Tile roofs

Tile roofs are less common in Colorado than in the Southwest, but you'll see them on Mediterranean-style homes and some newer developments. The tiles themselves can last a very long time. What fails first is usually what's underneath.

Concrete vs clay

Clay tile is fired earth, the classic terra cotta roof. Its color is baked in. Concrete tile is molded from cement and sand, then colored, and it's available in many profiles, including flat styles that imitate slate or shake. Concrete is the more common choice on newer homes.

InterNACHI lists both at 100+ years as a guideline. As a general rule, concrete tile's surface color can fade over time, while clay holds color longer. This Old House puts clay tile around $15.16 per square foot in Colorado as a rough average.

Weight

Tile is heavy. Standard concrete tile weighs about 9.5 to 12 pounds per square foot, and lightweight concrete tile about 5.5 to 7. Asphalt shingles weigh about 2.5 to 4. Clay varies by profile.

That matters if you're switching from asphalt. Your framing was likely sized for a light roof plus snow. Colorado snow loads rise with elevation, so extra dead weight eats into the margin. Have an engineer check the structure before installing tile on a home that didn't have it. Some jurisdictions also have their own limits; Fort Collins, for example, requires a structural evaluation for overlays heavier than 3 pounds per square foot.

The underlayment does the waterproofing

Tiles shed most of the water and protect what's beneath from sun and hail, but they're not watertight. Wind-driven rain and snowmelt get between them. The underlayment below is what actually keeps water out of the house.

So a tile roof's real lifespan is often the underlayment's. When it wears out, a roofer can remove the tiles, replace the underlayment and battens, and relay the same tiles, replacing any broken ones. That's a big job, but cheaper than new tile.

Cracked tiles

Tiles crack from hail, from foot traffic, and from falling branches. A crack lets more water reach the underlayment and exposes it to UV, which shortens its life. A few cracked tiles are a repair, not a replacement.

Finding matching tiles can be the hard part, especially for older profiles or colors. Some homeowners keep a few spares from the original install. If a tile is discontinued, a roofer may borrow tiles from a hidden area and patch that spot with a near match.

After hail, look for broken pieces in gutters or on the ground. Our post-storm walk-around covers what to check without climbing up, and the free Roof Report shows your area's hail history.

Walking on tile

Tile breaks when stepped on in the wrong spot. Experienced tile roofers step on the lower part of each tile where it's supported, or use walk pads. Anyone else on the roof, including satellite installers and some inspectors, can do more harm than the storm did. Colorado's #NoRoofScams guidance says to let only your adjuster and the roofer you've chosen onto the roof.

Inspection rules also differ for tile. Lakewood and Arvada both require a mid-roof inspection for tile re-roofs, which they don't require for asphalt. See the materials overview to compare tile with other options.

Common questions

Can I walk on my tile roof?

It's best not to. Tiles crack under the wrong footstep, and a cracked tile may not show from above. Leave it to a roofer who knows where to step.

Can I replace asphalt shingles with tile?

Possibly, but tile is several times heavier. Have an engineer confirm your framing can handle the added weight plus local snow loads before you commit.

Is one cracked tile a big deal?

Not usually an emergency, because the underlayment below does the waterproofing. But it should be replaced before water and sun wear down the exposed underlayment.

How long does a tile roof last?

InterNACHI lists clay and concrete tile at 100+ years. The underlayment beneath usually wears out much sooner and may need replacing while the tiles are reused.