When people think of roof tiles, they usually imagine something straightforward: red clay, maybe a bit weathered, stacked neatly in rows. But for those of us in the reclaimed roof tile world, the reality is far more like detective work. We spend our days chasing down obscure shapes, colors, and patterns that manufacturers haven’t made in decades—sometimes even over a century. It’s equal parts history, puzzle-solving, and logistics.

The First Clue: A Photo, a Shard, or a Scribbled Note

Most cases begin with a homeowner, architect, or contractor sending us… something. Sometimes it’s a few photos snapped on a phone, sometimes it’s a single broken tile pulled off a roof, and sometimes it’s just: “We need more of these. Any idea what they are?”

That “something” is our first clue. Every ridge, curve, and nib on the back of a clay roof tile tells a story. Is it handmade or machine-pressed? Was it fired in a coal kiln or a modern gas one? Do the markings suggest a factory in Ohio, or maybe in Provence, France?

Tools of the Trade

Forget magnifying glasses and fingerprint dusting—our detective kit looks more like:

• Tile reference library: Decades of catalogs, samples, and reference photos.
• Digital calipers: For precise measurements—because ½ inch can make or break a match.
• Color matching charts: Clay tiles weather differently depending on region and exposure. Matching isn’t just about shape, it’s about patina.
• Phone calls across the continent: Reclaimed yards, collectors, even the odd barn owner who “might still have a pile out back.”

The Oddball Requests

Of course, no detective story is complete without some colorful cases. Over the years, we’ve been asked to:

• Find a discontinued French tile from the 1920s—needed in Texas.
• Match 600 weathered green-glazed mission tiles for a church in New York.
• Track down just four tiles for a client who refused to re-roof because “the others are still good.”

Sometimes the quest feels impossible. But that’s the fun part—digging through obscure leads, cross-referencing marks and dimensions, and finally calling the client with those magic words: “We found them.”

Why It Matters

A roof isn’t just protection from the elements—it’s part of a home’s character. Whether it’s preserving a historic building or simply keeping an addition seamless with the original structure, the right tile matters. That’s why we treat every search like a case worth solving.

At the end of the day, being a “tile detective” is about more than matching clay and color. It’s about restoring stories, preserving craftsmanship, and making sure homes keep their integrity—one roof at a time.