What is Tile Roof?
There’s no question that tile roofs belong in a roofing category all by themselves, even though they may share some essential characteristics with other types of roofing. There are all kinds of roofing systems that are not part of the tile roof family, for instance, metal roofs, asphalt shingles, and wood shingles and shakes. These systems all have their advantages and disadvantages, but they are pretty distinct from tile roof systems. Here are some of the qualities which make tile roofs so distinctive and why they belong in a category all their own.
Characteristics of a tile roof system
Believe it or not, tile roofs have been around for hundreds of years. They were created for the same reason other roofing systems were – to provide a comprehensive barrier between the interior of a residence and the weather elements outside. Roof tiles that make up this kind of system are generally made of materials found locally and completely recyclable. For example, some of these natural, recyclable materials include concrete, slate, and terra-cotta, which are sometimes referred to as clay tiles.
All of these roofing materials provide long-term durability and protection against any fires that might break out in the home. These two characteristics alone are enough to set them apart from virtually all other types of roofing systems. If you were to choose concrete roof tiles, you would gain some additional advantages such as greater energy efficiency, protection against strong winds, shielding from hail or wind-driven snow, design and color versatility, and inexpensive cost, compared to either slate or clay.
In terms of longevity, you might expect asphalt shingles to provide 20 years of protection in a roofing system, and wood shakes would probably be good for about 30 years. Metal roofing systems are generally durable for up to 45 or 50 years. When you’re dealing with natural slate tiles, these can provide upwards of 50 years of protection when installed on your roof, and natural clay tiles are likely to last 75 years or more. As you can see, tile roof systems provide the greatest bang for your buck in terms of long-term durability.
To reiterate, a tile roof system can really only be considered as belonging to the tile roof family if it has been constructed using concrete, clay, or slate. These roofing tiles provide benefits that other roofing materials like metal or asphalt shingles simply cannot measure up to. Therefore, it will generally be necessary to use installation techniques that are specific to tile roofs to ensure that they provide the long-lasting durability they’re capable of. However, when an expert installs your tile roof system, you can count on receiving all the benefits associated with this special type of roofing system.
Contact us
If you’re interested in learning more about tile roofing or having it installed at your residence, and you live in Lewis, Thurston, Pierce, Mason, Jefferson, or Kitsap Counties, we’d like to hear from you. Contact us at Richards Roof Service, LLC to answer any questions or set up an initial consultation.