Clay Tile Roofs in Palm Beach County

Fired clay tile

Clay tile roof repair and replacement

A clay tile roof is fired clay tile laid over a waterproof underlayment, and Molsbee Roofing repairs and replaces clay tile roofs across Palm Beach County. Clay is the true barrel look 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. The color is fired all the way through, so it weathers slowly instead of wearing off. The tile itself rarely fails. The underlayment under it does, and on sound clay tile that often means you can keep your tile: we lift it, replace the underlayment and reset the same tile. We're a family company, roofing Palm Beach County since 1975 from our shop in Lake Worth Beach. The inspection is free and the price comes in writing. The phone is answered 24 hours a day at 561-318-8624.

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Long rows of white tile-roofed homes following a canal beside a golf course

Clay tile

Keep the tile, renew what's under it

On clay, the tile usually outlasts the layer under it. Here's how we handle both.

What clay tile is

Clay tile is fired, so the color goes all the way through the tile and stays. It's lighter than concrete, which matters on an older house, and it costs more. It's brittle underfoot, so the wrong trade walking your roof can crack it. Some clay tile carries a glaze or surface finish on top, which is worth knowing when you need to match an older roof.

Detach and reset

When the underlayment under sound clay tile wears out, you may not need new tile. We lift the tile, stack the sound pieces, replace the underlayment and flashings, and reset the same tile, so the roof keeps its look and its color. Breakage on the lift and a profile that's no longer made are the usual limits, and then new tile is the right answer.

Clay tile repairs

A cracked or slipped tile, a valley that has let go or mortar gone at a ridge or hip is a repair, not a new roof. We match the profile and color as close as we can, set the tile back and photograph the work so you can see what was done. If the underlayment has gone across the whole roof, a patch only buys time, and we'll show you the photos.

Historic districts and approvals

Clay holds its color and suits historic districts, where matching the profile and color is often required. The Town of Palm Beach Architectural Commission looks closely at roof tile profile, and Boca Raton's Old Floresta guideline prefers straight barrel mission tile in terracotta. Many HOAs set the profile and color too. We check what applies to your house before we price it.

Before you replace clay

Profile, color and approvals

Match the profile
Clay comes in barrel, S and flat profiles. A repair or a reset keeps the one your house has.
Match the color
Fired color stays, so new pieces have to blend with tile that has weathered.
Approvals first
Historic boards and HOAs can set the profile and color before anything is ordered.
The layer under the tile
Underlayment keeps the rain out, even when the tile still looks sound.

White tile roofs on several rows of low homes separated by tree-lined streets and lawns

From inspection to reset

Oblique view along a row of pale tile roofs beside a winding canal and golf greens

1
Free inspection
We lift tile at chosen points, photograph the underlayment and flashings, and count the tile worth keeping.
2
Written price
Resetting your tile and new tile, priced side by side in writing, 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, valleys and flashings inspected, the county inspection passed and the warranties registered.

Why Molsbee

Clay tile roofing since 1975

Tile work since 1975
Three generations of our family have roofed Palm Beach County.
Photos of what's under the tile
We show you the underlayment 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.

Roof inspection

White roofs on paired homes between a canal and a golf fairway with sand bunkers

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

Pale tile hip roof on a blue-gray house behind a circular drive, broad lawn and two large palms

Gray tile roof on a two-story house with palms and a lawn in Royal Palm Beach, photographed May 2023

Service areas

Clay tile roofs across the county

Clay tile repair and replacement for homes across Palm Beach County.

Clay costs more than concrete. On sound clay tile, resetting your own tile over new underlayment takes most of the new-tile purchase off the price.

All service areas ↗

Gray tile roof with rounded rear bays above a pool and circular spa on a house between neighboring roofs in Bocaire, Boca Raton, completed October 2024

Clay tile, explained

Frequently asked questions.

How long does a clay tile roof last?

The clay tile itself lasts for decades. The underlayment under it wears out first, and that sets the real life of the roof. When the underlayment goes on a sound clay roof, resetting the same tile over new underlayment is often a better route than new tile.

Does resetting my clay tile cost less than new tile?

Usually, yes, because the tile is already paid for. Resetting your own sound clay tile over new underlayment takes most of the new-tile purchase off the price. The deck repairs found when the tile comes up, the flashings and how many pieces break on the lift move the number. You get both routes priced in writing.

Clay or concrete tile for my house?

If the house was built with clay, stay with clay. If it was built with concrete, concrete is the sensible choice unless you want the look and the structure can take the change. Clay is lighter and costs more and keeps its color. Concrete is heavier and takes foot traffic better. We bring samples of both to the inspection.

Can a house built for shingle take clay tile?

Tile is heavier than shingle, so switching a shingle house to tile needs an engineer to confirm the structure first. Clay is lighter than concrete, but it still adds weight. If your community has rules on roof look and color, check with the association too. We walk it with you at the free inspection.

What does the free inspection check on a clay tile roof?

A Molsbee roofer lifts tile at chosen points, photographs the underlayment, the valleys and the flashings, checks the mortar at the ridges and hips, and counts the tile worth keeping. Our crews wear protective, safe footwear on tile. You get the photos and a written price for resetting your tile or for new tile. The phone is answered 24 hours a day at 561-318-8624.