About Our Tile Roofing Installation & Repair Service
Clay and concrete tile roofs combine a distinctive architectural look with a 50-plus year lifespan and excellent fire and weather resistance. They're less common in New Jersey than asphalt, which means tile work demands an installer who understands the underlayment, battens, and flashing systems tile depends on — because with tile, the waterproofing is the underlayment beneath the tile, not the tile itself.
How a Tile Roof Actually Keeps Water Out
The most important thing to understand about a tile roof is counterintuitive: the tile is not the primary waterproofing. Tile sheds the bulk of the water and protects what's beneath it from sun and impact, but the actual waterproof barrier is the underlayment installed under the tile. This is why a tile roof can last 50+ years while needing an underlayment renewal partway through — the tiles outlive the membrane they sit on. An installer who doesn't understand this builds tile roofs that leak.
Clay vs. Concrete Tile
Both are excellent, with different trade-offs. Clay tile is the traditional choice — fade-resistant color that's baked in, lighter than concrete, and the longest-lasting, but more expensive. Concrete tile costs less, comes in more profiles and colors, and is slightly heavier. Both deliver fire resistance, excellent wind performance when properly fastened, and a 50+ year service life that few other materials match.
- Clay tile: longest lifespan, color baked through, premium cost, lighter than concrete.
- Concrete tile: more affordable, widest range of profiles and colors, slightly heavier.
- Both: 50+ year lifespan, class-A fire rating, excellent in wind and sun.
The Weight Question
Tile is heavy — typically heavier than asphalt and sometimes heavier than slate. Homes built for tile already carry the load; homes converting from asphalt need a structural assessment first. We evaluate the framing before quoting a tile installation and will tell you plainly if your structure needs reinforcement or if a lighter material is the smarter choice for your home.
Repairing a Tile Roof
Individual tiles crack from impact (a falling branch, foot traffic, hail) but the surrounding roof is usually fine. We replace cracked or slipped tiles with matching units, and — more importantly — renew the underlayment when it reaches end-of-life while preserving and reinstalling the original tiles. If your tile roof is leaking, the fix is often underlayment and flashing work beneath tiles that themselves have decades of life left.
What's Included
- Clay and concrete tile installation
- Tile roof repair & individual tile replacement
- Underlayment renewal (the real waterproofing layer)
- Batten and fastening systems for NJ wind
- Structural weight assessment
Tile Roofing Installation & Repair — Common Questions
How much does a tile roof cost in New Jersey?
Clay and concrete tile typically runs $10–$22 per square foot installed in NJ, depending on tile type, profile, and roof complexity. Concrete sits at the lower end, premium clay at the higher end. The underlayment and flashing system — which is the actual waterproofing — is a significant part of a quality tile install and shouldn't be value-engineered out.
How long does a tile roof last?
Clay and concrete tiles last 50+ years, and quality clay can exceed that. The limiting factor is usually the underlayment beneath the tile, which may need renewal once during the roof's life while the original tiles are preserved and reinstalled. With underlayment maintenance, a tile roof is among the longest-lasting options available.
Why is my tile roof leaking if the tiles look fine?
Because the tiles aren't the waterproofing — the underlayment beneath them is. A tile roof leaking with intact tiles almost always has failed underlayment, deteriorated flashing at a valley or penetration, or cracked tiles that aren't visible from the ground. We diagnose the actual entry point rather than assuming the whole roof needs replacement.
Can I put a tile roof on a house that currently has shingles?
Sometimes, but tile is heavy and the structure must be rated for the load. We perform a structural assessment before quoting a conversion from asphalt to tile. If the framing can't carry tile and reinforcement isn't practical, we'll recommend a lighter alternative like synthetic slate or stone-coated steel that gives a similar premium look.