Tile roof repair, reset, and replacement in Pasadena.
45% of the housing in Pasadena was built before 1960. On a roof that age, the question is what kind of tile it is: mortar-set clay barrel from that era can't be relaid, and most other tile can.
CSLB Lic. #1137536 (C-39) · Licensed · Bonded · Insured · 5.0★ on Google, 72 reviews
What's true about Pasadena roofs before we ever get on one.
Public records, not sales copy. Each line links to where it comes from.
What we see on the roofs here: Greene-and-Greene-era craftsman with cedar shake or composition. Spanish Revival with clay barrel tile. Mid-century modern with low-slope built-up or TPO. That is from our own work in the area, not a statistic.
- Housing. Median year built for housing in Pasadena is 1965. About 70% of it went up before 1980, and 45% before 1960. Single-family homes are 48% of the units. U.S. Census, ACS 2024 5-year
- Permits. City of Pasadena Building and Safety. We pull the permit and pass the fee through at cost. department page
- Fire zone. Pasadena's northern foothill neighborhoods near the Angeles National Forest are in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, where Chapter 7A requires a Class A roof assembly and ember-resistant construction; much of the flatter city core isn't. Pasadena also has historic-district design review that can affect roof material or color on landmark properties. You can check any parcel on the CAL FIRE hazard-zone viewer. CAL FIRE map
- Climate. California Energy Commission Climate Zone 9. The cool-roof rule applies to flat and low-slope sections only; a pitched tile roof is exempt here. CEC Title 24
What's actually failing when a tile roof leaks.
Broken tile is the most common starting point. Tile is strong against weather and weak under a boot. Someone who doesn't know where to step cracks it, and an AC technician servicing a condenser on the roof is a common cause. Water gets in through the crack.
What happens next depends on what's under the tile. Older tile roofs have felt, tar paper, under the tile. The tile is nailed through it with long nails, and every nail leaves a hole in the felt. When a tile breaks above those nails, water finds the holes. Once water reaches old felt, it doesn't last long, and you can end up with several leaks at once.
We don't use felt. We install self-adhered peel-and-stick underlayment, Polyglass among others. When a nail goes through it, the rubberized asphalt seals around the nail. So if a tile breaks later, the layer under it is still holding the water out.
The other common failure is penetrations: pipes and vents. A lot of roofers seal those with black mastic. Mastic is a temporary patch. It dries out and cracks. We flash the penetration properly and seal it with a roof-rated silicone sealant, made for roofing, not general-purpose caulk.
Your tile, off and back on, with new underlayment between.
We take the tile off and set it aside, replace damaged wood, install new peel-and-stick underlayment, and put your original tile back. Every stage is photographed by drone, so you see the deck before the tile goes back on.
See more before-and-after drone photosWhat's in writing before we start.
A 10-year workmanship warranty from me, in writing. The manufacturer's warranty on the materials runs 10 to 50 years depending on what goes on your roof; I tell you which applies before you sign. The agreement covers up to 10% wood replacement, with the per-sheet price written in for anything over. California caps the deposit at $1,000 or 10%, whichever is less, and you get three business days to cancel.
Two tile questions we hear in Pasadena.
Can you relay my old mortar-set clay barrel tile?
Generally no. It's brittle, and the mortar between the pieces means there's no way to lift it without breaking most of it. If that roof has a serious leak, the honest answer is a new roof: new tile, shingle, or metal, whichever you prefer.
Will the replacement tiles match my old ones?
Close, not identical. Some tiles break during removal. We replace them with new ones matched as closely as we can, but new tile next to old tile won't match perfectly, and we say that up front.
Book your free tile roof inspection in Pasadena.
We come out, walk the roof where it can be walked, fly the drone over the rest, and send you a written assessment. No pressure, and no surprises.
CSLB Lic. #1137536 · C-39 Roofing · Bonded · Insured
Financing available for qualified homeowners
You don't have to pay for a roof all at once. Financing is available for qualified homeowners, subject to qualification. Written itemized pricing first, financing second. If your re-roof needs a Title 24 cool-roof product, it may also qualify for PACE-style energy financing. Ask us and we'll confirm what applies to your property. How roof financing works in Los Angeles