Concrete Tile Roofs in Florida: How They Are Made, Installed and Why Underlayment Fails First

Last reviewed September 27, 2026

How concrete tile is made

Eagle Roofing, a major Florida tile maker, makes its tile from sand, cement, water and iron oxide for color. The mix is pressed into molds, cured in a kiln for about four hours, and sealed with a water-based masonry sealer. Eagle’s tile must meet a minimum break strength of 300 psi.

How heavy it is

Installed weight for Eagle standard-weight tile runs about 900 to 970 pounds per 100 square feet. Lightweight tile runs about 550 to 720 pounds. For comparison, InterNACHI lists architectural shingles at 250 to 300 pounds per square. If you are switching a home from shingles to tile, have the framing checked first.

The underlayment is the real roof

Florida’s tile installation manual describes a tile roof as a highly effective water-shedding assembly. The tile sheds most of the rain and protects what is underneath, but the underlayment is what keeps water out of the house. That is why many Florida tile roofs are redone because the underlayment wore out while the tiles still looked fine. A tile reset (lifting the tile, replacing the underlayment, and relaying the same tile) is sometimes possible.

How tile is attached in Florida

The FRSA-TRI Florida High Wind Concrete and Clay Tile Installation Manual, 7th Edition, is the current manual and lines up with the 2023 Florida Building Code. It allows three attachment methods:

Mechanical fasteners: nails or screws.
Adhesive foam: the foam product must carry Florida product approval.
Mortar: must be factory premixed and bagged.

Underlayment options include a single-ply self-adhered membrane, two-ply systems with a base sheet and cap sheet, or mechanically attached membranes that pass specified tests.

What hurricanes taught about tile

After Hurricane Charley (2004), FEMA found that mortar-set tile was much more likely to be damaged than other attachment methods, and that mortar-set hip and ridge tiles were very prone to blowing off.
FEMA also warned that loose tiles become missiles that can travel far and break through shutters and windows.
FEMA’s Hurricane Ian team found displaced hip and ridge caps were the most common damage on every roof type.

Living with a tile roof

The tile manual says everyone on the job must be warned against walking on the finished roof. Tiles crack under foot traffic, so hire a pro for inspections.
Ask how hip and ridge tiles are attached. FEMA recommends ridge boards with screws rather than mortar alone.
Near the ocean, FEMA recommends hot-dipped galvanized or stainless fasteners within 3,000 feet of the water.

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Frequently asked questions

How much does a concrete tile roof weigh?

Eagle’s standard-weight concrete tile runs about 900 to 970 pounds per 100 square feet installed, and its lightweight tile about 550 to 720 pounds.

Why do tile roofs leak if the tiles look fine?

The tile sheds water, but the underlayment beneath it is what keeps the house dry. When the underlayment ages out, the roof can leak even with good tiles.

Is mortar-set tile safe in hurricanes?

FEMA found after Hurricane Charley that mortar-set tile was much more susceptible to damage than other methods. Florida’s current tile manual still allows mortar, but requires factory premixed, bagged mortar.

More on how roofs work

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Concrete tile roofs explained: how they are made and what fails first