Can My Home Handle a Tile Roof?

Here’s What We Check First.

Tile roofs are beautiful, long-lasting, and durable—but they’re also heavy. If you're thinking about installing one, the first step is making sure your home can support it safely.

At The Roof Champion of Columbus, we never guess. Here's how we determine if your home is tile-ready.

1. We Evaluate the Structure of Your Roof

Tile roofing adds significantly more weight than asphalt shingles. So before anything else, we inspect:

• Trusses or rafters
  We check for size, spacing, condition, and load capacity.

• Roof pitch
  Steeper pitches can handle weight differently. We’ll confirm your slope meets tile standards and wind uplift requirements per current IRC and TRI Alliance guidelines.

• Decking
  We inspect for sheathing type, thickness, and fastening method. Tile requires a strong, stable base.

2. We Bring in a Structural Engineer When Needed

If your home’s framing looks borderline or uncertain, we don’t risk it.

We partner with licensed structural engineers to review the load calculations and make reinforcement recommendations if necessary.

3. We Include Reinforcement in Your Estimate

If extra support is needed—such as adding bracing or thicker decking—we’ll include that in your roofing estimate. No surprises.

We won’t install a tile roof until your structure is 100% ready.

4. Your Safety Always Comes First

Installing a tile roof on an underbuilt structure isn’t just a risk to your home. It’s a risk to your family. And we won’t take that chance.

That’s why every tile roof we install in Columbus, Powell, Dublin, and surrounding areas is evaluated thoroughly before we ever load a pallet of tile on your roof.

FAQs

How heavy is a tile roof compared to asphalt shingles?

Tile roofs can weigh 2-3 times more than standard asphalt shingles. Asphalt weighs about 2.5–4 pounds per square foot, while concrete tile can weigh 8–12 pounds per square foot.

Can my roof be reinforced to handle tile?

Yes. If your framing is undersized, we can reinforce it with engineered upgrades. We'll handle everything—from inspection to installation.

What types of tile roofs are available?

We offer concrete and clay tiles in a wide range of profiles and colors. Many options mimic slate or shake for a custom look with tile performance.

Need help figuring out if your home is tile-ready?

Give Travis a call at (614) 639-3422 or visit us at www.roofchampcolumbus.com to schedule a free inspection.