Switching From a Shingle to a Tile Roof: What It Takes

Can you switch from a shingle roof to a tile roof?

Often yes. The real question is whether your roof framing can carry the extra weight.

Many homeowners ask about switching from shingle to tile after a storm, a leak or a hot summer. It can be done in many homes. It is a bigger job than a normal re-roof, because tile is a different kind of roof.

Here is who, what and when. The homeowner decides. A licensed roofing contractor does the work. A building department issues the permit and inspects it. Many homes also need an engineer, who is a licensed professional that checks whether the roof structure is strong enough. The switch usually happens at replacement time, when the old shingles come off anyway. In Florida the work also has to follow the Florida High Wind tile manual, which is the installation guide FRSA and the Tile Roofing Institute publish.

Coastline does tile roof repair and replacement and shingle roofs, and the default shingle is Atlas Pinnacle Pristine. See our tile roofing and roof replacement pages for what we do.

What are the steps to switch from shingle to tile?

Check the structure first, then permit, tear off, build up the roof, and pass the inspections.

1. Inspect the roof and attic

   Look at the framing, the deck and any past leaks. Coastline gives a written photo report after an inspection, so you can see what is there.

2. Get the framing checked

   Ask the building department what it wants, then have an engineer or the right professional review the structure for the tile weight.

3. Choose the tile and check its approval

   Pick a tile that has a Florida product approval for your wind speed. The tile maker and the manual set the install method.

4. Pull the permit

   Manatee County asks for the Notice of Commencement, a Re-Nailing Affidavit and the product approvals to be uploaded and posted at the job.

5. Tear off the shingles and repair the deck

   The shingles come off down to the deck. Bad decking gets replaced, because the manual calls for sound sheathing.

6. Build the roof from the deck up

   Underlayment, flashing and edge metal go in first. The county's first inspection checks that all of it is done and that no tile is loaded yet.

7. Install the tile and pass the final

   The tile goes on to the manual's layout and fastening rules. The county inspects with no more than half the tile on, then at the end.

A tile roof is not placed over old shingles. Manatee County's list of roof-over options allows only shingle over shingle or metal over shingle, in one layer. A tile roof goes on a repaired deck with new underlayment.

Our tile roof replacement process guide walks through a full job, and roof permits in Florida covers the paperwork.

What should you do before asking for tile quotes?

Know your roof's age and your attic, then ask each roofer how they handle the weight.

Start with your roof's age and how it has done in storms. If the shingles are close to the end of their life, now is the time to compare. Then ask each contractor how they will verify the framing, who pulls the permit, and which tile and product approval they plan to use.

Ask for the tile's actual weight and for a written scope. A contractor who skips the weight question is skipping the main risk. If the answer is that your framing needs work, you can decide whether the cost is worth it or whether a new shingle roof is the better plan.