A-03.B2 · Tile Roofing
Tile roofs.
Check the
structure first.
Tile is the longest-lived roof most Inland Empire homes will ever carry — provided the framing underneath is rated to carry it.
Why tile suits
this climate
Tile handles sustained heat and ultraviolet exposure better than nearly anything else, is non-combustible, and creates an air gap above the deck that meaningfully reduces heat transfer into the attic. In a region that runs above 100°F for weeks, that is not a marketing point.
The trade-off is weight. Concrete and clay tile are dramatically heavier than asphalt shingle. A structure framed for shingle cannot simply receive tile, and the assessment of whether it can is a structural question, not a roofing preference.
There is also a detail most homeowners never hear: on an existing tile roof, the tile frequently outlives the underlayment beneath it. A tile roof can often be lifted, re-underlaid and re-set at a fraction of full replacement cost.
How we approach
a tile roof
The first two steps are the ones that separate a tile roof that lasts from one that fails expensively.
- 01
Structural assessment
Before anything else: can the framing carry the load? On a re-roof from shingle to tile this is the gating question, and where an engineer is required we bring one in rather than guessing.
- 02
Underlayment condition
On an existing tile roof, the tile is often sound while the underlayment beneath has failed. Establishing which has gone determines whether you need a lift-and-relay or a full replacement — a very large difference in cost.
- 03
Lift and relay
Where tile is serviceable: tile removed and stacked, deck inspected and repaired, new underlayment installed, tile re-set with broken pieces replaced. Substantially cheaper than full replacement and frequently the honest recommendation.
- 04
Full replacement
Where tile is spalling, cracked across many pieces, or the profile is obsolete. Full tear-off, deck repair, new underlayment and new tile.
- 05
Detailing
Valleys, hips, ridges, rakes and penetrations. Tile detailing is more intricate than shingle and takes longer, which is exactly why it is where rushed crews cut corners.
Common questions
A-03.B2.4 · Free, no obligation
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Site visit within 48 hours, itemized estimate after. No deposit, no pressure, and no salesperson — you'll be talking to the people who'll do the work.