The short answer
Tile lasts far longer than shingle and handles UV better, but it is heavier, costs two to three times more, and is brittle in hail. The critical point most tile owners miss: the tile usually outlives the underlayment beneath it, so tile homes often need an underlayment replacement rather than a new roof.
Side by side
| Factor | Asphalt shingle | Concrete or clay tile |
|---|---|---|
| Typical cost here | $9,500 to $24,000 | $28,000 to $70,000 |
| Service life | 20 to 25 years | 50 years plus for the tile itself |
| Underlayment life | Matches the shingle | 20 to 30 years, then needs replacing |
| Weight | Light | Heavy, may need structural review |
| Hail performance | Bruises, loses granules | Can crack and shatter |
| Walkability | Fine | Cracks under foot traffic |
| Repairs | Simple and cheap | Specialist work, matching tiles can be hard |
Choose Asphalt shingle if
- You want the lowest cost per year of service
- Your home was not framed for tile weight
- You live where hail is frequent and severe
- You want simple, inexpensive repairs
Choose Concrete or clay tile if
- You already have tile and the structure supports it
- You want a roof that lasts decades rather than years
- Architectural style calls for it, which is common in Dominion, Shavano Park and parts of Cibolo Canyon
- You want excellent UV and heat performance
What this looks like in the Hill Country
We do a lot of tile work west of 1604. The pattern we see constantly: a 25 year old tile roof where the tile is perfectly serviceable and the underlayment beneath it has failed. The job is lifting and stacking the tile, replacing the underlayment and flashing, and relaying the tile. That is substantially cheaper than a new tile roof, and plenty of homeowners are quoted full replacement when they do not need it.
