Gutters on a Tile Roof in Florida: How They Mount and What They Cost

Three things set tile apart from shingle:

Each affects the install.

• Overhang. Tile often overhangs the roof edge, so a standard hanger has nothing to clip to.
• Runoff speed. Tile sheds water faster and farther than shingle. In a heavy storm, water can overshoot a five-inch gutter.
• Fragility. Concrete and clay tile crack under foot. A crew that walks on the roof breaks tile.

Installers use one of two approaches:

Either way, the gutter is fastened below the tile, and the crew works from ladders or a lift instead of walking on the roof. Ask the installer how the gutter will attach and who is responsible if tile is damaged.

• Fascia-mounted brackets screwed into the fascia board below the tile edge
• Rafter-tail brackets fastened into the ends of the roof rafters where there is no solid fascia

Tile throws water. Many installers step up to six-inch gutters, often with 3x4 downspouts, and add a gutter apron or drip edge where needed so water lands in the trough instead of behind it. See 5-inch vs. 6-inch gutters in Florida for how to decide.

Gutters on a tile roof typically cost $1,500 to $4,800 for a whole house, versus $900 to $3,200 for shingle. The difference comes from slower mounting, larger gutters, and sometimes extra roof-edge details. Read tile roof gutter installation for the process.

• How will the gutter attach, and to what? The answer should name the bracket and the wood.
• Will anyone walk on the tile? The answer should be no, unless a roofer is doing it.
• What size do you recommend, and why? Look for a reason tied to your roof.
• What happens if tile cracks? Ask who pays, and whether the crew has done tile before.
• Does this affect my roof warranty? Check with your roofer or manufacturer.

If tile needs to be lifted, replaced, or re-set, that is roofing work, and it should be done by a licensed roofing contractor. Roofing in Florida is state-licensed, so verify it in the Florida DBPR license search. If your roof is near replacement, consider timing the gutters to avoid having them removed later. The National Roofing Contractors Association has general guidance on roof-edge details.

If your tile is already cracked or loose, fix the roof first. If your overhangs are wide and the ground drains away from the house, gutters may not be needed. And do not hire a crew that has never worked on tile, because the cost of a cracked tile is more than the savings.

For one example of a community with many tile roofs, read gutter installation in Winter Garden, FL.

Take a two-story home in a Winter Garden community, about 220 feet of roofline, concrete tile roof, stucco walls, and no gutters. A quote for six-inch seamless aluminum on fascia brackets with 3x4 downspouts might land at the mid-to-upper part of the $1,500 to $4,800 range, higher if fascia needs repair or the roofline has many valleys. The same footage in shingle with five-inch gutters and 2x3 downspouts would be in the lower part of the $900 to $3,200 range. This is an illustration of how scope moves the price, not a quote.

These are the errors that cost homeowners money:

• Hiring a crew that walks on the tile, which cracks it
• Skipping the roof-edge details, so water runs behind the gutter
• Using five-inch gutters where six is needed, and getting overshoot
• Hanging on soft fascia, so brackets pull out
• Ignoring the roofer, who may need to re-set tile or add flashing

Tile roofs shed debris differently. Leaves and needles can wedge in the tile valleys and drop into the gutter in clumps after wind or rain. Check the gutter after storms. Keep guards, if you use them, compatible with the mounting. Cleaning with a ladder rests against the fascia or gutter, not the tile. Read how often to clean gutters in Florida for a schedule.