While tile roofing has typically been most common in the West and Southwest, Colorado homeowners have increasingly opted for tile due to its longevity and durability. The aesthetic benefit of tile is also undeniable: while asphalt roofs mainly vary in color,tile roofs come in a myriad shapes, sizes, colors, and more, enabling homeowners to transform their roof into a beautiful architectural focal point. But if you’re a homeowner with an existing shingle roof, how much will a tile roof cost to install?
At Elite Roofing & Solar, we often have customers ask about tile roofing options, and the first question tends to be about cost. As all professional Denver roofing companies will tell you, though, this can be a complicated matter with tile, as a great number of variables will determine the total cost of a tile roof. So if you’re considering making the switch to tile roofing, here’s a rundown of the different tile roof cost factors to consider.
Tile Roof Cost Estimate
To start off with a general price range, the average total cost of a tile roof installation will likely fall anywhere from $14,000 on the low end to more than $75,000 on the higher end.
Why such a large range? Well, as with the cost of any roof, the cost of a tile roof will depend on how large your home is. A roof may have anywhere from 1,000 to 3,000 feet of surface area, which will drastically impact the final price.
In addition factors such as the specific products you choose, the amount of work involved in switching from asphalt shingles to tile, and much more will all have a large impact.
Cost of Materials
After considering the size of the roof, the biggest factor in determining the overall cost of a tile roof is the material from which the tiles are made.
Concrete Tiles
Concrete tiles tend to be the cheapest overall, at anywhere from $4 to $9 per square foot, and concrete is generally lighter weight than other tile materials.
Clay Tiles
Clay tile ranges from $5 to $10 per square foot, and it’s a material that can be beautifully molded into many different tile shapes.
Terracotta Tiles
The most expensive tile material, terracotta ranges from $6 to $15 per square foot. This is also the most durable however, and unlike concrete and clay, terracotta tiles don’t change color over time.
As a rule of thumb, tweaking and customizing the shape of your roof tiles will increase the price further. Still, there are many pros and cons to each material beyond cost, so it’s important to discuss your project with a trusted Denver roofing company before making any decisions.
Cost of Tile Roof Installation
Tile tends to be among the trickiest materials to work with, meaning it’s always best to leave installation to one of the many professional roofing companies in Denver. Not only that, but it’s important to choose a roofing company with extensive experience in tile roofing. Roofers will less experience working with tile may break more material, take longer to complete the installation, and potentially leave your roof vulnerable to damage.
As a baseline, expect to pay around $7 or $8 per square foot to have a tile roof installed. You may also see this price quoted in roof “squares,” a unit equal to 100 square feet that many roofers prefer to deal in for simplicity’s sake ($7 to $8 per square foot = $700 to $800 per square). The average roof tends to be about 22-26 squares in size.
Additional Cost Factors
From these baselines, many other factors play a role in the cost of installing a tile roof. Roofing companies in Denver may include some of these in the overall installation cost quoted to you, but it’s important to make sure of this before deciding which company to hire.
Removal of old roof – This is typically the first step in the installation process, and the cost can vary depending on how much material there is to remove. For instance, some roofs on older buildings may have been layered over an existing roof, making it more expensive to remove.
Underlayment – In addition to the tiles themselves, installing a tile roof also includes the material directly beneath the tiles that adds stability, called the underlayment. If you’re replacing an existing tile roof, the cost of installing the underlayment may be reduced.
Roof supports – Tile roofs are heavier than other roof types. While this makes them quite durable and weather-resistant, it can also necessitate adding more support to your roof to ensure the frame of your home can support this heavier material.
Delivery and travel – Since tile is a heavy material, the cost of transporting and delivering it to your home may be greatly increased if you live far from the supplier or roofing company.
Elite Roofing & Solar: Leading Denver Roofing Company
While the upfront cost of installing a tile roof can be steep, the unparalleled durability of this material means a tile roof can more easily pay for itself over the course of its long lifetime. The average lifespan of a tile roof is typically from 50-100 years, with many tile roofs surviving for multiple centuries.
The incredible customizability of tile can’t be beat, and our professional team at Elite Roofing & Solar has worked on a wide range of gorgeous tile roofs over the years. If you want to learn more about tile roofs or start planning your own tile roof replacement project,contact us today! We’re proud to be the roofing company that many Denver homeowners have trusted to turn their roofs into true works of art.
