Roof types
Tile Roofs in Palm Beach County
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Concrete and clay
Concrete and clay tile roof replacement
Tile is the roof most of Palm Beach County was built with. Drive through Wellington or Boca Raton and you'll see it on nearly every house. Concrete or clay, it stands up to our sun and wind better than anything else we put on a home. Here's the thing most folks don't know. The tile almost never fails. The underlayment under it does. That's the waterproof layer that actually keeps the rain out, and after enough years of attic heat it dries out and cracks. So a tile roof can look perfect from the street and still be leaking into your ceiling. We're Molsbee Roofing. Three generations of our family have been roofing here since 1975, and tile is what we do most. Every tile roof gets the same treatment: tear off, check the wood, new underlayment, new tile, permitted and inspected by the county. The inspection is free and the price comes in writing. The phone is answered 24 hours a day at 561-318-8624.
- 1975tile roofs since
- 200+Google reviews, 4.8
- CCC1327429Florida licensed
Concrete and clay
Tile roofs in Florida: profiles and underlayment
Concrete and clay are the main choices. The underlayment beneath either one keeps the rain out.
Concrete tile
Concrete costs less than clay, weighs more, and takes a man walking on it better. The color is a coating on the surface, so it fades a little over the years and can grow algae on the shady side. A wash brings it back. Most HOA neighborhoods in Wellington, Jupiter and the Gardens want tile, and many want the same profile and color the street was built with. We bring samples that match. Concrete is the tile we install most, and for most houses it's the right call.
Clay tile
Clay is fired, so the color goes all the way through and stays for the life of the roof. It's lighter than concrete, which matters on an older house. It's the true barrel look you see on the estates and the older homes near the water. It costs more and it's brittle underfoot, so the wrong trade walking your roof can crack it. On the right house it's a roof that will outlive you.
Why the underlayment matters
When a tile roof leaks here, it's almost never the tile. It's the layer under it. Old roofs have felt paper that has dried out and cracked. A proper re-roof strips down to the wood, replaces any rot, and lays a self-adhered underlayment before one tile goes back on. We take pictures of that layer before we cover it up, and it's its own line on your price so you can see it was done.
How we put on a tile roof
Tear off. Check every sheet of wood and replace what's soft. Self-adhered underlayment across the whole roof. Then the tile, set to the Florida Building Code for your wind zone, with flashing at every wall, valley and pipe. The county inspects it along the way. Done right the first time, so you don't have to think about it again.
Planning a tile replacement
HOA approval and deck condition
- Tile and the weather
Concrete and clay stand up to our sun and wind.
- The layer under the tile
Underlayment keeps the rain out, even when the tile looks sound.
- Community approval
Match the profile and color your HOA allows before ordering.
- Deck condition
Soft wood comes out before the new underlayment goes on.
From tear-off to tile
- 1
Free inspection
We check the structure for tile load, then talk through profiles and colors that fit your home.
- 2
Written quote
Tile samples, colors, underlayment spec and timeline in writing. We handle permits and HOA approvals.
- 3
Install
We lay self-adhered underlayment, then set the tile and flashing to the Florida Building Code for your wind zone.
- 4
Final check and warranty
Tile alignment, flashing and ridge caps inspected. Warranties registered before we close out.
Why Molsbee
A tile roofing contractor 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 covers it.
- 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.
Full replacement
Roof replacement and installation.
Full roof replacement starts with a free inspection and a written price for your house.
Roof replacement & installation
Service areas
Tile roofs in county neighborhoods
Tile roof installation for homes across Palm Beach County.
Tile sits at the top end of what a full roof costs here. Clay runs more than concrete. The free inspection gets you the price for your house in writing.
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Tile roofing, explained
Frequently asked questions.
How long does a tile roof last in Florida?
The tile itself lasts for decades. Concrete goes a long time and clay goes longer still. The underlayment under it wears out first, and that's what sets the real life of the roof. When the underlayment goes, the roof gets redone even if the tile still looks fine.
What is a tile roof underlayment replacement?
It's a re-roof where we lift the tile, strip the old underlayment down to the wood, lay new self-adhered underlayment, and set tile back on. Sometimes the old tile can go back if the profile is still made and it comes up clean. Most of the time new tile is the safer bet. We'll tell you which after we walk it.
Concrete tile or clay 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. Concrete is heavier and holds up to foot traffic. We bring samples of both to the inspection.
Shingle vs tile for a Palm Beach County home?
Shingle costs less up front and gives you a good couple of decades. Tile costs more, weighs more, and lasts a lot longer, and in most neighborhoods here it's what the house was built with. Both pass the wind code when they're installed right. If your HOA has a say, check before you switch. We price both so you can see the gap.
Can a tile roof be repaired instead of replaced?
Often, yes. Cracked or slipped tiles, a bad valley or a flashing that has let go are repairs, and we keep the common profiles on the truck. If the underlayment has gone across the whole roof, a patch only buys you a little time. We'll show you the photos so you can see which one you've got. The inspection is free either way, and the phone is answered 24 hours a day at 561-318-8624.
Get a free roof inspection.
Free inspection. Written price before anyone starts.