Reasons To Choose A Concrete Tile Roof
When you think of tile roofing, you likely think of that iconic Spanish or Mediterranean design style. Clay tile roofing is one of the oldest and most common roofing materials in the world, and modern updates to its strength and fire resistance have allowed it to remain competitive with newer synthetic roofing materials.
Tile roofs have withheld a reputation as the most durable, timeless roofing material available, and many homeowners are already aware of these benefits. However, what they may not know and understand as well is concrete tile roofing and the benefits it offers. Concrete roof tiles take the benefits of clay tiles a step further in their design capabilities, testing, and sustainability. In this blog, we are going to take a look at some of the reasons to choose concrete tile roofing.
Longevity & Durability
Quality concrete roof tiles, like those offered by the roofing contractors at Express Roofing, can last anywhere from 30 to 50 years with the proper care and maintenance. These tiles are manufactured to last for an aesthetically pleasing and durable roof for your home. When properly installed, they are resistant to hail, heavy rains and winds, and other adverse weather conditions. The composition of concrete tile roofing prevents any burning, curling, rotting, or rusting. Not to mention, concrete roofing is a system of overlapping, waterproof tiles, leaving homeowners with an almost impenetrable roof!
Flexibility
Contemporary concrete roof tiles are most commonly made from a mixture of cement, graded sands, pigments that are formed into numerous tile colors, patterns, and designs. In fact, manufacturers produce residential roofing tiles to suit almost any home’s architectural style, from contemporary to European, New England Colonial, or historic designs. What’s more, concrete roof tiles can be fixed to just about any surface, including close to vertical. Roof tiles can be flat or round, can simulate wood shakes, or seek to duplicate centuries-old designs. Because concrete roofing tiles are manufactured in a wide array of colors and styles it is easier to coordinate your roof with exterior colors.
Low Maintenance
One of the more appealing characteristics to homeowners of concrete tile roofing is that they require minimal maintenance and is generally limited to gutters, protrusion flashing, and venting. If a section of the roofing system needs modification or is damaged, only the affected tiles will need to be replaced.
Improved Indoor Comfort
Concrete roofing tiles allow better circulation of air than other roofing materials above and below them, so the result is that they can release heat energy better. This helps with keeping the indoor temperature of your home at a comfortable level.
If you are interested in upgrading your home with concrete tile roofing in Mesa, Phoenix, Gilbert, Chandler, or the surrounding areas, contact the team at Express Roofing! As one of the best tile roofing companies in the area, our team can help you choose a roofing system that best fits your home. To learn more information or to request a free tile roofing estimate, contact our roofing company today!
Why Tile?
Beautiful and Enduring
Distinctive, beautiful, sustainable tile is the roofing material of choice for quality and longevity. Its natural aesthetics have been highly valued for thousands of years, and are so today, with the addition of a multitude of shapes, profiles and colors for endless decorative possibilities. And unlike wood shakes or asphalt shingles, tile reliably holds its color and maintains its beauty over a very long lifespan.
Strong
Tile has much more to offer than good looks. Tile roofs are exceptionally resistant to water, frost, fire, wind and insect damage, lasting for centuries rather than decades.* When a building owner invests in a properly installed tile roof, it’s the last roof they’ll ever need to buy – a huge plus when it comes to resale value.
Versatile
There’s no roofing material more versatile than tile. Clay and concrete can be molded to resemble wood shakes, chipped stone and shingle-style slate, along with more traditional barrel and s-shaped profiles. There’s a perfect match for every architectural style.
Energy Efficient
In virtually every climate and geographic area, tile roofs provide exceptional thermal properties, reducing heat loss or gain. Natural air ventilation under the tiles creates a heat transfer barrier that can help cool a house in summer and warm it in winter, lowering energy costs by as much as 20%.
The Pros of Tile Roofing
Tile is the most popular roofing material throughout the world. The following are some of the reasons why tile roofing continues to be one of the most popular options.
- Tile is weather-resistant – Clay and concrete tiles are known for their durability and ability to withstand high winds, hail, and even fire. This makes tile roofing particularly effective during hurricane season.
- Tile can help reduce energy costs – Because of the gap under the tiles, they can help block the sun’s heat from transferring into the attic, thereby reducing your reliance on your air conditioning, lowering your cooling costs significantly.
- Tile roofs require minimal maintenance – Because of how durable and resistant tiles are, very little maintenance is required.
- Tile roofs last a long time – A brand new tile roof will last a lifetime. In fact, it isn’t unheard of for tile roofs to last upwards of 50 years.
- Tile roofs are pest-resistant – Unlike other roofs types, tile roofs are impervious to insect damage.
- Tile roofs are environmentally friendly – Tiles are typically made out of clay or concrete, which is made from earth minerals. They come from a sustainable resource and once they are removed, they can be crushed and recycled – often making a base for roads.
- Tile roofs come in many different options – Clay and concrete tiles are available in many different styles and colors, ensuring that you can choose something to complement the design of your home.
Cons of Tile Roofing
- High cost: A clay tile roof system can cost two to three times as much as an asphalt roofing system. An average clay tile roof costs between $675 to $1400 per square (100 SF of roof area). Concrete tile roofs are more economical, with costs of $400 to $450 per square. This is offset, though, by the long life a tile roof will enjoy. Slate tiles are by far the most expensive, with average costs running between $1,000 and $4,000 per square.
- Difficult installation: Installing tile roofing requires professional roofing contractors with extensive experience. The tiles will need to be measured, laid in a specific pattern, and checked so that no moisture gets through. This is not a DIY project.
- Heavyweight: Your roof structure must be able to handle the weight of a tile roof, which may be as much as 850 pounds per square for clay tile and 950 pounds per square for concrete tile. An asphalt roof, by comparison, weighs only around 225 to 325 pounds per square. If you’re replacing shingle roofing with tiles, you should consult an engineer to determine if structural reinforcement is necessary, which will add to the cost of the roof.
- Tiles are brittle: While very durable, clay tiles, slate, and concrete tiles can be broken if they suffer a heavy impact, such as from falling tree branches, or even due to the pressure of walking on them. Repairs, when needed, can be expensive.
- Not suitable for all roof slopes: Tile roofs are suitable only for roofs with relatively sharp slopes. They should not be used on roofs with pitches less than 4:12.
Tile Styles
Clay and concrete tiles are available in many styles to match any aesthetic goal.
- Spanish tiles are the classic Southwest roof, resembling rows of lapping waves with troughs between the rows to carry water away. They are best suited for regions where rains might be infrequent but very heavy when they do occur. Clay, terra cotta, and concrete tiles are all available in this style.
- Scandia tiles resemble Spanish tiles inverted so they are upside down. Visually, they give the appearance of sharp vertical ridges with wide scallop-shaped troughs. This style is common in architecture based on northern European styles.
- Double Roman tiles resemble Spanish tiles, but the rows have distinct ribs that are quite visible. The water troughs are more frequent, though smaller. These tiles are often used in Mediterranean architecture. Often made of concrete, they are also available in clay and terra cotta.
- Flat shake tiles are usually made of concrete and are fabricated to resemble the texture of granulated asphalt shingles or wood shakes. Slate roofs are also essentially flat shakes. These roofs have relatively flat surfaces that easily shed frequent light rains, but may not be ideal where heavy “gully-washer” rainfalls are common. These tiles readily adapt to almost any architectural style.
- Pantile roofs are made of clay tiles formed into a flattened S shape, creating a ripple appearance. Pantiles are considerably lighter than most other tiles, and also cheaper.
- Barrel tiles are also semi-cylindrical tiles like Spanish and Roman, but here the cylinders are slightly tapered so they are wider at one end. The tapering shape makes these a good choice on curved roofs.
- French tiles look like an inverted form of the Roman roof, with much wider troughs for channeling away heavy rainfalls.
- Riviera tiles are essentially a flattened form of double Roman tiles, in which the humps are flat ridges interrupting shallow, flat-bottomed troughs.