Ludowici Clay Tile Roofs in Arlington and DFW

What is Ludowici clay tile?

Ludowici makes terra cotta roof tile at its factory in New Lexington, Ohio. The company says it fires its tile at more than 2,100°F, which bonds the glaze color into the clay. Clay tile is fired clay, while concrete tile is cement-based. Building code requires clay roof tile to meet the ASTM C1167 standard.

Ludowici still makes many historic profiles and offers custom colors, which helps when an older roof needs matching tile. For how clay compares with concrete tile in general, see our tile roofing guide.

Where is Ludowici tile found in Dallas-Fort Worth?

Ludowici says its tile is on Highland Park Village, the DeGolyer house at the Dallas Arboretum and buildings near the Fort Worth Stockyards. It also names Lakewood, the Park Cities, Swiss Avenue and Oak Cliff. Ludowici runs a Dallas Design Center at 133 Manufacturing Street, where owners can compare profiles and colors in person.

Those are Ludowici’s examples of its tile in the area, not Roof Experts projects. They do show how many older DFW homes carry clay tile that is worth repairing rather than tearing off.

Can a Ludowici roof be repaired instead of replaced?

Often, yes. Fired clay tile usually outlasts the felt, flashing and fasteners under it. A typical repair lifts the tile in the problem area, replaces the underlayment and flashing, and relays the same tile. Code does not allow a new roof over clay tile, so the choice is repair, re-lay or full replacement.

Matching tile for broken pieces can come from Ludowici’s current profiles or from salvaged tile, which is why we confirm the profile and color before we quote. See our roof repair page for how we trace leaks.

Why do clay tile roofs leak?

The tile sheds most of the water, but the underlayment beneath it is the last line of defense. 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 or slipped tiles expose the underlayment to sun and water faster.

Foot traffic is the other common cause. Cracked tile from people walking on the roof, often during satellite, solar or HVAC work, lets water reach the underlayment long before it would otherwise wear out.

Can my house carry a clay tile roof?

Check before switching from shingles. The Tile Roofing Industry Alliance classes “standard weight” tile as 9 pounds or more per square foot installed, and weight varies by profile. A roof built for shingles may need an engineer’s review first. Replacing clay tile with clay tile usually keeps the load the framing already carries.

If you want the look without the weight, stone-coated steel comes in barrel and flat tile profiles.

Does Ludowici tile hold up to North Texas hail?

It depends on the profile. Ludowici says some of its thicker tiles meet the higher UL 2218 hail ratings, Class 3 and 4, while lighter, thinner profiles rate Class 1 or 2. Ask for the hail test report for the exact tile. Homeowner insurance is usually the route for storm damage.

After a hailstorm, we check for cracked and broken tile and photograph it for your insurer. Our storm damage and insurance claims pages explain how that works.

What does the building code require for clay tile?

The 2021 International Residential Code, which Arlington enforces, sets a minimum slope of 2½ inches per foot for clay or concrete tile. Slopes from 2½ to 4 inches need two layers of underlayment. Clay tile must meet ASTM C1167, and a new roof cannot be laid over existing clay tile.

Arlington’s re-roof bulletin requires a permit to replace roof covering unless the replaced area is 10 percent of the roof or less. Other DFW cities set their own rules; our permit guide covers Arlington and Fort Worth.

How a clay tile job with us works

Most clay tile jobs follow four steps, from a free inspection to a final walk-through. Repairs on a small area move quickly. Larger restorations take longer when matching tile has to be ordered or salvaged. We put the scope, materials and our warranty in writing before work starts.

1. Free inspection. We check tile, flashing, valleys and underlayment and photograph what we find.
2. Written scope. Repair, partial re-lay or full replacement, with the tile source named and the price in writing.
3. Work. Tile lifted and stacked, underlayment and flashing replaced, tile relaid.
4. Walk-through. Photos of the finished work, and our 5-year workmanship warranty on tile work in writing.

Caring for a clay tile roof

Keep foot traffic off it, and ask other trades to call us before they step on the tile. Clear leaves from valleys and gutters so water flows freely. After a hailstorm, have the roof checked for cracked tile. Ludowici says its fired-in colors do not fade, so cleaning is rarely needed.

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