Ludowici Clay Tile Repair and Matching in Highland Park and University Park

Some of the finest roofs in Highland Park and University Park are clay tile, on Spanish, Mediterranean and traditional homes built to last. When one of those roofs is Ludowici tile and something breaks, the job is less about the roofing and more about finding the right tile and putting it back without damaging the rest.

I’m Blake Snow. I’ve installed and repaired tile, slate, copper and nearly every other roof system over 30 years. Ludowici is a brand we have experience with, not one we’re certified with. Here’s how I approach a Ludowici repair in the Park Cities, using what Ludowici itself publishes.

Who Ludowici is

Ludowici has made terra cotta roof tile since 1888 at its plant in New Lexington, Ohio, and it makes clay products only. Its tile comes in Spanish, mission/barrel, French, flat shingle and other profiles, plus custom colors and glazes. On a clay roof, the tile often outlasts everything under it, which is why most Ludowici “roof problems” are really underlayment, flashing or broken-tile problems.

Step 1: Identify the tile with a real sample

This is where a lot of repairs go wrong. Per Ludowici’s FAQ:

• Ludowici can’t reliably identify a tile from a photo. Its technical department and ceramic engineer need to examine an actual piece.
• The numbers scratched on the back of a tile likely indicate the manufacturing date. They don’t tell you the profile or color.

So the first step is pulling a broken or loose piece (not a good one) and sending it in through a Ludowici sales representative. We measure the profile, exposure and headlap on the roof and photograph the color under daylight so everyone is working from the same information.

Step 2: Choose where the replacement tile comes from

There are three realistic sources, and each has trade-offs:

1. Renovation QuickShip. Ludowici’s Renovation QuickShip program sells small quantities of commonly used historic profiles, including Spanish 13, Classic 14”, Morando Closed Shingle and French, plus several hip and ridge pieces, in common historic colors, with no minimum quantity. Orders over 100 pieces go through a sales rep. Ludowici has posted that QuickShip lead times are currently extended because of demand, so plan for that.
2. Custom replication. For profiles that aren’t standard anymore, Ludowici says it keeps a library of historic patterns and catalogs going back to the 1800s and can make new molds from a sample. Its historic tile page says it can even match tile from long-gone makers like B. Mifflin Hood and Heinz, and that the process can take several weeks for identification, hand-molded samples and approvals. Custom orders require a deposit.
3. Salvage. Salvaged tile can already have the weathered color an older roof has. The catch: Ludowici’s warranty doesn’t apply to used, reclaimed or vintage tile bought from a broker, and quality varies. I only use salvage I’ve inspected.

Step 3: Decide how new tile meets old tile

Ludowici’s color is fired into the tile, and its warranty covers color within two Hunter E units of the original sample. Even so, new tile next to tile that’s been on a Dallas roof for decades can read differently, and kiln color ranges vary by run.

There’s also a warranty rule most homeowners never hear about: Ludowici says its 75-year warranty won’t be issued if new tile is blended with existing tile on the same roof plane. If you want warranty coverage on new tile, the new and old tile have to be on separate planes, with a roof plan and photos documenting which is which. For a few broken pieces, blending is often the better-looking choice and the warranty question is minor. For a whole elevation, it’s worth planning.

Step 4: Replace the tile without breaking more

Clay tile breaks under the wrong foot. Ludowici’s guidance is to walk on the 2- to 3-inch headlap area of the tiles, and it recommends contractors who have experience walking on clay. We stage ladders and roof access to keep foot traffic down and replace only what’s needed.

For single broken tiles, Ludowici makes the Quik-Tach bracket, a concealed bracket wired to the back of the replacement tile so it hooks over the tile below with no exposed straps or fasteners. On a finished Park Cities elevation, that matters.

If the tile is sound but the roof still leaks, the problem is usually the underlayment or flashings. That’s a lift-and-relay job, which I covered in this post on tile roofs that leak even though the tiles look fine. For valleys and flashings built to last as long as the tile, see copper on slate and tile roofs.

What the 75-year warranty does and doesn’t do

Ludowici’s 75-year limited material warranty is strong on paper: non-prorated, includes color, and transferable as long as the tile stays where it was first installed. But know its limits:

• It covers manufacturing defects, not storms. It specifically excludes damage from hail, wind, other violent storms and impact from foreign objects.
• It covers replacement tile or the original tile price, not labor, tear-off or installation.
• Defect claims must be made in writing within 30 days of discovery.

Ludowici also has a separate 10- or 20-year Premium Service Program warranty that requires a Ludowici-certified Crown Roofer. We’re not a Crown Roofer, and I’d rather tell you that up front.

Hail on a Ludowici roof

North Texas hail can crack clay tile. Because the material warranty excludes hail, storm damage is an insurance matter. What usually decides a tile claim:

1. What the storm broke, slope by slope, with photos and counts, separated from old cracks and foot-traffic breaks.
2. Whether matching tile can be had, and what it costs and how long it takes. Custom Ludowici replication isn’t cheap or quick, and that belongs in the estimate.
3. What your policy says about matching and repairs. Read yours or ask your agent.

In Texas you generally have one year from the date of loss to file a claim, but check your own policy, since some differ. Get the roof inspected first, and file only if the inspection finds real damage. Every inspection we do includes a free digital photo report. See our storm damage page.

Planning an addition?

Ludowici says that if you’re adding on to a house with a Ludowici roof, you should approve a new set of samples before ordering, because raw materials and production methods change over time. Do that early; it can affect your schedule. If your city, district or HOA reviews roofing, bring the samples to that review too.

Talk to us about your tile roof

We repair and install clay and concrete tile across DFW, including the Park Cities. See our Ludowici clay tile, clay tile and tile repair and reset pages. We’re certified with GAF, CertainTeed, Owens Corning, Atlas, Johns Manville, Carlisle, Tropical, Mule-Hide and Enviroshake, and we’re A+ rated with the BBB. Request a free inspection or call (817) 733-9228.