New Orleans has a long history with tile roofs. Walk through the French Quarter, the Garden District, or parts of Algiers Point and you’ll see clay, concrete, and slate tiles that have been up there for decades — some for over a century. There’s a reason these materials keep showing up: they handle Gulf Coast conditions better than just about anything else. With 60-plus inches of annual rainfall, humidity that rarely drops below 75%, and hurricane winds that can rip standard shingles off in seconds, tile gives homeowners a roof that actually lasts. Here’s how the three most popular tile types stack up for New Orleans homes.

Clay Tile

Clay tile is the most common tile roofing material in New Orleans, and it’s been that way for a long time. You see it all over the historic districts — barrel tiles on Spanish Colonial homes, flat tiles on Creole cottages. It fits the architecture, and it handles the weather.

In terms of durability, clay is hard to beat. A properly installed clay tile roof lasts 50 to 100+ years. It’s impervious to UV radiation and doesn’t break down from salt air the way asphalt does. Humidity and algae? Clay doesn’t absorb moisture the way shingles do, so fungal growth has much less to grab onto. That matters a lot in a city where your roof is basically sitting in a steam bath from May through October.

Wind performance is strong too. With stainless steel fasteners and a proper batten system, clay tile can sustain 125 to 150 mph winds. That’s Category 4 hurricane territory.

The downsides: clay is heavy. You’re looking at 600 to 1,100 lbs per roofing square, so older homes — especially shotgun houses and raised Creole cottages — may need structural reinforcement before installation. Cost runs $8 to $25 per square foot installed as of 2026, depending on the tile profile and complexity of the roof.

If you live in a historic district, clay tile may actually be required to maintain period accuracy. The HDLC (Historic District Landmarks Commission) issues Certificates of Appropriateness for exterior work, and tile roofing is almost always an approved material.

Please note: The prices in this article are estimates only, shared to help you plan. Your actual cost depends on your property, the materials and the size of the job. For pricing on your project, call Big Easy Roofing at (504) 800-8196 for a quote.

Concrete Tile

Concrete tile has been gaining ground in New Orleans over the past couple of decades, especially on newer construction in neighborhoods like New Orleans East, Lakeview rebuilds, and parts of Gentilly. It gives you a similar look to clay at a lower price point.

Lifespan runs 40 to 75 years — not as lon