Is Concrete Tile Roofing A Sound Investment For Your Home?
If your home's roof has seen better days, or you need to choose a suitable roofing material for your newly constructed home, concrete roof tiles can be an excellent choice. While they are not as popular as asphalt shingles or metal roofing, concrete tiles have many advantages over more common materials.
However, concrete roof tiles are also considerably more expensive than more run-of-the-mill roofing materials and represent a significant investment for most homeowners. The unique properties of concrete tiles can also be a drawback in some circumstances. If you are considering concrete tiles for your roof, but don't know if they are worth the extra investment, read on.
Reasons To Invest In Concrete Tiles
Long-Term Durability
If you are looking for a roofing material that will stand the test of time, concrete tiles are an exceptional long-term investment. Concrete roof tiles are incredibly physically durable, and most reputable manufacturers will guarantee their tiles for at least 50 years of use.
Concrete roof tiles are also highly weather-resistant and are particularly useful if you live in an area that sees frequent storms, hurricanes, or other extreme weather patterns. The sheer weight of concrete roof tiles allows them to withstand hurricane-force winds without becoming damaged or detached, and they can also withstand blows from falling tree branches and other wind-borne hazards.
On the other hand, concrete tiles are also useful if you live in an arid area vulnerable to wildfires. Concrete tiles have a Class A fire safety rating, and will not contribute to a blaze inside or outside your home, helping to protect your valuable belongings and prevent catastrophic roof cave-ins.
Low Maintenance
Investing in concrete roof tiles will also save you money on roof maintenance costs. Their superb durability means that emergency repairs are unlikely to ever be necessary, and you won't have to worry about corrosion as you would with a metal roof. Cleaning your roof tiles with a pressure washer every few years will remove moss and mildew to keep your roof looking new, but even this is purely optional.
Eco-Friendly
Concrete tiles are also surprisingly environmentally friendly. They do not contain synthetic materials or petrochemicals (unlike asphalt shingles) and can be recycled. Their thickness and excellent heat insulation qualities can also help to make your home more eco-friendly as a whole by preventing unwanted heat transfer and lowering your air conditioning and/or furnace running costs.
Reasons To Avoid Concrete Tiles
Heavy
The weight of concrete tiles is useful on a windy day, but can also put a great deal of pressure on your home's roof joists and load-bearing structures. If you live in an older home or a modern prefabricated building, you may need to reinforce your roof before concrete tiles are installed, which can be quite expensive and time-consuming.
Vulnerable To Acid Rain
You may also want to consider alternative roofing materials if you live in a heavily polluted urban or industrial area. Concrete tiles are reactive to acids, and frequent acid rains can cause them to become pitted and visibly weathered, which would negatively impact your home's overall look.
For more information, contact residential roofers in your area.
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