Tile Roofing in Arlington and DFW

Is a tile roof right for your home?

Tile suits homes built to carry its weight, on roof slopes of at least 2½ inches per foot, where the owner wants a long-lasting, fire-resistant roof. It is a poor fit for low-slope roofs or for framing built for shingles without an engineering check. Lighter options such as stone-coated steel can give a similar look.

When we’d steer you elsewhere

We will tell you if tile does not make sense. The common reasons are framing that would need costly reinforcement, a slope below what code allows for tile, or a budget better spent on a lighter roof. In those cases we can price standing seam or stone-coated steel beside tile so you can compare.

Clay or concrete tile: what’s the difference?

Clay tile is fired clay and must meet ASTM C1167. Concrete tile is made from cement and sand and must meet ASTM C1492. Clay holds its color because the color is fired in. Concrete tile can show efflorescence, a harmless white surface bloom from the cement that fades over time. We install, repair and re-lay both.

Tile comes in flat, low-profile and high-barrel shapes. Matching an existing profile matters most on repairs, so we confirm the profile and color before we quote.

Can my roof framing carry tile?

If the house already has tile, it was usually framed for it. Switching from shingles to tile is different. The Tile Roofing Industry Alliance calls tile weighing 9 pounds or more per square foot installed “standard weight.” That can be several times the weight of a shingle roof, so an engineer may need to check the framing first.

Replacing tile with tile usually keeps the load the framing already carries. Going the other way, from tile to a lighter roof, takes load off the framing.

Why do tile roofs leak?

Tile sheds water, but the underlayment underneath is what keeps the house dry. The Tile Roofing Industry Alliance says most problems on water-shedding roofs come from water getting past poor flashing or from wind-driven rain. Cracked, slipped or missing tiles let sun and water reach the underlayment, which then wears out faster.

That is why a tile leak is rarely fixed by swapping one tile. We trace the water to the flashing, valley or underlayment that let it in. See our roof repair page for how we find and fix leaks.

Repair, re-lay or replace?

Most tile roofs can be repaired or re-laid. Small repairs replace cracked tiles and fix flashing. A re-lay lifts the tile, replaces the underlayment and flashing, and puts the same tile back, which works when most tiles are sound. Industry installation guidance says cracked or broken tile and damaged flashing must be replaced during a re-roof.

If you are weighing those options on any roof, our repair or replace guide covers the general questions.

How does tile handle North Texas hail?

It varies by product. Hail ratings under UL 2218 run from Class 1 to Class 4, and tile makers test profile by profile. Ludowici, for example, says its thicker clay tiles reach Class 3 or 4 while thinner ones rate lower. Ask for the hail rating of the exact tile before you buy.

After a hailstorm, cracked tile is not always visible from the ground. We walk the roof with care, photograph broken and cracked tiles and note any exposed underlayment. If you file a claim, our insurance claims page explains how we help with documentation.

What does code require for a tile roof in Arlington?

Arlington enforces the 2021 International Residential Code. It requires a slope of at least 2½ inches per foot for clay or concrete tile, two underlayment layers on slopes up to 4 inches per foot, and corrosion-resistant fasteners. A new roof cannot be installed over existing clay or concrete tile, so tile comes off first.

The City of Arlington’s re-roof bulletin (September 2023) requires a permit to replace roof covering unless the replaced area is 10 percent of the roof or less, and the city inspects the finished roof. Other DFW cities set their own rules. More detail is in our Arlington and Fort Worth permit guide.

How a tile roof job with us works

A tile job follows four steps, from a free inspection to a final walk-through with photos. Repairs on a small area move quickly. A full re-lay or replacement takes longer, especially when matching tile has to be sourced. You get the scope, materials and our warranty in writing before any work starts.

1. Free inspection. Tile, flashing, valleys, penetrations and underlayment, with photos.
2. Written options. Repair, re-lay or replacement, with the tile source named and the price in writing. Roof size and pitch, tile type, how much tile can be reused, and any framing work drive the price.
3. Work. Tile removed and stacked or replaced, new underlayment and flashing, tile relaid.
4. Walk-through. Finished photos, and our 5-year workmanship warranty on tile work in writing.

Taking care of a tile roof

Limit foot traffic, keep valleys and gutters clear, and replace cracked or slipped tiles soon so the underlayment stays covered. Have the roof checked after large hail or high wind. Before solar, satellite or HVAC crews go up, ask how they plan to protect the tile. A yearly look costs little.

Roof Experts, LLC has worked across DFW from our Arlington office since 2017. We are insured and registered with the City of Arlington. To have your tile roof looked at, book a free inspection or call (817) 754-9484.