Tile roofing is the premium end of residential roofing, chosen for its distinctive look and a lifespan that can run 50 years or more. Active Roofing installs clay, concrete, and slate tile roofing for homes across Surrey, the Lower Mainland, and all over BC, with the structural assessment, underlayment, and installation detail that a heavy roofing material requires. If you want a roof built to last generations and a look that stands apart, tile is worth considering.
Free, no-obligation. We inspect, then quote in writing.
🔒 Free & no-obligation · Residential & commercial
A tile roof transforms a home’s character and adds a distinctive, long-lasting finish. See the difference a properly installed tile system makes.
Tile roofing is not one material. Each type has a different look, weight, and cost, and the right choice depends on your home and your priorities.
The traditional tile roofing material, known for its distinctive colour and shape, and a lifespan that can reach 75 to 100 years. Clay tile is often chosen for custom and architecturally distinctive homes. It is lighter than concrete tile but still a heavy roofing material that most homes need assessed for structural capacity before installation.
Traditional · 75–100 yrsA more affordable alternative to clay with a similar look and strong durability, typically lasting 40 to 60 years. Concrete tile is heavier than clay, so structural reinforcement is even more likely to be needed. It resists wind, fire, and salt air well, making it a solid choice for coastal properties.
Value · 40–60 yrs · coastalNatural slate offers exceptional durability and a distinctive, textured look, but it is heavy and comes at a premium cost. Synthetic slate, made from recycled rubber or composite materials, gives a similar appearance at a fraction of the weight, which can avoid the need for structural reinforcement altogether while staying eco-friendly and durable.
Premium · lightweight optionTile roofing can last 50 to 100 years or more, far beyond asphalt shingles or even metal roofing.
Tile gives a home a look that few other roofing materials can match.
Clay and concrete tile are non-combustible.
A higher upfront cost is offset by decades of service life with minimal replacement.
Well-installed tile resists wind, UV exposure, and general wear better than most roofing materials.
Tile is a heavy roofing material, often three to four times the weight of asphalt shingles per square foot. Most homes built for asphalt or wood roofing are not automatically able to support that added weight without an assessment. Before recommending tile for your home, we look at your existing roof structure and tell you honestly whether it can support the tile you want or whether reinforcement is needed first.
This is not a step to skip. It is why we include a structural assessment as part of every tile roofing estimate, rather than quoting a tile roof and leaving that question for later. Synthetic slate is worth considering specifically if avoiding reinforcement costs matters to your budget, since it gives a tile-like look at a much lighter weight.
Tile performs differently than asphalt or metal in our wet, freeze-thaw climate, and material choice matters. Concrete tile handles freeze-thaw conditions and coastal moisture well. Clay and natural slate can be more sensitive to certain freeze-thaw and moisture conditions depending on the specific product and installation. We help you choose a tile material and finish suited to Surrey’s climate during your estimate, rather than assuming one type of tile performs the same everywhere it is sold.
Tile roofing is most often chosen for custom homes, architecturally distinctive properties, and homeowners planning to stay long-term who want a roof that will outlast several generations of asphalt or even metal roofing. We work with homeowners and builders across Surrey on both new tile installations and tile roof replacements, matching existing tile where needed for renovations and additions.
We inspect your roof structure and discuss which tile material fits your home and budget.
If your roof framing needs upgrading to support tile, we address that before installation begins.
A high-quality, durable underlayment goes down first, since it is the roof’s real defence against water intrusion.
Tiles are installed to manufacturer specification, with proper batten spacing, fastening, and flashing at every valley, edge, and penetration.
We review the completed roof with you before the job is considered done.
Tile roofing in Surrey typically costs $15 to $30 per square foot installed, depending on the tile material and roof complexity. Here’s a general guide by material:
What pushes the price up: a steep or multi-story roof requiring extra safety equipment and labour, structural reinforcement to support tile’s added weight, and BC Building Code requirements around heavy rain load and seismic considerations that can affect installation methods. Concrete tile is generally the more affordable option; clay and slate cost more depending on the specific product.
These are general market ranges, not a quote every roof and material choice is different. After a free on-site inspection and structural assessment, we’ll give you the final quote in writing.
Active Roofing installs clay, concrete, and slate tile roofing across Surrey, the Lower Mainland, and all over BC. For a free, no-obligation estimate and structural assessment, call or text us at (604) 765-0903.
