Florida Certified Roofing Contractor CCC 1334537
Why did roof tiles slip out of position after a windy night?
A straight answer from a Florida certified roofing contractor — then what you can check yourself and when to call. Free quote: (954) 775-8990.
Tiles slip when wind gets under or against them and whatever holds them down is no longer doing its job. That is usually aged mortar, adhesive foam, clips or fasteners, or tiles that were never well secured at the edges, ridge and hips.
A slipped tile also tells you something about the layer under it. Tile sheds most water, but the underlayment beneath is what keeps the house dry, and a shifted tile can expose that layer to the next rain.
Why it happens
Wind does not push tiles sideways so much as lift them. Air moving over the roof creates uplift, and it gets stronger at the edges, corners, ridges and hips. If a tile's attachment has loosened, even a gust that is not extreme can lift it, shift it, and let it settle crooked or slide down the slope.
Attachments weaken over time. Mortar and foam can crack or let go, and nails and clips can corrode, especially with the salt air that reaches much of Florida's coast. Tiles that were set loosely, or disturbed by an earlier repair or by someone walking the roof, are more likely to move. Broken battens or an aging underlayment beneath can make a whole section more prone to shifting.
Wind rules differ by location. Broward and Miami-Dade counties are the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, with stricter requirements. Elsewhere in Florida the Florida Building Code wind requirements apply. Either way, how a tile is attached matters as much as the tile itself. Here is the product approval rule: "Miami-Dade and Broward are Florida's High-Velocity Hurricane Zone. Roofing products used there need a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA) for that use; elsewhere in Florida they need a Florida Product Approval (or local approval). Either way the product is installed per its approval."
What you can check yourself
Look from the ground
Walk around the house, preferably with binoculars, and look for gaps, crooked rows, tiles sitting proud of their neighbors, or a ridge line that no longer looks straight. Stay off the roof.
Check the yard and gutters
Broken tile pieces, mortar crumbs or foam bits on the ground show where something let go. Keep kids and pets away from any area below loose tiles.
Look in the attic
On a bright day, look for pinpoints of daylight, damp or stained decking, or wet insulation under the area where the tiles moved.
Check ceilings and walls
New brown stains, bubbling paint or a musty smell below that part of the roof can mean water is getting past the underlayment, especially after a rainstorm.
Take photos
Photograph what you see from the ground, the attic and the ceiling, with dates. They help a roofer pinpoint the problem and give you a record of the damage.
When to call a pro
Call a roofer if tiles are visibly out of place, cracked or missing, if you see daylight or stains in the attic, or if a ceiling shows water marks. Pushing a tile back into place seldom fixes the cause. If the attachment has failed, the tile will likely move again, and the wet underlayment beneath may go unnoticed.
Here is the licensing and permit rule: "Roofing work in Florida legally requires a licensed roofing contractor and generally a permit from the local building department; a contractor's license is verified on the Florida DBPR website." Thresholds for small repairs vary by city and county, so confirm with your local building department. We hold Florida Certified Roofing Contractor license CCC1334537, valid in every Florida county. You can verify it on the DBPR site, and you can reach us at (954) 775-8990.
What a pro will do
- Trace the problemWe look at where tiles moved and why: failed mortar or foam, corroded fasteners, a damaged batten or worn underlayment. We also check for any leak the shift may have caused.
- Replace slipped and broken tileCracked or broken tiles are replaced, and the good ones are reset and secured properly so they hold in the next wind.
- Repair what is underneathIf the underlayment is torn or aged, or the plywood or fascia has rotted, those repairs belong in the scope. Rotten plywood and fascia replacement is included in ours.
- Document and quote in writingYou get photo documentation and a written flat rate quote that says what is included. The estimate is free.
- Handle permit and cleanupPermits are pulled under our own license, inspections are scheduled and passed, the permit is closed out, and the site is cleaned up.
Related questions
- Can I just push the tiles back into place?
- It is not a reliable fix. If mortar, foam or fasteners have failed, the tile may slip again, and climbing onto a tile roof can crack more tiles. Getting on the roof yourself is also a safety risk, so have a roofer look at it.
- Will a slipped tile cause a leak?
- It can. Tile sheds most water, but the underlayment below is the waterproof layer, and a gap lets wind-driven rain reach it. If that layer is aged or torn, water can get into the decking and attic.
- Do I need a permit to fix slipped tiles?
- A permit is typically required for roof repairs, but thresholds for small repairs vary by jurisdiction. Check with your local city or county building department before work begins, and we can handle the permit as part of the job.
- What affects the cost of repairing slipped tiles?
- The main factors are how many tiles are affected, how hard the area is to reach, the tile type and whether matching tile is available, whether the permit is needed, and what we find under the tiles once they are lifted. A free estimate gives you a written flat rate quote that says what is included.
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