Tile vs shingleroof in El Paso
Tile lasts decades longer than shingles and takes bigger hail, but it weighs three to four times as much and costs more.1 A house built for shingles needs its framing checked before tile roofing goes on.
Tile is heavy,shingles are light
Standard concrete tile weighs 9.5 to 12 pounds per square foot. Lightweight tile runs 5.5 to 7, and asphalt shingles run 2.5 to 4.1
On a 2,000-square-foot roof, standard tile comes to roughly 9 to 12 tons. That's simple arithmetic from those weights, and it's why the framing matters.
If your house has shingles now and you're not sure the roof structure can carry tile, The Journal of Light Construction advises having the framing checked by an engineer first.1 The Tile Roofing Institute, a trade group, says reinforcing a home never roofed in tile is usually a small share of the total project cost.2
Tile also needs slope. The minimum for a tile roof is 3:12, which is 3 inches of rise for every 12 inches of run.1
Check this first. Before tile goes on a house built for shingles, get the framing checked.
Tile outlastsshingles by decades
Tile takes biggerhail before damage
Haag Engineering's field surveys show the hail size at which each roof starts to show damage.5
| Roof type | Damage starts at |
|---|---|
| 3-tab asphalt shingles | 1 inch |
| 30-year laminated shingles | 1.25 inches |
| Concrete tile | 1.75 inches |
Source: Haag Engineering, field surveys of roofs of all ages. Source 5.
Concrete tile holds out against stones a half inch to three-quarters of an inch larger than shingles can.
Shingles can be tested for impact too. IKO's data sheet lists its Cambridge Cool Colors Plus shingles at Class 3 impact rating.6
Color decides heatmore than material
Reflectance is the share of sunlight a roof bounces back, on a scale of 0 to 1. Initial readings run 0.20 to 0.30 for asphalt shingles, 0.40 to 0.50 for clay tile, and 0.20 to 0.60 for concrete tile.7
A light tile can reflect more sun than any shingle, and a dark tile doesn't. The Department of Energy says a dark roof can reach 150°F or more in summer sun, while a cool roof can run more than 50°F cooler.8
Cool-colored shingles exist as well. The guide to the best roof for El Paso heat compares every material.
Wind comes downto the fastening
El Paso recorded gusts over 70 mph on March 18, 2025, and the windy season typically climaxes from March to April.9 Either roof has to be fastened for that.
The Tile Roofing Institute says tile attached properly can be designed to withstand up to 200 mph, based on tests it sponsored.10 That's a trade-group claim, and the fastening depends on wind speed, building height, and slope.
Tile costs moreup front
Outside ranges, not Lifetime's prices
Tile averages more: $17,349 at HomeAdvisor against $10,500 for shingles at Angi.1211 The typical ranges overlap, though, so the size and shape of your roof matter as much as the material. HomeAdvisor puts concrete at $9 to $18 per square foot installed and clay at $8 to $25.12
Angi and HomeAdvisor are lead-generation sites, so read their figures as outside ballparks. The tile roof replacement cost guide goes into price detail.
Lifetime Roofing of El Paso is a family-owned roofing company in El Paso, family owned and in El Paso since 2019. Its own crew, not subcontractors, installs IKO shingles and tile from all the major makers, and every installation carries a lifetime transferable warranty. The inspection is free, and the written estimate follows within 48 hours of it.
Questions people askabout tile vs shingles
Is a tile roof better than shingles?
Often, for the long run. Tile lasts longer and takes bigger hail, but it costs more and weighs three to four times as much. Lifetime Roofing of El Paso's inspection is free, and the written estimate follows within 48 hours.
Can my house hold a tile roof?
Maybe. Standard concrete tile weighs 9.5 to 12 pounds per square foot, against 2.5 to 4 for shingles, so an engineer should check the framing of a house with shingles. Lifetime Roofing of El Paso inspects roofs free.
Which costs more, tile or shingles?
Tile. HomeAdvisor's national average for tile is $17,349, and Angi's for shingles is $10,500. Those are outside figures, not Lifetime Roofing of El Paso's prices; our written estimate for your roof is free.
Do tile roofs last longer than shingles?
Yes. The National Association of Home Builders puts clay and concrete roofs at over 50 years and asphalt shingles at about 20. Lifetime Roofing of El Paso installs both, with a lifetime transferable warranty on every installation.
Where these factscome from
- The Journal of Light Construction, Roofing with Concrete Tile, May 2001, read November 1, 2026.
- Tile Roofing Institute, Why Weight Matters, read November 1, 2026.
- National Association of Home Builders, Life Expectancy of Home Components, February 2007, read November 1, 2026.
- Tile Roofing Institute, FAQs, read November 1, 2026.
- Haag Engineering, hail damage thresholds paper, American Meteorological Society conference, read November 1, 2026.
- IKO, Cambridge Cool Colors Plus sell sheet, read November 1, 2026.
- California Air Resources Board, Cool California roofing reflectance table, read November 1, 2026.
- U.S. Department of Energy, Guidelines for Selecting Cool Roofs, July 2010, read November 1, 2026.
- El Paso Matters, El Paso dust events and windy season, February 18, 2026, read November 1, 2026.
- Tile Roofing Institute, Durability and Longevity, read November 1, 2026.
- Angi, How much does a shingle roof cost, updated October 1, 2026, read November 1, 2026.
- HomeAdvisor, Install or replace a tile roof cost, updated June 19, 2026, read November 1, 2026.
More fromthe guides
- How Long Does a Tile Roof Last?
How long tile lasts, and why the underlayment under it usually wears out first.
- Tile Roof Replacement Cost
What outside sources say a tile roof costs, by material and size, and what they leave out.
- Best Roof for El Paso Heat
Which roof stays coolest in El Paso sun, how to read the ratings, and one utility program.
Call Lifetime Roofing of El Paso
(915) 353-3934
Get a free roof inspection
Based at 8900 Gateway Blvd E, El Paso, TX 79907