You love the look of a tile roof, but you’ve heard tile can crack in a Denver winter or break in a hailstorm. Or you already have tile, there’s a leak over the bedroom, and you’re not sure if it’s a few broken pieces or something bigger. You’re looking into tile roof installation in Denver, and you want honest answers before you commit.
Those are good questions to ask. Tile is a long-term decision, and in Colorado the details of how it’s chosen and installed matter as much as the tile itself.
APC Roofing is a GAF Certified contractor, licensed and insured, and we install and repair clay and concrete tile roofs on Denver homes. The inspection and estimate are free. Call 720-902-6940 to have a roofer look at your house and walk you through your options.
What Denver weather asks of a tile roof
Colorado is a tough place for any roof, and tile has a few weak spots of its own here.
Freeze-thaw. Denver swings above and below freezing again and again through the winter. Any tile that soaks up water can freeze from the inside, and over many seasons the face can flake or crack. That’s why tile used here should be rated for freeze-thaw climates.
Hail. The Front Range gets hail most years. Small hail rarely marks a sound tile, but large hail can crack or break one. Damaged tiles should be replaced promptly so the layer underneath isn’t left open to the sun and weather.
Snow and ice at the eaves. Snow sits on a tile roof, and heat escaping from the house can melt it. When that water refreezes at the cold edge, it can back up under the tile. A waterproof underlayment along the eaves protects the house when that happens.
Strong sun. The high-altitude sun is intense, and it bakes the underlayment beneath the tile. Clay holds its color well. Concrete tile can fade over time where the color is only on the surface.
Clay or concrete tile in Denver
Clay tile is fired in a kiln, which makes it dense and slow to absorb water. That helps in freeze-thaw weather, and the color runs all the way through, so it doesn’t fade in the sun.
Concrete tile is made from sand, cement and water. It usually costs less than clay and comes in many shapes and colors, but it absorbs more water, so choosing a product rated for freezing climates matters more. Our concrete tile roofing in Denver page goes into more detail.
Both come in rounded barrel or S-shaped profiles and in flat styles that look like slate or shake.
Can my house handle tile?
Tile is heavy, several times the weight of asphalt shingles, and Denver roofs also have to carry snow. If your house was built for shingles, a structural engineer should check the rafters and supports before you switch. Sometimes the answer is added bracing, and sometimes a lightweight concrete tile works. If tile isn’t a good fit for your house, we’ll say so.
What good tile roof installation in Denver includes
- Underlayment that does the real work. The tile sheds most water, but the underlayment beneath keeps your house dry. It needs to handle heat in summer and ice at the eaves in winter.
- Secure attachment. Tile is fastened with screws, clips, battens or adhesive as code and the manufacturer require, with extra hold-down at the edges, hips and ridge where wind pulls hardest.
- Flashing made for tile. Valleys, chimneys, walls and pipes need wide metal flashing shaped for tile, not sealant.
- Careful footwork. Tile can crack in the middle when stepped on, and the crack may only show underneath. Crews walk where the tile is supported.
Repairing or re-laying an existing tile roof
On many tile roofs, the tile itself is fine but the underlayment is worn out. In that case, the tile can be carefully removed and stacked, damaged decking replaced, new underlayment and flashing put down and the same tile laid back. Some pieces break along the way, and older tile breaks more easily. If your style is discontinued, salvaged tile or a close match fills in. For a few broken pieces, our tile roof repair in Denver page covers the fix.
If hail broke your tile, we’ll photograph and measure the damage and give you a written report. If you file an insurance claim, we’ll provide the estimate and work with your adjuster. You file your own claim and pay your own deductible. Our hail damage roof repair in Denver page has more.
How it works with APC Roofing
- Book your free inspection. Call 720-902-6940 or request a free online estimate.
- Get a clear, honest assessment and estimate. You’ll see photos of the tile, flashing and any underlayment we can reach, with a written estimate and the reason behind each recommendation.
- Get your roof done and the site cleaned up. The crew protects your landscaping, finishes the work and cleans up before leaving.
If you’d like to spread out the cost, you can use our financing partners, including Aqua Finance, Fortifi, Hearth and Home Run Finance.
Tile roofing questions from Denver homeowners
Is tile a good roof for Denver?
It can be, if the tile is rated for freeze-thaw and the house can carry the weight. Clay handles freezing weather especially well. Concrete works when you choose a product made for cold climates.
Will hail break a tile roof?
Large hail can crack or break tile, while smaller hail usually doesn’t leave a mark. Broken tiles should be replaced soon so the underlayment isn’t exposed.
How long does a tile roof last?
The tile can last for decades, and clay often outlasts concrete. The underlayment wears out sooner, and its condition usually decides when the roof needs work.
Do you install both clay and concrete tile?
Yes. We install and repair both, in barrel, S-shaped and flat profiles.
A tile roof you can count on
A broken tile or worn underlayment doesn’t stay a small problem. Water and ice work into the deck and the ceiling, and a repair grows into a bigger job. You don’t have to decide everything now. It helps to know what’s up there.
Done right, a tile roof handles the snow and hail, and you stop wondering about it every time a storm rolls off the mountains. That’s the goal: a dry house, no surprise bill and confidence in your choice. Call 720-902-6940 to book your free inspection, or see all our tile roofing in Denver.
