I’ve been installing and repairing roofs in Middle Tennessee for a little over a decade now, and tile roofing murfreesboro tn is one of those topics that always sparks longer conversations with homeowners. It’s not the most common roof you see driving through town, but every time I work on one, I’m reminded why people who choose tile are usually very intentional about it. Tile roofs ask more from a house and from the installer, but they also give something back that asphalt never really does.
The first tile roof I worked on in Rutherford County was early in my career, helping a senior installer re-secure slipped clay tiles after a rough spring storm. What stuck with me wasn’t just the weight of those tiles—it was how solid the roof deck underneath still was. The home was decades old, but the structure had been built with tile in mind. That experience shaped how I talk to homeowners today, especially those considering tile as a replacement rather than a first-time install.
One thing I’ve learned from hands-on work is that tile roofing isn’t just about looks. Yes, clay and concrete tiles have a presence that stands out, especially on custom homes or Mediterranean-inspired builds. But in Murfreesboro’s climate, tile performs in specific ways that matter. It handles heat better than most materials, sheds water efficiently when installed correctly, and doesn’t degrade the way asphalt does after years of UV exposure. I’ve seen tile roofs still doing their job long after nearby shingle roofs were replaced twice.
That said, I’m also upfront about when tile may not be the right call. A few years ago, I inspected a home where the owner wanted to swap out shingles for concrete tile without upgrading the structure. The roof framing simply wasn’t designed to carry that kind of load. We talked it through, ran the numbers, and in the end, they chose a lighter alternative. That conversation saved them from structural issues that would have cost far more than the roof itself.
One common mistake I see is assuming all tile roofs are basically the same. They’re not. Clay tile behaves differently than concrete, both during installation and years down the road. Clay is more brittle; I’ve cracked tiles just by stepping wrong during an inspection. Concrete is more forgiving but still demands proper underlayment and fastening. In Murfreesboro, where freeze-thaw cycles do happen, underlayment quality matters more than people expect. I’ve repaired leaks where the tiles themselves were fine, but shortcuts were taken underneath.
Another real-world issue is repairs. Tile roofing is durable, but it’s not maintenance-free. I remember a call last fall from a homeowner who noticed a small leak near a valley. The tiles hadn’t failed—the flashing had. Tile roofs hide their problems well, which is both a strength and a weakness. When something does go wrong, you want someone who knows how to lift and reset tiles without turning a small repair into a much bigger one.
From a professional standpoint, tile roofing also demands a different mindset from installers. You can’t rush it. Layout matters. Tile alignment matters. Even how you stack tiles on the roof during installation matters. I’ve seen poorly installed tile roofs that looked fine from the street but had uneven courses and stress points that showed up years later. That’s usually when homeowners call someone like me to sort out what went wrong.
Cost is always part of the discussion, and I don’t sugarcoat it. Tile roofing costs more upfront—sometimes several thousand more than architectural shingles. But I’ve also had long conversations with homeowners who plan to stay in their house for decades. For them, the lifespan of tile, combined with its resistance to rot, insects, and fire, made the math easier. I’ve stood on tile roofs that were older than my career and still serviceable with minor repairs.
If there’s one thing I wish more people understood, it’s that tile roofing is a system, not just a surface. The tiles, underlayment, flashing, ventilation, and structure all work together. When one part is treated as an afterthought, the whole roof suffers. Most of the tile roof problems I’ve been called to fix didn’t start with bad tiles—they started with rushed decisions.
Working on tile roofs in Murfreesboro has taught me patience and respect for the material. It’s not forgiving, but it’s honest. When installed on the right home, for the right reasons, it holds up in a way few other roofing materials can. And when it’s not the right fit, a good contractor should be willing to say so. That perspective comes from years on ladders, cracked tiles under my boots, and more than a few lessons learned the hard way.