Asphalt Shingle vs. Tile Roof: Cost, Weight and Upkeep in Los Angeles
Shingle vs. tile roof is the first choice many Los Angeles homeowners face when a roof needs replacing. You see asphalt shingles on many ranch homes and newer houses, and clay and concrete tile on Spanish Revival and Mediterranean homes across the city.
Both can make a sound roof. They differ in cost, weight, how they age and what they need over the years. This guide compares them side by side and helps you see which one your home is built for.
Shingle vs. Tile at a Glance
Cost: Tile Costs More Up Front
At the ranges our Instant Quote uses, a shingle roof runs $6.50 to $8.00 per square foot of roof and a new tile roof $12 to $16. On a 2,000 square foot roof, with about 10% added for waste, that is about $14,300 to $17,600 for shingles against about $26,400 to $35,200 for new tile, before adjustments for pitch and height.
A tile roof whose tiles are still sound often doesn’t need new tile at all. A tile lift and relay replaces the underlayment and puts your own tiles back, for $8 to $11 per square foot at our ranges. See our full guide to roof replacement cost.
Weight: Tile Needs a Roof Built for It
Tile weighs several times as much as asphalt shingles. A home designed for tile has framing sized for that load; a home built for shingles may not.
Switching from shingles to tile? The framing has to be checked first, and it may need reinforcing. Going the other way, from tile to shingles, takes weight off the roof.
How Each Roof Ages
Asphalt shingles
Southern California sun breaks down the asphalt a little every summer. The granules that shield it wash off, and the shingles turn brittle, then curl or cup. Once that wear is across the whole roof, it is time for a shingle roof replacement. Balanced attic ventilation helps shingles last, because heat trapped in the attic shortens their life.
Tile
Clay and concrete tile can protect a home for decades, but the tiles are not what keeps water out on their own. The underlayment beneath them does most of that work, and it dries out and cracks well before the tile does. Our guide to tile roof underlayment explains the signs.
Fire, Wind and Upkeep
- Fire. Tile is Class A, and so are most fiberglass asphalt shingles. Either way, vents and the open ends of tile at the eaves matter as much as the covering. See fire-resistant roofs.
- Wind. Strong Santa Ana winds can lift shingles whose seal has broken, and can loosen tiles that are not fastened well.
- Upkeep on shingles. Replace lifted or missing shingles and cracked pipe boots, and keep valleys clear.
- Upkeep on tile. Reset slipped tiles, replace cracked ones and plan for new underlayment as the roof ages.
Which Is Right for Your Home?
Which of these sounds most like your roof? Tap a card.
Asphalt shingle
Best when
The home was built for shingles and you want a sound roof for the lowest cost
Keep in mind
It will need replacing sooner than the tiles on a tile roof
New tile roof
Best when
The home was built for tile, or its style calls for it
Keep in mind
Higher cost, and the framing must carry the weight
Tile lift and relay
Best when
You have tile, the tiles are sound and the underlayment has failed
Keep in mind
Only works when the tiles can be reused
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a tile roof more expensive than shingles?
Yes. At our Instant Quote ranges a new tile roof is $12 to $16 per square foot of roof, against $6.50 to $8.00 for asphalt shingles. If your tiles are still sound, a lift and relay is $8 to $11.
Can I put a tile roof on a house that had shingles?
Sometimes. Tile is several times heavier than shingles, so the roof framing has to be checked first and may need reinforcing.
Which lasts longer, tile or shingles?
The tiles themselves outlast asphalt shingles, but the underlayment beneath tile wears out much sooner than the tile does, so a tile roof needs that layer renewed during its life.
Can I replace a tile roof with shingles?
Yes. It takes weight off the roof and costs less, though it changes the look of the home. Check any HOA rules first.
Not Sure Which Your Roof Needs?
Book a free roof evaluation. A roofer looks at your roof, explains your options in plain English and gives you a written scope and price before any work.
