O'Brien Contracting installs, repairs and replaces tile roofing systems for Florida homeowners and property owners. Tile itself is durable, but a Florida tile roof is only as sound as the underlayment beneath it. Most tile roof "failures" here are underlayment failures, not tile failures — the tile can often be lifted, stacked and reset over new underlayment.
Tile Roofing systems we install
Concrete tile — flat, low-profile and high-profile "S" barrel profiles, the most common tile in Florida
Clay tile — traditional barrel tile, heavier price point, holds color longer than pigmented concrete
Foam-set (adhesive-set) systems — widely used in Florida in place of full mechanical attachment
Mechanically fastened systems — screws or nails with clips, spec dictated by wind zone
Florida code and wind-zone requirements
Tile attachment in Florida follows FRSA/TRI installation standards referenced by the Florida Building Code, with the specific attachment method tied to the wind zone and roof height. HVHZ counties require additional approvals.
What this system does well
Long-lived surface material that resists UV better than asphalt
Well suited to Mediterranean, Spanish and coastal Florida architecture, and often required by HOA or deed restriction
Air space under the tile helps reduce heat transfer into the attic
Individual broken tiles can be replaced without redoing the field
Trade-offs to weigh
Heavy — the structure has to be able to carry the load, which matters on re-roofs converting from shingle
Underlayment typically ages out before the tile does, driving a lift-and-relay or full replacement
Foot traffic cracks tile, so satellite installers, pressure washers and untrained trades cause damage
Higher labor cost and longer install time than shingle
