Pitched Roofing • Kelowna & the Okanagan
TILE
ROOFING.
The longest-lived roof we install. 50 years and more, Class A fire rated, and heavy enough to soak up the afternoon heat before it reaches the rooms below.
Or call directly 250-258-8600Concrete, Composite & Steel. Built to Outlast You.
Exceptional Durability.
Tile is one of the oldest roofs there is, and the reasons still hold. Concrete tile lasts longer than anything else we install, and it looks like nothing else on a street.
Available in a range of profiles — from the classic Mediterranean barrel and flowing S-curve to the clean lines of flat modern tile — each profile creates a distinct roofline character. The dimensional depth and shadow lines of tile give homes a sculptural quality that flat materials simply cannot achieve.
Beyond aesthetics, tile delivers exceptional performance through thermal mass. The density of concrete absorbs heat during the day and releases it slowly at night, naturally moderating interior temperatures and reducing HVAC demand. This passive energy efficiency is especially valuable in the Okanagan, where summer highs and winter lows create significant thermal swings.
That mass is not for every roof — some homes were never framed to carry it. For those we install two lighter roofs with the look of tile: composite barrel tile from Brava and stone-coated steel tile from DECRA. Watch all three come together below.
Built in
rows.
Watch a Premium tile roof come together, three ways — concrete tile, composite barrel tile, or stone-coated steel.
- 01Deck & RaftersFraming at 600 mm o.c. under staggered ply sheathing
- 02Drip Flashing & Rake BoardsEave drip flashing; a raised 2× trim board up each rake
- 03Eave MembraneSelf-adhered course along the eave, over the drip flashing
- 04Felt UnderlaymentNo. 30 felt in two plies, each sheet lapped 480 mm
- 05Vertical Strapping19 mm strapping on the rafter lines, screened at the eave
- 06Ridge BoardSteel riser brackets carry it over the vent slot
- 07Battens & Vented EaveA 1×4 batten to a course; hemmed cover metal at the eave
- 08Concrete TileLoaded in stacks, laid in broken bond — two screws a tile
- 09Rake TilesEave up, each butted to the course above — two fasteners
- 10Vented Ridge & TrimVent roll, then lapped trim — adhesive at every lap
The Tile, Up Close.
A flat-profile concrete tile field — dense and kiln-cured. Every course is head-lapped over the one below and carried on battens, so an air gap ventilates the deck while the surface sheds water in sheets. The heaviest roof we install, and the longest-lived.
- 50+ yrservice life
- Class Afire rating
- Freeze-thawbuilt for it: vented and drained
- Battenedventilated install
Performance Benefits
50+ Year Lifespan
The longest service life of any roof we install. Concrete tile does not rot, rust, or degrade from UV exposure, outlasting generations of shingles.
Class A Fire Rating
Concrete tile and stone-coated steel carry a Class A fire rating; composite reaches Class A with a fire-resistant underlayment. Critical protection in wildfire-prone regions like the Okanagan.
Thermal Mass
The density of tile absorbs and slowly releases heat, naturally buffering interior temperatures. Its mass, and the vented air gap under a battened install, both take the edge off peak cooling demand.
Wind Resistance
Interlocking tile profiles, combined with mechanical fastening and the weight of the tiles themselves, create exceptional resistance to wind uplift.
Looks Right on Anything
From Mediterranean barrel to flat modern profiles, tile creates dimensional rooflines with natural shadow lines. Colour is part of the tile, not a coat of paint — nothing to peel or repaint.
Very Low Maintenance
Single tiles can be swapped without disturbing the roof around them. Routine care is an inspection and clear gutters; the underlayment beneath is renewed once in the tile’s life.
Ideal Applications
Premium Custom Homes
For homeowners building once and building right. Tile delivers the architectural presence and multi-generational durability that define true premium construction.
Mediterranean & Spanish-Style Architecture
Barrel and S-curve profiles are the authentic roofing choice for Mediterranean, Tuscan, and Spanish colonial design.
Wine Country Estates
Tile roofs complement the Okanagan’s vineyard landscape and European-influenced estate architecture. Tile comes in colours that sit naturally in the landscape.
High-Value Commercial Properties
Boutique hotels, wineries, restaurants, and retail centres benefit from tile’s visual impact. On a roof people actually see, it is the one that still looks right in thirty years.
Tile in the Okanagan
The Okanagan presents a unique climate challenge: extreme summer heat, cold winters with freeze-thaw cycling, high UV exposure, and an increasing wildfire threat. Tile roofing addresses each of these conditions when installed correctly.
Thermal mass buffers extreme heat. On 40°C summer days, the density of tile absorbs radiant heat and releases it slowly after sundown, which takes the edge off attic heat and air-conditioning load.
Class A for wildfire country. Concrete tile and stone-coated steel carry a Class A fire rating, with no coatings or treatments needed.
Handles freeze-thaw when properly installed. The batten system creates an air gap that allows moisture to drain rather than pool beneath tiles. This ventilated assembly reduces the melt-refreeze that drives ice damming, and helps the roof hold up through Okanagan winters.
Tile Roofing FAQ
Concrete tile is several times the weight of shingles or metal. We look at the structure before every tile project. Many newer homes and custom builds were framed for it; older ones may need reinforcing, which we point out so it can be done by another trade first. If the frame was not built for it, composite and stone-coated steel tile give the look at a fraction of the weight.
Concrete tile is the heaviest of the three and lasts the longest. Composite and stone-coated steel give the look of tile at a fraction of the weight, for homes that were not framed to carry concrete. We help you choose based on budget, weight and the look you want. We also repair and maintain clay tile roofs, and can install new clay on request.
Yes, when it is installed for it. The key is proper installation with a batten system that allows drainage and ventilation beneath the tiles. This lets moisture drain and dry instead of sitting under the tile. Combined with ice and water shield at critical areas, a properly installed tile roof performs exceptionally through freeze-thaw cycles.
Concrete tiles typically last 50+ years — that part is real, and the manufacturers stand behind it. But the tile is not the whole roof. The underlayment beneath it runs roughly 20 to 30 years, and freeze-thaw here is harder on it than a mild climate is. So expect one underlayment replacement inside the life of the tile: the tiles come off, the membrane and flashings are renewed, and the same tiles go back down. Anyone who tells you a tile roof is a one-time purchase has not looked under one.
Tile requires very little maintenance. We recommend an annual visual inspection to check for cracked or displaced tiles, keeping gutters and valleys clear of debris, and addressing any moss growth in shaded areas. Individual tiles can be replaced without disturbing surrounding tiles — no full-section tear-off required.
Ready for Tile Roofing?
We’ll assess your structure, walk you through profile and material options, and deliver a detailed proposal tailored to your property.
Request a Free EstimateNo obligation • Structure looked at first • Material samples available