Florida is a state known for its beautiful beaches and breathtaking homes. If you’re having a new home built or renovating your current home’s roof, you have an important decision to make. That decision is what type of roof you want. You have several options regarding roof materials, including metal, shingle, and tile roofs. Considering the importance of choosing a type of roof, it’s smart to research your options. Find out the pros and cons of tile roofing.
The Pros of Choosing a Tile Roof
There are many factors to think about concerning the advantages of tile roofing. Here’s information about the many perks of having a tile roof.
1. Long-Lasting
It’s understandable if you don’t want to deal with replacing your roof every decade or two. If that sounds like you, you will be glad to know that tile roofs are long-lasting. Under normal conditions, tile roofs can last up to 50 years or more. Having a roof that lasts a long time is great for homeowners wanting added peace of mind. Choosing a material that lasts several decades also saves you money on roof replacements.
2. Eco-Friendly
These days, choosing eco-friendly materials is far more of a concern for homeowners than it used to be. If you value sustainability, it’s tough to find a more eco-friendly material than tile. Unlike petroleum-based roofing materials such as asphalt shingles, manufacturers use natural materials to make most clay and concrete roofing tiles.
Even the installation process for a tile roof is better for the environment because roofers do not use hazardous chemicals when putting a tile roof on a home. In addition, waste from the roof installation can be immediately recycled back into the roofing process instead of being landfilled. Finally, when it is time to replace a tile roof, the tiles can be ground up and recycled to make new tiles or can be used in making roadways or sidewalks.
3. Pest-Resistant
Sometimes, pests such as termites and ants invade a home and cause a lot of damage. Unfortunately, these pests can find or create paths to and from your roof. This situation can lead to damaged roofs and the wood that supports them. Fortunately, tile doesn’t attract pests like wood shingles and other roof materials sometimes do.
4. A Wide Range of Color Options
Another critical concern for any homeowner is having roof color and style options. If you love having options, you’ll enjoy the many variations of roofing tiles. These tiles are available in many colors and styles. Plus, companies can make roofing tiles from clay, concrete, and other materials. Having so many options with roofing tiles can provide a roof that perfectly suits your preferences.
5. Extremely Durable
No homeowner wants a flimsy material protecting the top of their homes. You can rest assured that tile roofs are incredibly durable. The weight of roof tiles makes them easily withstand windy conditions, even those that could rip off asphalt shingles. They are also highly water and fire-resistant.
6. Easy to Maintain
Most people live busy lives with lots of things to do. Because of that, you likely don’t want a roof that requires a lot of maintenance. If so, you’re in luck by choosing a tile roof. Roofing tiles are well-known for their ease of maintenance. In addition, tile shingles are individually installed, so if any are damaged, you can replace just the necessary ones rather than having to replace whole sections like with other roof types.
7. Energy Efficiency
Florida’s weather is typically great for people who like things hot and humid. But eventually, most Floridians will go inside for relief when things get too warm. As you know, keeping a home’s AC unit running could lead to expensive energy bills. If you want your home to stay cool, its roof plays a vital role in this process. A home’s roof can help stop heat from entering your home. Roofs also help hold in cool air inside your home from escaping outdoors.
The inherent insulation properties of tile roofs help regulate indoor temperatures, reducing the need for excessive heating or cooling. In fact, the Department of Energy has conducted tests showing that tiles cut the transfer of heat compared to other roofing materials, such as asphalt shingles, by up to 70%. In addition, you can choose a light-colored tile roof that will reflect thermal heat during the summer months.
The Drawbacks of Tile Roofs
While tile roofing has many advantages, nothing is perfect. Before choosing a tile roof for your home, it’s crucial to learn about this material’s potential disadvantages.
1. Too Heavy for Certain Homes
While they might look lightweight, tiles are one of the heaviest residential roofing materials. If you install a tile roof, you might have to pay to reinforce your roof’s structure to deal with the weight. Additionally, there are some homes that simply cannot safely support the additional weight of a tile roof.
Unfortunately, the slope of your roof can also eliminate tile as an option. Given current installation techniques, the tiles will not hold if a roof is too steep. Calculating whether a roof will hold clay or concrete tiles is a complicated process. You should consult a roofing professional to understand if a tile roof is an option for your home.
2. Algae
As mentioned earlier, you shouldn’t have to worry about pests tearing up tile compared to other roofing materials. But one unique problem associated with tile roofs is algae growth. Algae growth isn’t a problem for homeowners who keep their roofs professionally cleaned. However, Florida weather combined with a dirty tile roof is an optimal breeding ground for algae.
3. Brittleness
Tile roofs have more than enough strength to withstand rain and winds. However, they might not be able to absorb the damage of something more severe, like a falling tree branch or debris from a tropical storm. They also do not stand up well to people walking on them because the tiles will break from this kind of pressure.
4. Requires an Expert’s Touch
Out of all roofing materials, experts typically feel that tile is the most time and labor-intensive roofing option. This makes installing a tile roof more expensive than other choices. Additionally, you will have to spend more time and energy finding a reliable roofing company for this job. Leaving this delicate installation in the hands of non-professionals could lead to expensive repairs and a faulty finished product.
Contact the Professionals
Deciding what type of roof you want to cover your home can be complex. At Protek Roofing, Heating, Air & Solar, we have been serving the residents of Tampa, FL for decades. We install, maintain, and repair roofs as well as heating and cooling systems. In addition, we provide indoor air quality and solar services. Contact us if you are having difficulty deciding if tile roofing is the right choice for your home.
