Clay tile
Hail or a flying branch cracks a tile across or knocks off a corner. A cracked tile can stay in place and still let water through. I wrote up how these roofs are valued on a claim in more detail.
Tile and slate roof damage claims in Chicago
Tile and slate break one piece at a time, and an estimate written from the ground counts only what it could see. I'm a licensed public adjuster and a licensed Illinois roofing contractor. I count every broken piece, look for a match and negotiate the claim.
Free inspection and policy review. No upfront cost.
- IL Public Adjuster #19461872
- IN Public Adjuster #3556317
- HAAG Certified Inspector
- IL Roofing Contractor #105.009193
How storm damage shows on clay tile, concrete tile and slate
Concrete tile
It chips at the edges and cracks under a hard hit. I lift the tiles I suspect, because a break can run under the tile above.
Slate
Hail can punch a hole in a slate or split it, and wind can pull off slates held by rusted nails.
Under all three: the underlayment
If it is torn or soaked below a broken piece, a new tile alone will not stop the leak. What I find there goes in the scope.
Four disputes that come up on tile and slate claims
| The dispute | What the estimate may say | What I do |
|---|---|---|
| How many pieces broke | Replace the pieces counted on one visit. | Go slope by slope and mark every broken, cracked and slipped piece on a roof plan with photos. |
| The tile is no longer made | Use a similar tile. | Check that the substitute has the same size and interlock, and show the mismatch if it does not. |
| Storm or foot traffic and age | Treat the cracks as wear. | Separate fresh breaks from weathered ones and tie the fresh ones to the storm date. |
| Breakage during the repair | Not priced. | Ask for the pieces a crew breaks when it lifts brittle tile. |
Different roof? See shingle roof claims or flat commercial roofs.
Where a matching tile or slate can come from
I check four sources, in this order.
Spares at the property
Leftover tiles in a garage or attic.
The original maker
If the profile is still produced, I get its name and a current price.
A salvage dealer
For profiles out of production. I ask for the available quantity in writing.
A hidden slope of the same roof
Sound pieces move to the street side, and the slope nobody sees gets the closest new tile.
When none of the four fits, I write that up with the dealers' answers and ask the insurer to price the whole slope. What your policy pays depends on its wording: see my guide to matching in Illinois.
What I do on a tile or slate roof claim
Inspect it as a roofer
Tile and slate break under a careless step, so it matters who goes up.
Count and map every piece
Each damaged or missing piece goes on a measured roof plan.
Price the repair the way it is built
Tile or slate, underlayment, flashing, and the labour of relaying the pieces around each break.
Negotiate with your insurer
I meet the insurer's adjuster at the house and answer the estimate line by line.
An old roof with no storm damage is not a claim, and I say so on the day.
Send me the policy and the roof estimate
I read both before I get on the roof, so the inspection answers the insurer's numbers.
+1 224-481-2095 volodymyr@staterestoration.us- Mon–Fri 7 AM–7 PM, Sat–Sun 9 AM–5 PM
What helps me before the visit
- The full policy with every endorsement.
- The insurer's line-item estimate, every page.
- Photos of the roof and of any leak inside.
- The tile's name, if an old invoice shows it.
Tile and slate roof questions homeowners ask me
+1 224-481-2095Will insurance pay for a whole new tile roof if only some tiles broke?
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Not automatically. A larger scope has to be shown: no tile that fits, damaged underlayment, or breakage across the slopes. Your policy wording on matching decides the rest.
My roof is 60 years old. Does its age end the claim?
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No. Storm damage to an old roof is still storm damage. Age matters if your policy pays actual cash value on the roof, because depreciation then comes off the payment.
The insurer's adjuster did not go on the roof. Is that normal?
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It happens, because walking on tile and slate can break them. I answer an estimate made from the ground with a count made on the roof.
I represent policyholders and am not an attorney. Your policy governs, and no claim result is promised here.