Concrete tile roofing installed for Phoenix heat

Concrete tile itself is rarely why a Phoenix roof fails. The tile is cast from sand, cement and pigment, and it simply sits there taking sun for decades. The weak point has always been the underlayment beneath it. On a new install we size that layer to the tile: a two-ply system with a heavy base and cap sheet, or a premium synthetic rated for tile and high deck temperatures, chosen based on pitch.

We also pay attention to the details that older installs skipped. Raised or segmented battens let water drain under the tile instead of pooling behind a solid strip of wood. Bird stops close off the open ends at the eave. Valleys get wide metal with a center crimp, and every wall and chimney gets proper pan and counter flashing. These are small line items that separate a 20-year roof from a 40-year one.

We also plan for what will sit on the roof later. If solar is in your future, we can lay out the tile so mounts land on rafters and flash attachment points into the new underlayment during the install, rather than cutting through a finished roof months afterward. Rooftop AC units get a defined walking path of reinforced tile or pavers so service techs stop cracking the field tile every summer. Small decisions now, made with the next 30 years in mind, save a long list of repair calls.

Concrete tile comes in flat profiles that read as slate or shake, low S profiles with a gentle wave, and high S or barrel profiles that give the classic Spanish look common across Scottsdale, Gilbert and Chandler. Color runs from earthy reds and browns to sandy blends and charcoal. Lighter colors reflect more sun and can reduce attic heat noticeably on west-facing slopes.

Most master-planned communities in the Valley keep a list of approved tile colors and profiles. We help you find the overlap between what you like and what the HOA allows, and we prepare the product data most architectural committees ask for. If you want to compare tile against other options first, our guide to tile, shingle and foam in Valley heat covers the trade-offs plainly.

Concrete tile weighs far more than shingle, roughly 9 to 12 pounds per square foot installed. Homes built for tile handle that easily. Homes switching from shingle may need an engineering review and sometimes added framing support, and we flag that during the first visit rather than after demolition starts. Going the other way, from tile to something lighter, is also an option on homes where weight has caused sagging over the years, and we will tell you if we see signs of it in the attic.

Monsoon gusts lift poorly fastened tile, especially at eaves, rakes and ridges. We fasten to the manufacturer's wind requirements, which in exposed areas means clips or extra fasteners on perimeter courses. Ridges and hips go on with mortar or a dry ridge system with a ventilated cap. If your existing tile is still solid and you only need the base replaced, compare this page with our lift-and-relay option, which costs considerably less.