Services/Tile re-roof
Tile Re-Roofing across the Tucson metro.
Concrete and clay tile re-roofs across Tucson, Pima County, and Cochise County. We tear off the old underlayment, replace it with materials built for desert sun and monsoon cycles, and either relay your existing tiles or install new ones. Drone-inspected from start to finish.
- Free estimate within 24 hours
- Family-owned · Tucson · Since 2014
- 1,000+ roofs across Pima & Cochise County
- Drone-inspected — start to finish
- Federal: Fort Huachuca · Sierra Vista AFB · Tucson VA
In short
Tile re-roofing in the Tucson metro is the work of replacing the underlayment beneath your concrete or clay tiles — the membrane that does the actual waterproofing. Most Tucson tile roofs need this done at the 20–25 year mark, when the felt below has failed but the tiles themselves are still sound. We salvage your original tiles, install Polystick TU MAX or Polyglass underlayment rated for Sonoran heat, replace all flashing, and relay the originals — usually 4–7 working days for a residential job.
- Lifespan
- Underlayment 20–25 years · Tiles 50+ years
- Typical job
- 4–7 working days, full tear-off and underlayment replacement
- Best fit for
- Tile roofs 20+ years old where the tiles are still sound
Plain English
Tile re-roofing, in plain English.
A tile re-roof replaces the underlayment beneath your tiles — the membrane that does the actual waterproofing. The visible clay or concrete tiles often last 50+ years in the Tucson sun, but the underlayment beneath usually fails at the 20–25 year mark. When that happens, the tiles look fine but water gets through. A tile re-roof is the long-term fix.
Local conditions
Tucson tile is its own thing.
Three things from the field —
- I
Monsoon is uniquely punishing.
Underlayment that survives 30 years in Phoenix or California can fail at 20 in Tucson — the combination of UV, temperature swings, wind-driven rain, and microbursts is harder on roofing than almost any other climate. Felt that lasted 30 years in the 1980s won't survive the 2020s here.
- II
Tiles outlast the felt below them.
Concrete tiles last 50+ years; the felt below them lasts 20–25. Most Tucson tile roofs need underlayment replacement, not full tile replacement — the tiles look fine, the felt is done. Salvaging the originals costs less, preserves the original look, and respects the architecture of these neighborhoods.
- III
Whole neighborhoods are aging out at once.
Most master-planned tile subdivisions across the metro — Continental Ranch, Rancho Sahuarita, Rancho Vistoso, Madera Highlands, Sun City Oro Valley, Catalina Foothills Estates — were built between 1995 and 2012 in tight build windows. Entire neighborhoods are hitting underlayment failure simultaneously now. We're working a steady stream of these every week.
Signs to call
When tile work is overdue.
- 01Your tiles are 20+ years old and you've never replaced the underlayment.
- 02You're seeing leaks, ceiling stains, or water damage despite intact tiles.
- 03A drone or roof inspection found cracked underlayment, exposed felt, or failed flashing.
- 04Tiles are slipping, broken, or showing wear at ridge lines and valleys.
- 05You're selling and need a roof certification or insurance-required reroof.
Our approach
How a tile re-roof goes.
Step-by-step from inspection to walkthrough — the approach we follow on every job.
- 01
Drone inspection first — we don't walk on your tiles to assess them. You see the same footage we do, and we point out exactly what's failing and what isn't.
- 02
We salvage your existing tiles when they're sound — saves you money and matches the original look. If tiles need replacement, we source matching profiles.
- 03
Full tear-off down to the deck, then new underlayment installed per manufacturer spec. We use Polyglass and Polystick TU MAX systems built for the Sonoran climate.
- 04
All flashing replaced — chimney, vents, valleys, transitions. Old flashing is often where leaks actually start, even on roofs that look fine.
- 05
Ridge and hip caps reset with mortar where appropriate. Walkthrough at the end with you on the ground and us on the roof, showing what we did.
The spec
What we use, what shapes the price.
Timeline —Typical residential tile re-roof: 4–7 working days from tear-off to walkthrough, weather permitting. Larger or more complex roofs (multi-pitch, heavy tile, custom flashing details) can run 10–14 days. We give you a calendar timeline with the quote.
What affects the cost —
- 01
Roof size and pitch — bigger and steeper take longer and need more fall protection.
- 02
Tile salvage rate — sound tiles we can reuse cut material cost significantly.
- 03
Flashing complexity — number of penetrations, chimneys, valleys, and skylights.
- 04
Underlayment spec — Polystick TU MAX runs higher than basic felt but lasts much longer in Tucson sun.
Tile re-roof mistakes other contractors make — what we watch for and don't do.
Walking on tile to inspect it.
Most contractors still walk tile roofs to assess them. On 25-year-old concrete tile in Tucson sun, walking the surface cracks tiles that were perfectly sound. We've seen homeowners get charged for repairs to tile damage caused by the inspector. Drone-first inspection avoids this entirely — we fly the whole roof and you see the same footage we do.
Layering new underlayment over old.
Some contractors save labor by installing new underlayment over the existing damaged felt — sometimes called 'overlayment.' It's faster and cheaper but it traps moisture, voids manufacturer warranties on the new material, and shortens the life of the new underlayment by years. The right move on any Tucson tile re-roof is a full tear-off down to the deck.
Using basic 30-lb felt as the new underlayment.
Felt is the cheapest option and meets minimum code, but basic 30-lb felt has been failing at 15–20 years in Tucson. Polystick TU MAX (self-adhered modified bitumen rated for Sonoran heat and UV) costs more up front but lasts 30+ years. We default to TU MAX because we've watched what survives August in this climate and what doesn't.
Skipping the flashing replacement.
Old flashing — chimney transitions, vent boots, valley flashing, ridge cap mortar — is where leaks usually start, even on roofs where the underlayment is mostly sound. Some re-roof quotes skip flashing replacement to come in low. We replace all flashing as part of any tile re-roof. The price difference is modest; the leak prevention is real.
“A Tucson tile roof is almost always two roofs in one — the tiles you see, which last 50+ years, and the felt below, which doesn't. Most homeowners think they're paying for new tiles. They're paying for what's underneath.”
Recent work
From the field.
Tile re-roof, common questions.
The questions we hear most before homeowners sign — pricing, timing, materials, warranty.
01Can you reuse my existing tiles?
Usually, yes — concrete and clay tiles often outlast the underlayment by decades. We salvage everything that's sound and replace only what's broken or worn. This keeps the cost down and preserves the original look of your roof.
02How long does a tile re-roof take?
Most residential jobs run 4–7 working days. Larger homes or more complex roof shapes can take 10–14 days. We give you a written timeline with the quote and update you if anything shifts.
03Will I need to leave the house during the re-roof?
No. Tile re-roofs happen entirely from outside. There's noise (a lot of it on tear-off days) but you can stay in the home. We work standard daytime hours and clean up nail debris with magnets at the end of every day.
04Do you handle insurance claims for tile damage?
Yes. We provide drone footage and a written assessment that supports the claim, work directly with adjusters, and document everything. We don't oversell repairs you don't need just because insurance is paying.
05What's the difference between tile re-roofing and tile replacement?
Tile re-roofing replaces the underlayment beneath your tiles while keeping the original tiles intact. Tile replacement means replacing the actual tiles too — usually only needed when the tiles themselves are broken, fractured, or in profiles that no longer match what's available. Most Tucson tile roofs need re-roofing, not replacement, because the tiles outlast the underlayment by decades.
06Should I worry about my Tucson tile roof if it's only 15 years old?
It's worth a drone inspection. Tile underlayment in the Tucson climate typically fails between year 20 and 25, but accelerated wear can push that earlier — homes with extreme sun exposure, monsoon damage history, or marginal original installation can need work at 15–18 years. A drone inspection at 15 tells you whether you have 5 more years or 5 more weeks. Free with any quoted work.
07Can I switch tile profiles or colors during a re-roof?
Yes, but most homeowners don't. Switching profiles or colors changes the visual character of your home — and in HOA-bound communities (Continental Ranch, Rancho Sahuarita, Stone Canyon, Saddlebrooke One/Two, etc.) requires architectural review. We salvage your existing tiles by default. If you want to change the look, that's a separate conversation about sourcing, cost, and HOA approval timeline.
08What happens if you find rotted decking during tear-off?
We replace it. Decking issues on Tucson tile roofs are usually found at chimney transitions, valleys, or where prior leaks weren't caught — visible from tear-off but not from inspection. We give you a unit price for sheathing replacement up front in the itemized quote, document any decking work with photos, and bill only for what's actually replaced. No surprise invoices.
Where we work
Tile re-roof across the metro.
Pima County metro — click a city for area-specific work patterns, HOA standards, and recent jobs.
Reviewed by —Efren CoronadoOwner & lead estimator, Coronado Roofing. Tucson roofer since 2014. Personally inspected over 1,000 roofs across Pima County, including hundreds of tile re-roofs in master-planned communities and older custom homes. FAA Part 107 drone-certified.
Last updated —
Other services
What else we do.
Same crew, same drone-first inspection, same materials — across every kind of roof we work.
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