Tile Roofing
San Jose & the South Bay
Concrete and clay tile are iconic Bay Area roofing — defining the architectural character of Spanish Revival, Mediterranean, and custom homes across San Jose, Willow Glen, Almaden Valley, Saratoga, and Palo Alto.
Tile Roofing
Done Right Since 1952
Concrete and clay tile are iconic Bay Area roofing — defining the architectural character of Spanish Revival, Mediterranean, and custom homes across San Jose, Willow Glen, Almaden Valley, Saratoga, and Palo Alto. Keith Roofing has been installing tile since the 1960s, and we're certified installers for every major manufacturer: Monier Lifetile, Eagle Roofing, Westlake Tile (formerly Eaglelite), Boral, Ludowici, MCA Tile, and sourced European clay products.
Tile roofing requires fundamentally different expertise than asphalt shingle work. Tile is heavy (8-12 pounds per square foot for concrete, 10-15 for clay) — structural capacity matters and sometimes requires engineering review. Installation techniques vary significantly based on tile profile (S-tile, flat tile, barrel, Mission, French, shake) and fastening system (batten, direct-to-deck, mechanical fastening, mortar bedding). Flashing details at chimneys, skylights, and sidewalls demand specific technique to avoid leaks. And material sourcing — particularly for color-matching existing historic tile — requires relationships that general roofers don't have.
Our tile work covers the full range: new tile installations on new construction and re-roof projects; lift-and-relay restoration where existing tile is reused with new underlayment; selective tile replacement for damaged or broken tiles with color-matched stock; shingle-to-tile conversions with structural review; and specialized repair work for historic clay tile preservation. For South Bay homes with tile architecture, we're the roofer who knows the tile specifically — not just roofing generally.
Understanding Tile Roofing for San Jose Homes
Why Tile Works So Well in the Bay Area
Tile is a natural fit for the San Jose climate. Concrete and clay tile are Class A fire-rated by default — increasingly important as California insurance carriers scrutinize fire risk. Tile handles UV exposure better than most asphalt shingles, with 50+ year service life typical for concrete and 75+ years for clay. Tile's thermal mass provides some insulation benefit in summer heat. And for Spanish Revival, Mediterranean, Tuscan, and custom architecture styles, tile is the architecturally correct choice — asphalt shingle looks wrong on these buildings.
The single most important thing to understand about tile roofs is that the tile itself rarely fails. What fails is the underlayment beneath the tile — typically 30-year-life material installed with the original tile. On a 50-year-old tile roof, the tile may be in excellent condition while the underlayment has degraded completely. This is where the lift-and-relay option becomes valuable.
Lift-and-Relay: The Underlayment Restoration
A lift-and-relay is a restoration technique where we carefully remove existing tile (numbering courses for proper reinstallation), install new synthetic underlayment and flashings, and relay the original tile. Typical cost is 40-60% of a full tear-off and re-roof. For tile in good condition — no widespread cracking, consistent color, structural integrity — lift-and-relay is usually the right answer.
The process: tile removal by hand, numbering each course; deck inspection and repair as needed; installation of synthetic underlayment (Owens Corning Deck Defense, CertainTeed DiamondDeck) with proper laps and ice-and-water shield at valleys and penetrations; complete flashing renewal at chimneys, skylights, sidewalls, and all roof penetrations; batten replacement if the original batten system is present; and careful tile reinstallation using original tile plus color-matched replacement tiles for any that broke during removal. Typical project duration: 5-8 days for an average Bay Area tile home.
New Tile Installation
For new construction or full tear-off re-roofs, we work with homeowners on material selection — profile (S-tile for classic Spanish look, flat for modern Mediterranean, barrel for traditional clay, specialty profiles for custom projects), color (we bring physical samples to the estimate because digital color rendering is never accurate), and manufacturer (Monier Lifetile for broadest color availability, Eagle Roofing for clay, Ludowici for premium historic clay, Westlake Tile for cost-effective concrete options).
Installation involves: structural verification for weight capacity (engineering letter required for shingle-to-tile conversions); underlayment installation with proper detailing; flashing installation at all penetrations; batten installation (for batten-mount profiles) or direct-to-deck underlayment for direct-mount; mechanical fastening per manufacturer spec and wind-zone requirements; proper hip-and-ridge detailing with matching tile or field-fabricated profiles; and final waterproof testing for any complex flashing details.
Signs You Need
Tile Roofing
Existing Tile Is 25+ Years Old
Underlayment beneath concrete and clay tile typically has 30-year service life. Tile roofs at the 25-year mark are candidates for lift-and-relay evaluation — the tile is likely fine but the underlayment is approaching end-of-life.
Leaks Without Visible Tile Damage
Leaks on tile roofs where no tile is visibly broken or displaced typically indicate underlayment failure. This is a common scenario on 30-40 year old tile roofs and signals the need for lift-and-relay.
Broken or Missing Tiles
Scattered broken or missing tiles (from foot traffic, wind damage, or settling) can be selectively replaced with color-matched stock. We maintain access to legacy colors through our manufacturer relationships.
Converting from Shingle to Tile
For Spanish Revival or Mediterranean homes that have had tile replaced with shingle (often for cost reasons), converting back to tile restores architectural integrity. Requires structural engineering review.
New Construction
For new homes with tile-appropriate architecture, tile installation is the right call from day one. Working with your architect or builder, we install new tile systems as part of new construction.
Premium Long-Term Investment
For homeowners planning to stay in the home long-term, tile's 50-75+ year service life delivers the best total-cost-of-ownership despite higher upfront cost. Worth considering even when asphalt shingle would technically work.
Tile Brands
We Install
Monier Lifetile Concrete
Broadest color and profile availability in the South Bay. Spanish S-tile, flat tile, and specialty profiles. 50-year manufacturer warranty. Class A fire rated. The default choice for most Bay Area concrete tile installations.
Eagle Roofing Clay & Concrete
Strong Bay Area presence with both clay and concrete product lines. Wide color palette. Clay tile reaches 75+ year service life. Class A fire rated.
Westlake Tile (formerly Eaglelite)
Cost-effective concrete tile with Mediterranean-appropriate profiles. Good choice for budget-conscious tile installations that still need authentic aesthetic.
Ludowici Premium Clay
Century-plus heritage American clay tile manufacturer. Premium material for historic preservation work and high-end custom homes. Lifetime warranty. 100+ year service life realistic.
MCA Tile
Strong Bay Area clay tile presence with full color range. Quality match for Spanish and Mediterranean architecture at mid-to-premium price range.
European Clay (Sourced)
For historic preservation work requiring specific match, we source European clay tile (Italian, Spanish, French) directly. Extended lead times but unmatched historic accuracy.
How We Handle
Your Tile Roofing
Assessment & Material Selection
On-site evaluation of existing roof condition, structural capacity, and architectural context. We bring physical tile samples — multiple profiles, colors, and manufacturers — for comparison in natural light against your home.
Structural Review (If Needed)
For shingle-to-tile conversions or homes with questionable structural capacity, we coordinate engineering review. A structural letter from a licensed engineer confirms capacity to handle tile weight.
Permit & Scheduling
Building permit through your specific city's building department. Material ordering (tile is not typically kept in stock quantities — lead time 1-4 weeks depending on manufacturer and color).
Tear-Off or Lift-and-Relay Execution
Full tear-off projects: complete tile removal, deck inspection and repair, new underlayment and flashings, tile installation. Lift-and-relay: careful tile removal with course numbering, underlayment renewal, careful tile reinstallation.
Final Inspection & Warranty Registration
Building inspector final inspection. Manufacturer warranty registration. Documentation package delivery including permit records, warranty certificates, and maintenance recommendations.
Why Homeowners Choose Us
for Tile Roofing
Tile Specialty Experience
Tile is a specialty — most general roofers don't know tile specifics well. Our decades of tile work means we know profiles, fastening systems, flashing details, and installation sequences that tile-specific work requires.
Manufacturer Relationships
Monier Lifetile, Eagle Roofing, Ludowici, MCA, Westlake — we have working relationships with every major tile manufacturer. Access to legacy colors, faster lead times on standard profiles, and technical support on custom details.
Lift-and-Relay Expertise
Many contractors quote full tear-off when lift-and-relay is the better value. We evaluate honestly and recommend the right approach for your specific tile condition. Lift-and-relay saves significant money when appropriate.
Historic Preservation Sensitivity
For tile homes 80+ years old, preservation matters. We approach these projects with appropriate care — respect for the original architecture, sourcing for historically accurate replacement stock, and coordination with preservation boards where required.
Recent Tile Roofing
Projects
Projects Featuring
Our Tile Roofing Service
Real Keith Roofing projects where we delivered this service. Click any case study for the full story.
Evergreen Tile Fire Damage Repair
Fire-damage repair on a concrete tile roof with solar panel coordination and color-matched tile replacement.
View Case Study →
Robertsville Tile Replacement
Full concrete tile roof replacement on a Spanish Revival home with clay accent tile and new underlayment.
View Case Study →Almaden Tile Lift-and-Relay
Concrete tile lift-and-relay on a hillside home — preserved original tile, new underlayment, 30-year warranty.
View Case Study →