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Tile Roofing for Beginners – Part I: Intro to Tile Roofing

Before you get your roof replaced, it always helps to weigh your options to figure out what’ll best fit your budget, aesthetic considerations, and expectations in terms of maintenance and longevity. Because roof replacement can cost a pretty penny, you can’t – or shouldn’t – just make snap decisions on what sort of material to go with. Take the time to study what’s available on the market and compare it with your wants and needs to pick out what’s best for you.

Say you’ve weighed your options and, out of all the materials available to you, you’ve set your heart on roof tiles. Before you take the plunge, however, you may want to know a little more about tile roofing: what it is, why it can be good for your home, and how to take care of roof tiles so that they’ll last a long time.

The Basics of Tile Roofing

Let’s start with the most commonly asked questions about tile roofing.

What are roof tiles made of?

A variety of roof tiles are available on the market. You’ve got roof tiles made of concrete, clay, terracotta, slate, plastic, and synthetic. You also have the option of solar roof tiles if you’d like to take your home’s energy efficiency capabilities to another level altogether.

Are roof tiles durable?

Durability depends on a number of factors, not least of which is proper installation and care. Roof tiles are generally durable and enjoy a long lifespan, but they need to be installed and maintained properly. If incorrectly installed, simply stepping on a roof tile the wrong way can break it, which is why many manufacturer warranties are contingent on correct installation.

Are roof tiles difficult to install?

Experienced roof tile installers will have no difficulty with installation. Attempting to do the installation on your own, however, might not be such a great idea. You could end up damaging more tiles than you actually place on your roof. If you have no experience at all, it’s best you let professionals handle the job – they may make it look easy, but trust me, it isn’t.

Do roof tiles have different designs?

Roof tiles come in a dizzying number of designs. Some of the most common are flat tiles, imbrex and tegula, pantiles or S-tiles, roman tiles, barrel tiles, shingle tiles, pan and cover tiles, and interlocking ones. Regardless of design, they are usually fitted in rows, with one row overlapping the one just below. This not only prevents water from seeping in, but also increases the overall strength of the roof by spreading any loads over a wider surface area.

You may have made the decision to use roof tiles for you home because they look good on your neighbor’s house or numerous friends are recommending them. There are a good number of reasons why roof tiles are highly recommended around the world. In the second part of this blog series, we discuss some of the main advantages of roof tiles.