Maybe you love the look of a tile roof and you’re wondering if it’s right for your house. Or you already have tile, it’s starting to leak, and someone told you the whole thing needs to come off. Either way, you’re researching tile roof installation in Daytona Beach and you want a clear answer from someone who actually works on tile.
Tile is a big decision, and it’s easy to feel unsure when the words being thrown around are underlayment, battens and foam-set. You deserve to understand what you’re paying for.
APC Roofing is a GAF Certified contractor, licensed in Florida (CCC1337030) and insured. We install and repair clay and concrete tile roofs across the greater Daytona Beach area, and the inspection and estimate are free. Call 386-259-8425 to have a roofer who knows tile take a look.
Why tile works on the Florida coast
Tile handles sun and heat well. Clay barely fades over decades, and both clay and concrete shade the roof deck, which helps keep your attic cooler. It doesn’t rot and insects don’t bother it.
The coast asks more of it, though. Hurricane season runs from June through November, and wind pulls hardest at the edges, hips and ridge of a roof. Salt air works on the metal flashing in valleys, along walls and around pipes. Heavy summer storms test every overlap. A tile roof that’s installed for those conditions can last a long time. One that isn’t will leak no matter how good the tile looks.
Clay or concrete tile
Clay tile is fired in a kiln, so the color runs all the way through. It holds its color in strong sun and absorbs very little water. See our clay tile roofing in Daytona Beach page for more.
Concrete tile is made from sand, cement and water pressed into a mold. It’s common on Florida homes and usually costs less than clay. On many brands the color is a coating on the surface, so it can fade over time and chips show gray underneath.
Both come in a few shapes. Barrel and S-shaped tile give that rounded, Spanish look. Flat tile sits close to the deck and can look like slate or wood shake.
The part of a tile roof you can’t see
Most homeowners are surprised to learn the tile isn’t what keeps water out. It sheds most of the rain and shades the layer below, but the real waterproofing is the underlayment on the deck underneath. Florida heat bakes that layer year after year, and it usually wears out long before the tile does.
That’s why a lot of “new tile roofs” are really new underlayment. On many re-roofs, the crew carefully removes the existing tile and stacks it, replaces any soft or damaged plywood, lays new underlayment and flashing, and then puts the same tile back. From the street the house looks the same. Underneath, the part that stops leaks is brand new.
Some tile breaks during that process, and older tile breaks more easily. If your style is still made, new pieces can match. If it’s been discontinued, salvaged tile or a close match fills the gaps, and a slight color difference is normal.
What good tile roof installation in Daytona Beach looks like
- Attachment for hurricane wind. Tile is held with screws, foam adhesive, battens or a combination, as the Florida Building Code and the manufacturer call for. The edges, hips and ridge get extra hold-down because that’s where wind pulls hardest.
- An underlayment rated for heat. The wrong product cracks years early under hot tile.
- Flashing that resists salt air. Valleys, walls, chimneys and pipes get flashing that’s sized for tile and holds up near the coast.
- Careful footwork. Tile can crack in the middle when it’s stepped on, and the crack often only shows underneath. Crews walk where the tile is supported.
Switching from shingles to tile
Tile is heavy, several times the weight of asphalt shingles. A house built for shingles may not be built to carry it. Before switching, a structural engineer should check the rafters and supports, and the answer might be some added bracing. Lightweight concrete tile is another option worth asking about. We’ll be upfront if tile isn’t a good fit for your house.
How it works with APC Roofing
- Book your free inspection. Call 386-259-8425 or request a free online estimate.
- Get a clear, honest assessment and estimate. We check the tile, the underlayment where we can see it, the flashing and the deck, and you get photos and a written estimate. You decide what gets done.
- Get your roof done and the site cleaned up. The crew protects your landscaping, finishes the job and cleans up before leaving.
If you’d like to spread out the cost, we work with financing partners including Aqua Finance, Fortifi, Hearth and Home Run Finance.
Tile roofing questions from Daytona Beach homeowners
How long does a tile roof last?
The tile itself can last for decades, and clay often outlasts concrete. The underlayment beneath wears out sooner, and its condition usually decides when a tile roof needs work.
Can you reuse my existing tile?
Often, yes. On many jobs the tile is removed, the underlayment and flashing are replaced and the same tile goes back on. Some pieces break along the way and get replaced with a match.
Can a broken tile wait?
Not for long. A missing or cracked tile lets sun and rain reach the underlayment, and that layer breaks down fast once it’s exposed. If only a few tiles are damaged, our tile roof repair in Daytona Beach page covers the fix.
How do I check that a tile roofer is licensed?
Ask for their Florida license number and look it up on the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s license search. APC Roofing’s license is CCC1337030.
A roof that looks good and stays dry
A slipped tile or worn underlayment won’t fix itself. Water reaches the deck, then the insulation and ceiling, and a small repair turns into a bigger one. You don’t have to replace everything at once. It helps to know what’s going on up there.
When it’s done right, your tile roof looks the same from the street and you stop thinking about it. The rain runs off, the house stays dry and there’s no surprise bill. Call 386-259-8425 to book your free inspection, or see all our tile roofing in the Daytona Beach area.
