Drive around most neighborhoods in California, and you will notice a lot of homes with roofs made from clay or concrete tiles. If you're thinking of re-roofing your home, you may be considering a tile roof, too. While tile works well for a lot of homes, it is not necessarily for everyone. Take a look at these pros and cons to help determine if a tile roof is a smart option for you.
Pros of Tile Roofing
Tile roofing has a lot of great benefits for your home. Here are some of the best ones.
Tile Roofing Has a Long Lifespan Concrete and clay tiles last longer than any other roof material, except for natural slate. If you care for your tile roof properly, it should last 100 years. You'll never have to replace your roof again — and the next homeowners won't, either. A tile roof could be a good selling point if you decide to move out of your home. The best-made shingle roofs only last about 50 years, and metal roofs may last 40 - 60 years.
Tile Roofs Look Stunning You can't deny the luxurious appearance of a tile roof. Tile coordinates well with the Mission-style architecture of many California homes, and it's a good choice for modern designs, too. Aside from the classic, orange-red terracotta tiles, colored concrete tiles with unique patterns and designs are also available. You can customize the look to suit your fancy.
Tile Roofing is Very Energy-Efficient In the hot California sun, air conditioning bills rise quickly. Your roofing material plays a huge role in determining how efficient your house is, especially in the summer.
Tile roofs do a great job of keeping your home cool and lowering your air conditioning bills. The tiles are arranged in such a way that air gets trapped between them, and this air acts as an insulating barrier around your home.
The tile materials themselves are also good insulators, meaning that they do not let heat pass through them readily. Choose light-colored tile, and it will also reflect sunlight for even greater energy savings.
Cons of Tile Roofing
Even though tile roofing has a lot of great benefits, this type of roofing does have some downsides.
Tile Roofing Is Expensive Tile is the most expensive roofing material, so if you are on a tight budget, you may prefer to consider other options like shingles or metal. The higher cost can be attributed not only to the materials but also to the laborious process of having a tile roof installed. Tile roof installation is a skilled craft, and roofers must be specifically trained to lay the tiles.
The energy savings associated with a tile roof can help defray the higher cost somewhat, but you still need to come up with more money up-front for a tile roof than for other materials.
Tile Roofs Are Hard to Repair
You need to be very careful not to damage roofing tiles when you walk on them. Replacing damaged tiles is also a very intricate process that involves a lot of training. For these reasons, you cannot repair a tile roof yourself. You must hire a professional. If you love DIY projects, you may be better off with a shingle roof, which is much easier to repair with basic tools and know-how.
Tile Roofs Are Heavy
Before you get your heart set on a tile roof, have your home evaluated to make sure it can support such a roof. Tiles weight between 9.5 and 12 pounds per square foot, which is significantly more than asphalt shingles, which only typically weigh about 3 pounds per square foot. If your home is not built to support a heavy roof, tile won't be an option.
If your home is built to support a heavier roof, you have the funds, and you don't plan on making your own repairs, tile roofing is an incredibly attractive, durable choice for your home. Contact
Cal Roofing Systems Inc. to schedule a free estimate. We can tell you whether or not tile is a good choice for your home and also discuss other roofing materials that might work well for you.
