DIY: Repairing a Crack in a Concrete Roof Tile

A cracked concrete roof tile can easily cause a leak in your roof. However, in addition to being incredibly durable, concrete tiles are also easy to repair. Usually, only minor cracks will occur, and can easily be fixed before a leak occurs. Therefore, consider examining your roof once a year, or after any extreme weather, such as hail, to look for cracks. Finding cracks in the concrete tile, especially before the freeze thaw cycle could expand them further, is essential. Then you can repair any you find before they create a problem.

Before beginning, be sure you are wearing rubber soled shoes that will grip the roof easily. You should also not attempt to repair your roof during a windy or rainy day, or when the roof is wet. If you are uncomfortable climbing onto your roof and walking around on it, or if the pitch of your roof is particularly steep, call a professional to repair the concrete roof tiles. However, if you are confident in your abilities to stay on the roof, the repair itself is fairly straightforward.

Step 1: Clean the tile you intend to repair with a wire brush to remove any dirt, debris, or other obstructions. A handheld broom should be used to remove these items after they have been detached from the concrete tile by the wire brush.

Step 2: Wash the concrete tile with a sponge and warm water. Don't use a lot of water, just enough to clean the surface you will be working on. Let it dry completely before continuing.

Step 3: Fill the cracks in the concrete roof tile with plastic roofing cement. This type of roofing cement should be sold in tubes that will fit into a standard caulking gun. Using a caulking gun will allow you to control the flow of the plastic roofing cement, ensuring that the cracks are filled, but not overfilled.

Step 4: Smooth the top of the roofing cement with a metal edged putty knife. If you'd like, you can bevel the crack slightly to mimic the exact shape of the concrete roof tile.