The Tile Roofing Guide – Part Two: The Upside of Tile Roofing

Nothing complements a Spanish or Italian style home better than the classic red curve of clay, nor historic homes better than slate tiles. And concrete tiles have merits to equal both. The materials come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors – and they can protect your home for up to 100 years.

Let’s take a closer look at the benefits each individual type of material can bring to your home.

Clay Tile

A great choice for homes with a Southwestern, Italian, or Spanish style, they also go well with homes with a modern, clean look. They are ideal for moderate to steep slope roofs. Clay tiles last a long time, with life spans usually greater than that of the material that supports them. They can also be found in lighter colors, which come with cool roof benefits.

Their main drawback, however, is their weight. Clay tiles are heavy and require reinforcement on the framing that supports them. They are also more expensive up front, as well as expensive to maintain as they are prone to chipping and breaking. But they are also the easiest to repair, because they are individually installed.

Slate Tile

Slate tiles are made of shingle-like slivers of rock. A timeless choice for homes, nothing can quite replace the natural look they provide. Although slate is an expensive choice, they have a very long lifespan, good fire protection, and can be laid out in a variety of patterns. Slate also comes in a good selection of sizes and natural colors that make it easy to coordinate with your home’s exterior.

Like clay, slate tiles can be very heavy and require sufficient support. And while invulnerable to rot and insects, they are fragile to direct pressure and can crack when walked upon. It is best to leave installation, repair, and maintenance to professionals.

Concrete Tile

Another equally good choice for durability and resource efficiency, concrete roofing has all the benefits of clay and slate — long lifespan, low maintenance, fire protection, and resistance to rot and insects. But while clay and slate can be expensive as well as heavy, concrete provides a less expensive choice that also eases up on the roofing support because it weighs less. Worried about the appearance? These tiles can mimic the appearance of wood shakes, only with improved durability and fire protection. And of course, they can be made to look like clay and slate tiles as well.

How do you make sure they stay beautiful and functional for a long time, though? Maintenance. In the last installment of our blog series, we will find out how to care for tile roofs.