Tile Lift & Relay · SecondLife®
A tile lift & relay removes your existing tiles, replaces the worn underlayment beneath them and resets the same tiles in their original pattern, so your roof keeps its look. QRS does it across Los Angeles and Orange County as our SecondLife® Tile Reset, renewing worn battens and flashings and replacing only cracked or broken tiles.
Overview
Clay and concrete tiles can last for decades, but the underlayment that actually keeps water out wears out much sooner. Once it dries out and cracks after years of Southern California heat, water that slips past the tiles has nowhere to go but into the deck. A lift & relay fixes the problem at its source: we remove the tiles, install new underlayment, renew worn battens and flashings, and reset the same tiles, replacing only the ones that are cracked or broken.
A relay is often the right middle ground between a patch and a full tile roof replacement. It’s especially worth considering on Spanish Revival homes, where the original clay tile is part of the character and an exact match can be hard to find. Not sure which your roof needs? Our free roof evaluation looks at the underlayment, flashings and tile condition, then gives you a clear recommendation in plain English.
Compare All Roof Repair Options →Our Process
How a tile lift & relay works
Roof Evaluation and scope
We inspect the roof and photo-document what we find, including the underlayment wherever it can be seen, so the case for a relay is clear.
- Underlayment condition
- Cracked, slipped or missing tiles
- Valleys, flashings and penetrations
Careful tile removal
Tiles are heavy and can crack if mishandled, so they come off by hand and are stacked with care until they go back in the same pattern. Some older tiles break anyway, which is why matching replacements are planned from the start.
New underlayment and flashings
We install new underlayment, then address worn battens, flashings, valley metal and other details your written scope calls for.
- New underlayment across the roof
- Worn battens replaced
- Flashings, valleys and vents addressed
- Deck checked while it’s exposed
Reset and match
Sound tiles go back in their original pattern, and broken ones are replaced with the closest available match.
- Ridge and hip tiles reset
- Bird stops and eave closures in place
- Tiles secured as your scope specifies
Final walkthrough
We review the finished roof with you, share photos of the work and go over your 10-year workmanship warranty.
Why Choose QRS for Tile Lift & Relay?
A lift & relay touches every tile on your roof twice. How the tiles come off, what goes under them and how they go back decides how well the finished roof performs.
Roofer-led assessment
A roofer, not a salesperson, tells you whether a relay is right for your roof or whether a smaller repair will do.
Photo-documented work
You see the old underlayment, the new layers going in and the finished roof.
Written scope and price
You know exactly what’s included, from underlayment and battens to flashings and ridge details, before work starts.
10-Year workmanship warranty
Every relay is backed by the QRS Guarantee, and ongoing tile roof care afterward helps keep the new underlayment protected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers about tile lift & relay.
How do I know if my tile roof needs a lift & relay?
Common signs are leaks with no visibly broken tiles, ceiling stains after heavy rain, repeated repairs in different spots, and underlayment that’s brittle or torn where it can be seen. A tile roof inspection confirms it with photos.
Will my roof look the same afterward?
That’s the point of a relay. We reuse your tiles wherever they’re sound and replace broken ones with the closest available match. Where a match isn’t exact, replacement tiles can go on less visible slopes so the originals stay where people will see them.
Is a lift & relay less expensive than a new tile roof?
Usually, because the tiles are reused. Your written scope shows the price before any work starts, and if replacement makes more sense, we’ll explain why.
Do you pull the permits?
Yes. When your roofing project needs a building permit, we pull it for you.
Can you replace just a few cracked tiles instead?
If the underlayment is still in good shape, a targeted tile roof repair may be all you need. The roof evaluation tells you which applies.
What happens to the battens, bird stops and ridge tiles?
The relay is the natural time to fix them. Damp battens can rot, and missing bird stops let birds, debris and embers in at the eaves. Ridge and hip tiles go back in fresh mortar or with a mechanically fastened detail, and your written scope spells out which.
Tell us what you need.
Two minutes. A clear next step. No pressure.
Get a Straight Answer on tile lift & relay
Tell us what’s going on with your roof. A roofer, not a salesperson, looks at it and gives you a clear next step on tile lift & relay, with a written scope and price.
- CSLB licensed, bonded & insured
- 10-year workmanship warranty
- Google customer reviews
