Tile Roofing in North Georgia

Clay & Concrete Tile

Tile: the underlayment is doing more work than the tile is

Clay tile is fired through, so its color is permanent, there's no coating to wear off. Concrete tile costs less but carries its color in a surface coating that fades over decades. Both are heavy, both routinely exceed 50 years, and both need the same structural check slate does.

What surprises most homeowners: tile isn't a sealed waterproof membrane, it's closer to a rain screen. It sheds the bulk of the water, but wind driven rain gets underneath, and the underlayment beneath the tile is doing the actual waterproofing. A 50 year tile roof over cheap 15# felt fails at 15 to 20 years while the tile on top still looks brand new, meaning a full tear off just to replace what's underneath it.

What drives cost

Structural verification, underlayment quality (self adhered or high grade synthetic vs. felt), battens vs. direct to deck mounting, and the complexity of hip and ridge detailing.

What goes wrong

Underlayment cut to hit a price point. Broken tiles from foot traffic left unrepaired. Ridge and hip tiles set in mortar or foam alone instead of mechanically fastened, so they work loose over time.

How to tell good work from bad

Ask what underlayment is specified, by product name, not just "underlayment included." Consistent tile alignment and coursing. Ridge and hip tiles mechanically fastened, not just bedded.