing.
Tile specialists since 1974
Thousands of tile roofs across Palm Beach County over 50+ years — historic clay Mediterranean estates to modern concrete systems. We know the walking, staging, and fastening techniques that preserve tiles; general roofers crack them.
Honest underlayment specialists
Most companies quote a full tear-off because re-underlayment under existing tile is labor-intensive. We specialize in it precisely because it saves you $20,000–$45,000 — and we won't push a replacement your roof doesn't need.
A real tile-sourcing network
Relationships with major manufacturers (Eagle, Boral, Hanson, Ludowici), nationwide architectural salvage, and custom reproduction shops — so we solve matches other contractors call "impossible."
Licensed, insured & proven
Florida Certified Roofing Contractor CCC1331721 (license active since 2018; family roofing roots since 1974), BBB A+, BuildZoom 107 / Top 6% of Florida contractors, 5.0 stars across 500+ Google reviews, and a 2-year workmanship warranty — transferable on qualifying repairs, subject to the written proposal and warranty terms.
Tile work often connects to the rest of the roof — explore roof rebuilds, leak repairs, a free roof inspection, or a 5-Year Certification.
Palm Beach County tile roof questions, answered.
How much does tile roof repair cost in Palm Beach County?
How long do tile roofs last in Florida?
Can you match my existing tiles if some need replacing?
Should I repair or replace my tile roof?
What causes tile roofs to leak in South Florida?
Will insurance cover tile roof repairs in Florida?
Find out what your tile roof actually needs.
Tell us about your roof and we'll come take a look — thermal imaging, an honest repair-vs-replace assessment, and zero pressure. Family roofing roots in Palm Beach County since 1974.
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