Roof tile damage from fumigation is common because tenting for termites puts crews, heavy tarps and ladders on a surface that cracks under point loads. If your home was tented recently, check the roof from the ground within a few days, photograph anything broken or shifted, notify the fumigation company in writing, and get repairs done before the next rain.
Found cracked or slipped tiles after the tent came down? Book a roof diagnosis online and we'll document the damage and repair it properly.
How tenting cracks roof tiles
Whole-structure fumigation is the standard treatment for drywood termites, which are widespread in Southern California. To seal the house, crews climb onto the roof, drag large tarps across it, clamp the seams together and seal the tarp edges at ground level. Several parts of that process are hard on tile:
- Foot traffic. Workers walking across concrete or clay tile, especially barrel profiles, can crack tiles when they step on unsupported areas.
- Tarp dragging. Heavy tarps pulled up and over the roof can catch tile edges, shift tiles out of their courses and break ridge pieces.
- Ladders and clamps. Ladders leaning against eaves and tarp clamps along the roof edge concentrate load on single tiles, gutters and eave trim.
- Existing weakness. Older tiles that are already brittle or eroded break more easily, and cracked mortar at ridges and hips can give way.
Before the tent goes up: protect yourself
Think about timing with roof work
If your tile roof is already due for a lift-and-relay, underlayment work or replacement, it can make sense to schedule fumigation first and roof work afterward, so any breakage from tenting is dealt with as part of the planned job rather than as a separate repair. If the roof work has just been completed, let the fumigator know and share photos of the finished roof before the crew arrives. Either way, telling both contractors about the other job avoids surprises.
Paperwork and photos
If fumigation is scheduled but hasn't happened yet, a little preparation makes any dispute far simpler.
- Read the contract. Many fumigation agreements include language about roof damage. Know what it says about responsibility and how claims must be reported.
- Photograph the roof. Take dated photos of every slope from the ground or from a second-story window. A drone or a pre-fumigation roof inspection gives a clearer baseline.
- Consider a pre-tent inspection. Knowing which tiles were already cracked prevents arguments afterward. Our roof inspection produces a Roof Diagnosis with photos you can keep on file.
- Ask about precautions. Ask the fumigator how their crew walks tile and whether they use protective measures on the ridge.
Checking for roof tile damage from fumigation afterward
Once the tent is removed and the home is cleared for re-entry, look for damage before the evidence gets confused with anything else.
From the ground
- Cracked or broken tiles, particularly along ridges, hips and the paths a crew would take.
- Tiles out of line: gaps in courses, tiles slid down or sitting higher than their neighbors.
- Broken ridge or hip tiles and loose mortar pieces in gutters or on the ground.
- Bent gutters or damaged eaves where ladders stood.
- Tile fragments in flowerbeds, on walkways or in the gutters.
From inside
Look at ceilings near exterior walls and, if it's safe to do so, check the attic for daylight through the deck. Damage from fumigation doesn't always leak straight away; it often shows up with the first rain.
Don't climb up to check
Walking on tile yourself risks more breakage and a fall. Photograph from the ground, a window or with a drone, and let a tile-experienced roofer handle the close inspection.
Documenting and reporting the damage
- Photograph everything with dates, including debris on the ground.
- Keep broken pieces; their fracture edges show whether the break is fresh.
- Notify the fumigation company in writing as soon as possible, following any process in your contract.
- Get a professional assessment. A roofer's written findings describing fresh breakage, its location and the repair needed give the fumigator, and your insurer if relevant, something concrete to review.
- Keep copies of all correspondence.
If you can't reach agreement with the fumigation company, California's Structural Pest Control Board licenses and oversees pest control operators, and can tell you about its complaint process.
Getting repairs done before rain
Cracked tile exposes the underlayment to UV and water, and slipped tiles leave gaps. If the tenting happened during or just before the rainy season, don't let a dispute with the fumigator delay the fix. Photograph thoroughly, then repair.
A typical fumigation repair involves lifting the tiles around each break, checking the underlayment beneath for tears or punctures, replacing cracked tiles with a matching profile, resetting shifted courses and rebedding or refastening ridge pieces. Where the underlayment is also old and brittle, it's worth knowing that before the tiles go back down.
Rescue Roofer's tile repair and restoration crews replace cracked tiles, reset displaced courses, rebuild ridge and hip sections, and check the underlayment beneath for any damage. Our technicians are T.E.A.M. Certified through our in-house training program, and our Warehouse on Wheels trucks arrive stocked with materials. We have worked on Orange County roofs since 1993 under California license #1137524. When your tile profile is hard to match, our guide to cracked roof tile repair explains the options.
Frequently asked questions
Is the fumigation company responsible for broken roof tiles?
It depends on your contract and the facts. Many agreements address roof damage specifically, which is why reading it beforehand and documenting the roof matters.
How soon after fumigation should I check the roof?
As soon as the home is cleared for re-entry. The sooner damage is recorded, the easier it is to tie to the fumigation.
Can a few cracked tiles wait?
Not for long. Even small breaks let sun and water reach the underlayment, and leaks often appear with the first storm.
When you get in touch, a Roofing Advisor schedules the inspection, we document the fumigation damage with photos, and you receive a Roof Diagnosis and free estimate for the repair. Book online or call 1-888-346-7663 to get your tile roof sealed up before the rain.