Roof types · Tile, slate and synthetic
Tile, slate and synthetic roofs
Concrete and clay tile roofs are rare here outside a few 1980s and 90s subdivisions and Mediterranean-style homes, mostly because of weight and cost. Natural slate is rarer still. What's growing is the synthetic category: moulded composite or rubber shakes and slates from Brava, Euroshield, DaVinci and Enviroshake that give the look of cedar or slate with a 50-year life, Class A fire rating and the weight of asphalt. Too few local roofers publish tile prices to quote a reliable range, so tile is a quote-required roof.
- Installed
- $12 to $22 per sq ft (synthetic)
- Lifespan here
- About 50 years for synthetic and concrete tile, longer for slate
- Upkeep
- Low
- Upkeep cost
- Occasional cleaning; replacing cracked tiles
Common brands and products: Brava, Euroshield, DaVinci Roofscapes, Enviroshake; concrete tile from Boral and Eagle; natural slate
Pros
What it does well
- Synthetic shakes and slates last 50 years with Class A fire ratings
- Keep the cedar or slate look on a character house
- Light enough to replace shingles or cedar without structural work
- Concrete tile is very long-lived where the structure supports it
- Resists moss better than cedar
Cons
What to weigh up
- Tile and slate are heavy; most houses built for shingles can't carry them without engineering
- Few local roofers install tile, so quotes are scarce and pricing isn't published
- Cracked tiles and failed underlayment are expensive to chase
- Synthetic products vary a lot in quality and track record
- Premium price in every case
In our climate
Weight, water and the roof under the roof
Tile roofs rely on the underlayment as much as the tile: water gets under tile in wind-driven rain and the membrane carries it to the eaves. On a 30-year-old tile roof here the tiles are usually fine and the underlayment is finished, which means lifting and relaying the whole roof. Concrete tile also weighs several times what shingles do, so switching to tile from shingles needs an engineer's sign-off.
Synthetic shakes and slates avoid the weight problem and were designed for wet climates: they don't absorb water, moss has little to root into, and the better products carry 50-year warranties and Class 4 impact ratings. They're the usual answer when a Fort Langley or Shaughnessy owner wants to keep the cedar look without the cedar maintenance.
Rough budget
2,000 sq ft of tile and synthetic
- Installed, typical range
- $24,000 to $44,000
- Per square foot
- $12 to $22 per sq ft (synthetic)
- Same roof in asphalt shingles
- $11,000 to $19,000
Before tear-off extras, plywood repairs, permits and GST. Steep or cut-up roofs cost more.
Price your own roof →Questions
Tile, slate and synthetic questions
Can my house take a tile roof?
Concrete and clay tile weigh several times what shingles do. A house built for shingles or cedar needs an engineer's assessment before tile. Synthetic shakes and slates weigh about what shingles do and don't need structural work.
How long do synthetic shakes last?
The better products carry 50-year limited warranties, Class A fire ratings and class 4 impact ratings. Track records vary by brand, so ask for installations in the Lower Mainland that are at least ten years old.
Why is tile pricing so hard to find?
Few Lower Mainland roofers install new tile roofs, so almost none publish prices. Expect to request quotes rather than estimate from a range.
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