Roof types
Barrel Tile Roofs in Palm Beach County
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Clay and concrete barrel
Barrel tile roof repair and replacement
A barrel tile roof is laid in rounded tiles, the curved look of Spanish and Mediterranean-style houses, and Molsbee Roofing repairs and replaces barrel tile roofs across Palm Beach County. Barrel tile comes in clay or concrete. Terracotta clay barrel is the signature of the Mediterranean Revival houses, from the island of Palm Beach to El Cid in West Palm Beach and Old Town in Lake Worth Beach, and of the estates and older homes near the water. Barrel takes more pieces and more hand work at the hips and ridges than a flat profile, and like any tile roof, it's the underlayment under it that wears out first. On sound clay barrel tile we can often lift the tile, replace the underlayment and reset the same tile. Family-run since 1975, from our shop in Lake Worth Beach. Free inspection, price in writing. The phone is answered 24 hours a day at 561-318-8624.
- 1975roofing here since
- 200+Google reviews, 4.8
- CCC1327429Florida licensed
Barrel tile
The curved tile, and what it asks of a roof
Clay or concrete, reset or new, and why the profile matters.
Clay barrel or concrete barrel
Clay barrel is fired, so the color runs all the way through and stays. It's lighter than concrete and costs more. Concrete barrel costs less, weighs more and takes foot traffic better, but its color sits on the surface. If the house was built with clay, stay with clay. We bring samples of both to the inspection.
Detach and reset on clay barrel
When the underlayment wears out under clay barrel tile that is still sound, you may not need new tile. We lift the tile, stack the sound pieces, renew the underlayment and flashings and reset the same tile, which keeps the look of the house. Concrete barrel, tile cracked across whole slopes or a profile that's no longer made means new tile.
Why barrel takes more work
Barrel tile takes more pieces and more hand work at the hips and ridges than a flat profile, and the ridges and hips are set in mortar or foam. That's where barrel roofs show their age first, along with the valleys and the flashings where tile meets a wall or a chimney. It's also why the profile shows up on the price.
Historic districts and HOAs
Matching profile and color is often required. Boca Raton's Old Floresta guideline prefers straight barrel mission tile in terracotta, and the Town of Palm Beach Architectural Commission looks closely at roof tile profile. Many HOAs set the profile and color too. We check what applies before we price, so the tile you order is the tile that gets approved.
Before you replace barrel tile
Reset, match and approve
- Count the sound tile
On clay barrel, the tile worth keeping decides whether a reset makes sense.
- Match the profile
A discontinued barrel profile is the usual reason for new tile.
- Approvals first
Historic boards and HOAs can set the profile and color.
- Ridges and hips
Mortar or foam at the ridges and hips is part of every barrel roof.
From inspection to barrel tile
- 1
Free inspection
We lift tile at chosen points, photograph the underlayment and flashings, and count the tile worth keeping.
- 2
Written price
Reset and new tile priced side by side, with the permit and any approvals named.
- 3
The work
Tile lifted and stacked, deck checked, new underlayment and flashings, then the tile set to the Florida Building Code for your wind zone.
- 4
Final check
Ridges, hips and valleys inspected, the county inspection passed and the warranties registered.
Why Molsbee
Barrel tile roofing since 1975
- Tile work since 1975
Three generations of our family have roofed Palm Beach County.
- Photos of the underlayment
We show you the waterproof layer before the tile goes back on.
- Manufacturer warranties in writing
The tile and underlayment warranties come to you on paper.
- Florida Certified Roofing Contractor CCC1327429
The county inspects the work along the way.
All tile roofs
Tile roofing in Palm Beach County.
Concrete and clay tile, the underlayment under it, and how we put a tile roof on.
Tile roofing
Service areas
Barrel tile roofs across the county
Barrel tile repair and replacement for homes across Palm Beach County.
Barrel tile takes more pieces and hand work than a flat profile, and clay costs more than concrete. Resetting sound clay barrel over new underlayment takes most of the new-tile purchase off the price.
All service areas ↗
Barrel tile, explained
Frequently asked questions.
Can my barrel tile be reused?
On clay barrel tile that is still sound, often yes: we lift it, replace the underlayment and reset the same tile. Breakage on the lift and a discontinued profile are the usual limits. Concrete barrel tile is priced as new tile over new underlayment.
Why does a barrel tile roof cost more than a flat tile roof?
The profile. Barrel tile takes more pieces and more hand work at the hips and ridges than a flat profile. The pitch, the number of hips and valleys and how much deck repair is found move the rest. On sound clay barrel, resetting your own tile over new underlayment usually costs less than new tile, because the tile is already paid for.
Does barrel tile help with the heat?
It can. Barrel and S-tile sit above the deck with an air space under each piece, and that space lets heat move off before it reaches the underlayment. Your attic insulation and vents matter too, and we look at them during the free inspection.
Can a cracked barrel tile be repaired?
Yes. A cracked or slipped piece, mortar gone at a ridge or a valley that has let go is a repair. We match the profile and color as close as we can and photograph the work. Our crews wear protective, safe footwear on tile, because the wrong trade walking a clay barrel roof can crack it.
What does the free barrel tile inspection check?
A Molsbee roofer lifts tile at chosen points, photographs the underlayment, the valleys and the flashings, checks the mortar or foam at the ridges and hips, and counts the tile worth keeping. You get the photos and a written price for each route that fits your roof. The phone is answered 24 hours a day at 561-318-8624.
Get a free roof inspection.
Free inspection. Written price before anyone starts.