Roof Maintenance

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Slate, Tile & Specialty Material Roofing Maintenance in Chicagoland

The specialty material roofing systems that have lasted the longest in Chicagoland have one thing in common: they were maintained. A natural slate roof or a historic clay tile system that has been properly cared for over decades will consistently outlast a neglected system of the same age and material. At Todco Roofing, roof maintenance is not a service we offer on the side. It is central to what we do and central to the value we deliver to homeowners who want to get the most out of the specialty material roofing systems they already have.

We provide slate roof maintenance, tile roof maintenance, and flat roof maintenance throughout Chicagoland for homeowners and property managers who understand that proactive care is almost always more cost-effective than reactive repair.

Why Roof Maintenance Matters for Older Homes

A specialty material roof is a significant investment, and like any significant investment it rewards consistent attention. The challenge with slate, tile, and specialty material systems is that they can look perfectly intact from the ground while critical components beneath the surface are quietly deteriorating. Mortar joints break down. Flashings thin out. Underlayment ages. Fasteners corrode. None of these failures are visible until they have already allowed water into the system.

For homeowners with slate roofing or tile roofing systems on historic properties, regular maintenance is the difference between a roof that performs for another generation and one that requires a far more involved and expensive intervention down the road. The goal of every maintenance visit we complete is to find and address the small things before they become the big things.

What a Roof Maintenance Visit Includes

A Todco maintenance visit is not a surface-level checkup. It is a structured assessment and hands-on service visit designed to address the specific failure points that slate, tile, and specialty material roofs develop over time.

Every maintenance visit includes:

  • Full surface inspection of slate or tile condition across the entire roof
  • Assessment and resealing of flashing at chimneys, valleys, skylights, and penetrations
  • Mortar joint inspection and repointing along ridges, hips, and deteriorated sections
  • Replacement of individual cracked, slipped, or missing tiles and slates with matched materials
  • Underlayment assessment in accessible areas and at exposed sections
  • Gutter attachment and drainage performance review
  • Documentation of current roof condition and any areas to monitor going forward

At the end of every visit we walk you through what we found, what we addressed, and what to keep an eye on before the next scheduled maintenance.

When Maintenance Turns Into Roof Repair

Regular maintenance keeps most issues from developing into larger problems, but sometimes a maintenance visit uncovers damage that goes beyond what routine care can address. When that happens the transition is straightforward. Our slate roof repair and tile roof repair services are an extension of the same philosophy that drives our maintenance work. We address exactly what needs to be addressed without expanding the scope beyond what is genuinely necessary, and homeowners already on a maintenance program benefit from working with a team that already knows their roof.

a roofer installing the top row of slate roofing
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Marcy Witte profile picture
Marcy Witte
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Todco Roofing did an excellent job repairing our leaking roof. They kept me updated on when they were able to come and fix it. They arrived when they said they would, assessed the damage and repaired it. The crew was professional and we were very satisfied with the work. We would highly recommend them.
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Nicholas Bartzen profile picture
Nicholas Bartzen
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Reliable, prompt, and attentive to detail. I appreciated how easy the communication was with the company. Will definitely use them again.
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Jennifer Avila profile picture
Jennifer Avila
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Replaced the tile roof above the door of our 1888 Chicago Workers Cottage. Very happy with the work, the cost, and the professionalism of Todco! Before and after:
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Shapearl Wells profile picture
Shapearl Wells
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Todco was very professional and easy to work with. Having a clay tile roof in Chicago made it difficult to find someone who could do the work and do it well, Todco did a fantastic job and we are pleased. Would recommend and use again.
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Al DeBonnett profile picture
Al DeBonnett
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Haris, Elizabeth, Maestro Paul and the entire Todco Roofing team performed a perfect symphony of professionalism and customer service. Bravo! As a person who has more than 30 years of experience in real estate and financial services, I can honestly say that the Todco roofing experience has been the best. As a result of our experience with Todco, I can comfortably refer my many former clients, family and friends to Todco. I know that anyone I refer to Todco will be in good hands.
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Thomas Chen profile picture
Thomas Chen
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Short Version We recently moved into a 1920s home with a clay tile roof and discovered water damage in the master closet. The original sellers who promised to fix the roof leak used a general roofer who “fixed” the roof. Couple month later, we found mold and active leaks. Todco stood out with quick responses, cheapest quote, and great communication. Although they’re under new management, the same experienced crew is still there. Paul, the foreman, explained everything clearly and did excellent work. They fixed the issue in three days and I’ve already booked them for more repairs. If you have a tile roof, I highly recommend Todco—they know their stuff and do it right. Long Version Todco doesn’t have any recent comprehensive review, so I am going to chime in a long version. We recently moved into a historic district, where our 1920s home still has its original clay tile roof. When we bought the house, we noticed water damage in our master closet and asked the sellers to have the roof repaired. Unfortunately, they used a crappy general roofer who clearly had no experience with tile roofs. We thought the issue was resolved—our first big mistake. Three months later, we finally had a closet company come to fix our master closet. When they removed the damaged closet, we discovered a wet ceiling and significant mold growth. After some heavy rain, water was literally dripping from the ceiling. I reached out to the original roofer, who shrugged it off and said, “Tile roofs are tricky. You can’t really find the leaks. You fix what looks broken—you just need a whole new roof.” That didn’t sit right with me, so I turned to our neighborhood group and learned that tile roofs require specialists. I contacted three companies recommended by neighbors, including Todco. Every single one gave me the same answer: I didn’t need a new roof. The issue was likely due to poor flashing around the chimney and improperly installed tiles. Basically, the seller’s roofer didn’t fix anything and had no idea what he was doing. Many neighbors vouched for Todco, so I reached out. Haris responded quickly and was incredibly personable. He made me feel like fixing our roof was a top priority. He sent an estimator out right away, and their quote was the cheapest of the three. All the glowing neighborhood reviews were about the owner, Todd but I found out Haris is the new owner/manager (not sure which but was informed Todd has taken a step back but still involved). I couldn’t find any reviews about the new management and everyone I reached out to was with prior management. I was hesitant to sign, so I reached out to a neighbor, who contacted Todd for me. I even texted Todd directly. Shortly after, Haris called me to explain the transition and assured me the same experienced crew—Paul and Candelario—was still with them. That gave me the confidence to move forward. And I’m so glad I did. Paul, the foreman, was fantastic. He showed me the poor design of the flashing and the patch that gave out in the flashing. He walked me through the improvements they’d be making, and how the new flashing design was much more effective. The crew worked hard, kept me updated throughout the process, and completed the job in three days. They replaced the chimney flashing, installed new ice and rain shields, and re-tiled the affected area with care and precision. The work was excellent, and the crew was a pleasure to have around. Haris continued to follow up and support us throughout the process. I was so impressed that I’ve already booked Todco for a second job—to replace broken tiles elsewhere on the roof. I highly recommend Todco. They know tile roofs, and they take pride in doing things the right way. If you have a home with a roof, these are the people to call.
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Mike Dilich profile picture
Mike Dilich
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Todco recently repaired the slate roof on my 100 year old house in Evanston. Several random shingles were out of place and crooked. New copper flashing needed to be installed around the chimney. Paul from Todco repaired it all. He also painted some wood trim on the roof that could only be reached by hooking a ladder over the slates, in a place a normal painter could not reach without stepping on and probably breaking slates. Paul was the foreman on this job. I can't say more about how lucky I was to have Paul work for me. He searched for slates which needed to be repaired and repaired them all beautifully. He took the time to explain what needed to be done and what was not needed to be done and WHY. When I need roofing repairs done again in the future, I would hire Todco again in an instant. True professionals. And of course their cost was very reasonable and per their original quote. Thank you Todco, Mike D.
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Karin Birkeland profile picture
Karin Birkeland
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Great customer service and great result. Would definitely use Todco again!
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Seasonal Roof Maintenance for Chicagoland’s Climate

Chicagoland’s four distinct seasons create a predictable cycle of stress on specialty material roofing systems. Understanding what each season does to a slate or tile roof helps homeowners know when to schedule maintenance and what to expect.

  • Fall is the best time for a pre-winter inspection and maintenance visit. Clearing debris, checking flashing seals, and addressing any minor issues before freeze-thaw cycles begin is the single most effective thing you can do to protect your roof through winter.
  • Winter puts freeze-thaw stress on mortar joints, flashing details, and any existing cracks in slate or tile. Ice dam formation along eaves is a recurring concern on historic homes with deep overhangs and older insulation systems.
  • Spring is the right time to assess what winter has done. A post-winter inspection identifies any freeze-thaw damage, ice dam impacts, or flashing failures before they are exposed to spring rainfall.
  • Summer hailstorms can cause impact damage to slate and tile that is not visible from the ground. A post-storm inspection after any significant weather event is always worth scheduling.
a newly installed slate roof on a new construction home

Why Homeowners Choose Todco Roofing for Roof Maintenance

  • Specialty Material Focus: We maintain the same materials we install and repair. Our maintenance visits reflect decades of hands-on experience with slate, tile, and specialty roofing systems.
  • Proactive Approach: We look for what is developing, not just what has already failed. Catching issues early is what keeps maintenance costs manageable over time.
  • Matched Material Repairs: When a maintenance visit identifies a tile or slate that needs to be replaced, we carry the inventory to match color, profile, and texture as closely as possible.
  • Detailed Documentation: Every visit is documented so you have a clear record of your roof’s condition and what has been addressed over time.
  • Honest Recommendations: We tell you what your roof needs and what it does not. If a maintenance visit reveals that your roof is in good shape, we will tell you that.

Examples of Communities We Serve Throughout Chicagoland

We provide slate, tile, and specialty material roof maintenance throughout Chicagoland and the surrounding area, including:

Schedule Roof Maintenance With Todco Roofing

The best time to schedule roof maintenance is before something goes wrong. Whether you are looking to establish a regular maintenance program or simply want to know where your roof stands, Todco Roofing is ready to help. Contact us today to schedule your maintenance visit and protect the specialty material roofing system your home deserves.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should a slate or tile roof be maintained? For most slate and tile roofs, once a year is a reasonable cadence. Fall tends to be the best time given what Chicagoland winters put these systems through, though older roofs or those with known problem areas may benefit from a spring check as well.

Does maintenance help extend the life of a specialty material roof? Consistently maintained slate and tile roofs outlast neglected systems of the same age and material by a significant margin. Regular maintenance is the single most effective investment a homeowner can make in a specialty material roof.

Do you provide flat roof maintenance in addition to slate and tile? We maintain flat and low-slope roofing systems on historic and commercial properties throughout Chicagoland alongside our slate and tile maintenance services.

What should I do if I notice something concerning between maintenance visits? Contact us right away. We would rather assess a potential issue early than have it develop into a larger problem before the next scheduled visit.

How is Todco’s maintenance different from a standard roofing contractor? While we work across a range of roofing materials, our deepest expertise is in slate, tile, and specialty materials. That focus means we know exactly what these systems need at every stage of their life and how to keep them performing long term.

Do you offer ongoing maintenance programs? We work with homeowners and property managers to establish regular maintenance schedules tailored to the specific needs of their roofing system and property.