Tile Roofing in Phoenix

Three Ways to Fix a Tile Roof

• Tile roof repair: replace broken tiles, reset slipped ones and reseal flashing when the damage is isolated.
• Underlayment replacement: lift and stack your tile, install new underlayment and flashing, then reset the tile.
• New tile roof: tear off to the deck and install new concrete or clay tile, underlayment and flashing.

Tile roof cost guide · Roof cost calculator

Tile Roofing FAQs

How long does a tile roof last in Phoenix?

Concrete and clay tile can last 50 years or more, but the underlayment beneath the tile is what keeps water out, and older felt underlayment in the Valley commonly wears out in 15 to 25 years. That's why many tile roofs leak while the tile still looks fine. The usual fix is replacing the underlayment and reusing the tile, not a whole new roof.

Do I need a new tile roof or just new underlayment?

If most of your tile is sound and still made or easy to match, replacing the underlayment and resetting your tile (a lift and relay) is usually the better value. A full new tile roof makes sense when many tiles are broken or brittle, the profile can't be matched, or you want a different look. Your estimator checks the tile, the underlayment and the decking and shows you photos before you decide.

How much does a tile roof cost in Arizona?

Typical installed ranges are about $4 to $7 per square foot to replace underlayment under existing concrete tile, $6.50 to $10.50 per square foot for a new concrete tile roof, and $8.50 to $14 per square foot for new clay tile. Size, pitch, access and the tile profile move the price. Our roof cost calculator gives a quick range, and the estimate itself is free.

Concrete or clay tile: which is better for Arizona?

Both handle desert sun well. Concrete tile is the most common in the Valley, costs less and comes in many profiles and colors. Clay tile keeps its color longer and has the classic Spanish look, but it costs more and is more fragile to walk on or reset. Many HOAs specify the profile and color, so check your community's rules before choosing.

Can you repair a few broken tiles?

Yes. Slipped and cracked tiles are a common repair. We replace broken pieces with a matching tile, reset slipped ones, and check the underlayment and flashing underneath while the area is open. If the underlayment around the repair is brittle, we'll tell you, because a tile repair won't stop leaks coming through worn underlayment.

How long does a tile roof job take?

Most tile roof jobs on a typical home take about 3 to 5 days, depending on size, weather and whether the tile is being reused or replaced. We dry the roof in at the end of each day so the house is protected while the work is underway.

Can I switch from shingles to tile?

Often, but tile is much heavier than asphalt shingles, so the roof framing has to be checked before the switch, and the city may require an engineer's review. Your HOA may also need to approve the change. If the structure can't carry tile, stone-coated steel gives a tile look at a fraction of the weight.

Tile Roofing in Phoenix: Repair, Underlayment Replacement and New Tile Roofs

Tile is the most common roof on homes across the Phoenix area, and for good reason: concrete and clay tile shrug off sun, heat and wind for decades. What wears out first is usually not the tile. It's the underlayment underneath, the layer that actually keeps water out of the house.

This guide explains how tile roofs work, why they leak, how to choose between a repair, an underlayment replacement and a new tile roof, what each costs, and what HOAs and permits mean for your project.

How a tile roof keeps water out

Tile sheds most rain, but water always gets past it in a hard storm: through gaps at the laps, around penetrations and up under the tile in wind-driven rain. The underlayment below the tile catches that water and sends it to the eaves. Flashing at valleys, walls, chimneys and vents ties everything together.

Phoenix summers heat roof surfaces to 150°F or more. Over the years that heat dries out felt underlayment until it turns brittle and cracks, which is why a tile roof can leak while the tile on top still looks perfect.

Signs your tile roof needs attention

You can spot most of these from the ground or the attic. Please don't walk on the tile; it cracks underfoot.

• Slipped, cracked or missing tiles, especially along ridges, hips and edges
• Debris packed in valleys where water should flow freely
• Ceiling stains, or leaks that come back after a repair
• Dark stains or water trails on the underside of the roof deck in the attic
• Felt that crumbles where it's visible at the eaves
• A home from the 1990s or early 2000s that still has its original tile roof

Repair, underlayment replacement or new tile

Most tile roof work falls into one of three options. Your estimator checks the tile, the underlayment and the decking, and shows you photos before recommending one.

• Repair: replace broken tiles, reset slipped ones and reseal flashing. Right for isolated damage on a roof whose underlayment is still in good shape.
• Underlayment replacement (lift and relay): remove and stack the existing tile, replace the underlayment and worn flashing, repair any damaged decking, then reset the tile and swap in matching pieces for broken ones. Usually the best value when the tile is sound.
• New tile roof: tear off to the deck and install new tile, underlayment and flashing. Right when many tiles are broken or brittle, the profile can't be matched, or you want a new look.

Underlayment options

The underlayment decides how long the roof stays watertight, so it's worth choosing carefully. Options we install include Fontana Vulca Seal G40 (a 10-year single-layer or 20-year double-layer No Leak warranty when registered within 30 days), SwiftGuard synthetic tile underlayment (up to a 50-year warranty tied to the tile warranty) and TRI-BUILT HT SA self-adhered synthetic (a 50-year warranty that transfers automatically to the next owner).

Your estimator will walk you through the options and the warranty paperwork for the one you choose.

What tile roofing costs

Typical installed ranges in the Phoenix area: about $4 to $7 per square foot to replace the underlayment under existing concrete tile ($5 to $8.50 for clay), $6.50 to $10.50 per square foot for a new concrete tile roof, and $8.50 to $14 per square foot for new clay tile. For many homes that works out to roughly $10,000 to $22,000 for an underlayment replacement and $15,000 to $35,000 for a full tile roof.

Size, pitch, access, the tile profile and how much decking needs repair all move the number. Our cost guide and roof cost calculator go deeper, and the estimate itself is free, written in Xactimate line items so you can see each part of the price.

HOAs, permits and timing

Many Valley communities set rules for tile profile and color, so changing the look of your roof often needs HOA approval first. Permit rules differ by city; our city guides cover the local requirements. Switching from shingles to tile also means checking that the framing can carry the extra weight.

Most tile jobs on a typical home take about 3 to 5 days, weather permitting. We dry the roof in at the end of each day, and financing is available through Service Finance and GreenSky, including 0% for 24 months for qualified buyers, subject to credit approval. Our workmanship is backed by a 10-year warranty, with a 25-year option.

Guides and cost breakdowns

• Tile Roof Cost in Arizona (2026 Pricing Guide) (Cost guide)