Quick comparison
| Factor | Tile | Asphalt shingle |
|---|---|---|
| Lifespan in LA climate | 50 to 75 years (tile), 25 to 50 years (underlayment) | 25 to 30 years (architectural), 15 to 20 years (three tab) |
| Typical install cost (2,000 sq ft home) | $30,000 to $75,000 | $18,000 to $32,000 |
| Weight per square | 850 lbs (concrete) to 950 lbs (clay) | 230 to 350 lbs |
| Structural verification required | Often, especially on pre 1970 homes | Rarely |
| Fire rating | Class A (built in) | Class A available, Class B and C also exist |
| Wind rating | Typically lower without proper attachment | 120 mph plus on modern architectural |
| Repair difficulty | Specialized, careful, expensive per tile | Easy, fast, cheap |
| Look and curb appeal | Classic Spanish, Mediterranean, premium | Modern, dimensional, neutral |
Lifespan: tile wins, with one big caveat
Clay tile in Southern California lasts 75 plus years on the tile itself. Concrete tile lasts 50 to 60 years. Architectural composition shingle lasts 25 to 30 years. By those numbers, tile wins by a wide margin.
The caveat is the underlayment. A tile roof is waterproofed by the underlayment underneath the tile, not by the tile itself. That underlayment typically lasts 25 to 50 years depending on type and conditions. When the underlayment fails, the entire tile roof has to be lifted, the underlayment replaced, and the tile put back on. That is a major project, just not quite as major as a full replacement.
So a 50 year old tile roof typically needs a tile lift and re lay (around 30 to 50 percent the cost of a new tile installation). After the re lay, you get another 25 to 50 years out of the system. Total useful life of a tile roof in LA is realistically 75 plus years with one underlayment replacement during that window.
A 25 year old composition shingle roof, by contrast, is at the end of its life. A full replacement is required, not a partial. Total useful life is the original install duration, and you start over.
Cost: shingle wins, especially short term
Composition shingle costs 40 to 60 percent less per square than tile to install. Repairs are also dramatically cheaper. Replacing a few shingles costs hundreds of dollars. Replacing a few tiles requires sourcing matching tiles (often expensive or impossible to match exactly), carefully removing surrounding tiles without breaking them, and sometimes addressing the underlayment beneath. Tile repairs commonly cost 3 to 5 times more than equivalent shingle repairs.
Over a 50 year ownership window, tile may come out ahead because shingles need to be fully replaced once during that period and tile only needs a re lay. But most homeowners do not own a single home for 50 years. If you plan to sell within 10 to 15 years, shingle is usually the better economic choice.
Weight: tile requires structural verification
Tile weighs 3 to 4 times more than shingle per square. On older LA homes, especially pre 1970 construction, the original framing may not be sized for tile. A structural engineer review may be required before tile replacement. The engineering and any required structural reinforcement add cost.
Modern homes built post 1980 typically have framing that can handle tile. Spec home tract builds from the 1980s and later often have tile already. Replacing tile with tile is straightforward. Replacing shingle with tile on an older home is more complicated.
Fire rating: tile is automatically Class A
Tile is non combustible. Every tile roof in LA is Class A fire rated by default. That matters in brush zone neighborhoods (much of Woodland Hills, Calabasas, the foothills, the Malibu hillsides, parts of the Verdugos) where Class A is required by code.
Asphalt shingles can be Class A, Class B, or Class C depending on the specific product. Class A shingles are common and easy to install on any home. If your home is in a brush zone, the roofer will spec Class A as standard. Class A is available across most architectural shingle product lines.
Wind: depends on installation more than material
Modern architectural shingles often carry 120 mph wind ratings when installed to manufacturer spec. Tile is heavier but historically more prone to wind loss if not properly attached. The current best practice for tile in LA is foam adhesive or screw attachment, which dramatically improves wind performance.
If your home is in a hillside neighborhood with regular Santa Ana wind exposure, the installation method matters more than the material choice. We spec upgraded attachment on hillside installs regardless of material.
Curb appeal: depends on the home
Spanish, Mediterranean, mission style, and Tuscan style homes look right with tile. Trying to put a composition shingle roof on a Spanish style home looks wrong and reduces resale value. Tile fits those architectures and the cost premium reflects what the home is worth.
Traditional, ranch, contemporary, and modern homes look right with composition shingle. The dimensional architectural shingle profile is contemporary and clean. Putting tile on a 1950s ranch looks wrong and is usually a mistake.
How to decide
The decision tree, in order of importance:
- What does your home architecturally call for? If Spanish or Mediterranean, default to tile. If ranch, traditional, or contemporary, default to shingle.
- How long do you plan to own? Less than 15 years, shingle is usually the better economic choice. More than 25 years, tile may pay off long term.
- What is your budget today? If tile is out of reach, shingle is a strong choice that does not embarrass the home.
- What is your home's structural rating? Pre 1970 homes may need engineering before tile is feasible.
- What is the brush zone designation? If Class A is required, both materials can meet it.
There is no single right answer. We help every customer think through these factors during the free in person estimate. We are not material brand loyalists and we make money on either material.