Highland Park and University Park have some of the best Spanish Colonial Revival and Mediterranean homes in Texas, and many of them wear clay tile. When one of those roofs needs replacing, or a new home or addition is going up, the first big choice is the profile: Ludowici’s one-piece Spanish tile or one of its two-piece Mission tiles.
I’m Blake Snow, and I’ve been roofing for 30 years. We install Ludowici clay tile to the manufacturer’s specs. Here’s how the profiles compare, using Ludowici’s own published numbers.
Spanish vs. Mission at a glance
Sources: Ludowici’s barrel tile page, Spanish 13 page, Palm Beach Mission page, the Ludowici Idea Book and the Barrel Tile Installation Manual.
| Ludowici profile | Type | Weight per square | Pieces per square | Barrel height off deck | Minimum slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spanish 13 ¼” | One-piece | 900 lbs | 171 | 3” nominal | 4:12 |
| Spanish 18 ⅜” | One-piece | 800 lbs | 114 | 3” nominal | 4:12 |
| Scandia | One-piece | 926 lbs | 188 | 3” nominal | 4:12 |
| Palm Beach Mission 18 ⅜” | Two-piece (tapered covers, straight pans) | 1,165 lbs | 163 | 4 ⅜” nominal | 5:12 |
| Straight Barrel Mission 14 ¼” | Two-piece | 1,250 lbs | 225 | 4 ⅜” nominal | 5:12 |
| Greek | Two-piece | 1,510 lbs | 240 | 3 ¼” nominal | 5:12 |
A “square” is 100 square feet of roof. Ludowici makes its tile in New Lexington, Ohio, offers more than 40 clay profiles, and backs them with a 75-year material warranty. Its Spanish 13 ¼” data lists ASTM C1167 Grade 1 tile with water absorption under 2% and a Class A fire rating.
How each one looks on a Highland Park house
- Spanish (one-piece). Ludowici calls it its most popular profile. One tile makes the whole S-curve, so the roof reads as an even, rippling pattern. It suits Mediterranean and Spanish-influenced homes that want a crisp, tailored look.
- Mission (two-piece). A pan sits on the deck and a cover sits over the joint between pans. Ludowici says the high-profile barrels throw shadows that shift as the sun moves, and the covers can be laid in straight rows or staggered and mortar-boosted for a rustic, old-world roof. On a true Spanish Colonial Revival home with deep eaves and arched openings, this is usually the look owners are after.
Weight, framing and pitch
This is where the choice gets practical:
- Weight. Going from Spanish 13 ¼” (900 lbs per square) to Palm Beach Mission (1,165 lbs) adds roughly 265 lbs on every 100 square feet. Ludowici’s manual says proper framing is required to carry a tile roof. If you’re changing profiles, or going from shingles to tile, have the framing checked by a qualified professional first.
- Pitch. Spanish needs at least 4:12 and Mission at least 5:12, per Ludowici. Many older Highland Park homes have porches, loggias and additions with lower slopes. Those sections may need a different detail or a low-slope system tied in cleanly.
- Piece count. Two-piece Mission means more pieces and more hand work per square, so it generally costs more to install than one-piece Spanish. We quote both from your actual roof measurements.
Color and matching
Ludowici makes every profile in its standard and custom colors, mists and blends. On a re-roof next to an existing tile roof, or on an addition, we match with real samples. If you’re repairing rather than replacing, read our guide to Ludowici clay tile repair and matching.
Before you start in Highland Park or University Park
Check with the Town of Highland Park or the City of University Park about permits and any design review before you settle on a profile or color, and keep your HOA in the loop if you have one.
What we do on a Ludowici roof
- Remove the old tile carefully and save sound pieces when they’re needed for matching
- Repair the deck and install new underlayment and flashings, including copper where the home calls for it
- Set field tile, hips, ridges, rakes and eave closures to Ludowici’s installation manual
- A free digital photo report and a workmanship warranty from 10 years up to lifetime, depending on the job
See our Ludowici tile and clay tile roofing pages for more.
After a storm
Don’t let anyone walk a clay tile roof before it’s documented. Get it inspected and photographed first. In Texas you generally have 1 year from the date of loss to file a claim, but check your policy. See our storm damage page.
Talk to us about clay tile in Highland Park
We roof in Highland Park, University Park, Dallas, Southlake and Westlake. We’re certified with GAF, CertainTeed, Owens Corning, Atlas, Johns Manville, Carlisle, Tropical Roofing Products, Mule-Hide and Enviroshake, and many other roof manufacturers. We’re BBB A+ rated, with 5.0 stars on Google at all three offices: Bridgeport, Decatur and Rhome. Request a free inspection or call (817) 733-9228.
