Jump to main content
Kiln Tile Roofing Get an estimate

San Diego County tile roofs

Tile Roof Costs in San Diego County

Clay and concrete tile roof price ranges for San Diego County homes, each with a source and date. Plus permits, fire zones and bid checks.

Get a written estimateCompare prices

  • 26areas with their own page plan
  • 6price drivers explained
  • 0prices shown without a source
Updated
Rows of terracotta barrel tile ending in open rounded ends over a brown gutter, mortar along the ridge, blue sky

Under the tileOn most tile roofs the underlayment wears out before the tile does.

Scopes

Six kinds of tile work, one clear scope each

Most price gaps between two estimates come from different scopes. Start by naming yours.

Full replacement

New tile, underlayment, battens and flashing from eave to ridge.

Tile roof work in progress: a roofer in a hard hat laying gray double-roll tile on battens over dark underlayment, Helsinki, Finland
Roofer laying tile on battens: gray double-roll tile
Guide coming

Lift and re-lay

Keep sound tiles, replace the worn underlayment beneath them.

Tile roof work in progress: one red-brown double-roll concrete tile set on battens over blue underlayment, a roof window going in, Germany
New tile on battens over underlayment: red-brown double-roll concrete tile
Guide coming
San Diego Union Station with its white arched entry, twin domed towers, palm trees and a round fountain in front

Tile repair

Cracked or slipped pieces swapped and matched.

Tile roof repair example: lichen-spotted orange-red tile roof with gaps from missing tiles beside a stone chimney, Germany
Example: gaps from missing tiles near a chimney, orange-red tile
Guide coming

Ridge and hip

Mortared or dry-set ridge lines and the flashing under them.

Tile roof repair example: hip ridge capped with weathered brown-red curved tiles, a squirrel crossing the slope, Negombo, Sri Lanka
Example: hip ridge cap row, weathered brown-red curved tile
Guide coming
Corner of a red interlocking curved tile roof at the gable edge, seen from below against a deep blue sky

Flashing and valleys

Chimneys, walls, skylights and valley metal: where leaks start.

Tile roof repair example: step and counter flashing at a brick chimney (shingle roof shown; tile roofs use the same idea)
Example: step and counter flashing at a chimney (shingle roof shown; tile roofs use the same idea)
Guide coming

Inspection

What a careful look covers before you buy, sell or claim.

Tile roof work in progress: roofers working on red-brown tile roofs of terraced houses with scaffolding, England
Roofers up on terraced houses: red-brown tile and scaffolding
Guide coming

Scope photos are examples from open photo libraries, not our projects.Browse the photo library

Cost center

What a tile roof costs in San Diego County

Tile roofs are common across San Diego County. They also cost more than most homeowners expect. This site puts the numbers in one place, with a source and a date on every price.

We are not a roofer. We do not bid, book or build. This site summarizes public cost guides, city pages and state sources, and shows what they say.

<span id="prices"></span>

What tile costs: the short table

ScopeEstimateSource and date
Clay tile, per sq ft (per Fixr)$9 to $20 per sq ftFixr, Jan 31, 2025
Concrete tile, per sq ft (per Fixr)$3 to $20 per sq ftFixr, Jan 31, 2025
2,000 sq ft tile roof$29,000 to $51,000RoofingCalc, Oct 10, 2024
Underlayment material$0.50 to $2 per sq ftFixr, Jan 31, 2025
Tile repair, full job$900 to $2,300Fixr, Jan 31, 2025
Clay tile lifespanAround 100 yearsFixr, Jan 31, 2025
Concrete tile lifespan50 yearsFixr, Jan 31, 2025

These are national estimates. No cited source publishes a San Diego County only tile price. Open the full cost guide for the tables, the math and the caveats.

Three numbers to know

10 years. Fixr cites about this for underlayment. It is the layer under the tile that keeps water out.

20% to 30%. RoofingCalc says clay can cost this much more than concrete (Oct 2024).

50 percent. Under the 2022 California Energy Commission cool roof sheet, the prescriptive rule applies when more than half of the roof is replaced.

Replace the tile, or only what is under it

Many tile roofs have sound tile and failed underlayment. A lift and relay job takes the tiles off, sets them aside, lays new underlayment and puts the tiles back. It skips the cost of new tile. A full replacement is for tile that has cracked, failed or can no longer be matched. The cost guide compares the two.

Fire zones and permits

San Diego County cities vary a lot. CAL FIRE map estimates put about 0% of Coronado in a mapped fire hazard zone and about 91% of Poway in one (CAL FIRE maps, as estimated by jurisdiction acres). Permit steps vary too. Some cities take re-roof applications online only.

How to use this site

  1. Read the cost guide for ranges and sources.
  2. Open your city under Areas for housing, fire and permit notes. We have written six so far, starting with the highest home values.
  3. Browse the photo library to name your roof style and your repair.
  4. Check any roofer's license at cslb.ca.gov before you sign.

Limits

Prices here are estimates from public pages. Your roof may price very differently. Bids are the only real number, and we do not issue them.

Open the full cost guide
  1. 1

    Material

    Fixr lists clay at $9 to $20 and concrete at $3 to $20 per square foot for the tile, with labor inclusion unclear (Jan 2025). Profile and finish move the number.

  2. 2

    Scope

    Full replacement, lift and relay over new underlayment, or a repair. Scope is the largest swing in price.

  3. 3

    Weight

    Concrete tile runs 820 to 1,100 lb per square. Clay runs 600 to 650 (RoofingCalc, 2024). Heavy tile can mean framing work.

  4. 4

    Fire zone

    Parts of the county sit in mapped fire hazard zones. The roof assembly may need a Class A listing.

  5. 5

    Permit

    Each city runs its own re-roof permit process and fees. Some take applications online only.

  6. 6

    Deck condition

    Rotted sheathing found after tear-off is replaced, often billed per sheet.

How much does a tile roof cost in San Diego County?

Fixr (Jan 2025) lists clay at $9 to $20 and concrete at $3 to $20 per square foot for the tile (Fixr does not say consistently whether labor is included). Its all-in installed range is $7 to $41 per square foot. Those are national estimates. See the cost guide for sources and dates.

Is concrete tile the same as clay tile?

No. They can look alike from the street. Concrete is heavier, absorbs more water and usually costs less. Clay is lighter and is cited at around 100 years of life.

What fails first on a tile roof?

Usually the underlayment under the tile. Fixr cites about ten years for it. The tile can last far longer, which is why many jobs lift and relay the tile.

How do I compare two estimates?

Put them side by side. Check that both list the same scope, underlayment, tile count, flashing, permit, deck repair price and cleanup.

Is this site a roofing company?

No. Kiln Tile Roofing is an independent reference. We do not quote, sell or do roofing work.

Process

How a tile re-roof usually runs

Six stages, in the order most jobs follow. Ask where your estimate fits each one.

  1. 01

    Look

    A roofer walks the roof and lifts a few tiles to see the underlayment.

  2. 02

    Scope

    Replace, re-lay or repair: the scope decides most of the price.

  3. 03

    Estimate

    A written, itemized estimate with tile, underlayment, flashing and permit.

  4. 04

    Permit

    Your city or the county issues the re-roof permit when one is needed.

  5. 05

    Build

    Tiles off, new underlayment and battens, flashing, tiles back on.

  6. 06

    Final

    The building inspector signs off and you keep the paperwork.

Coastal

Sun, salt air and tile

Near the coast, flashing and fasteners take the beating. Ask which metal your estimate specifies.

View down a brushy hillside over La Jolla Shores, a row of palms, low buildings and Scripps Pier reaching into the ocean
La Jolla Shores from above: beach, palms and Scripps Pier
Scripps Pier stretching from the sand out over the surf under a blue sky with thin clouds
Scripps Pier at low tide: concrete pier over wet sand
Hillside homes, palms and low red-roofed buildings along the La Jolla Shores waterline in warm evening light
La Jolla Shores at dusk: hillside homes above the water

Photo credits

Areas

Where we cover tile roofs

Permits, fire maps and housing age differ from one city to the next.

Turn a range into your number

A measured, itemized estimate from a licensed roofer is the only real price for your roof. Send a short request and we pass it on to a licensed roofer near you.

Request an estimate